Book Review: "Waking Up in the Land of Glitter" by Kathy Cano-Murillo

Title: Waking Up in the Land of Glitter

Author: Kathy Cano-Murillo

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

ISBN, PUB Date: 978-0-446-50924-4, March 1, 2010

Reviewed by: Tiffany Schlarman for Author Exposure

Estrella “Star” Esteban has been floating along through life until her most recent indiscretion causes her boyfriend to leave and her parents to put their foot down. Star is given the choice to grow up and make something of herself or get out of her parent’s house. For Star, losing the man she loves is a far greater punishment than she ever imagined. Now, in an effort to redeem herself, Star agrees to participate in a national craft competition. With the help of Ofelia, her best friend, Chloe, a local celebrity crafter with a secret, and a few other newfound friends, Star attempts to get her life on track. Through it all, each of these women find comfort in each other, blessings in their differences, strength in their friendship, and value in doing what they truly love.

Waking Up in the Land of Glitter is a story that centers on crafts and art. Though I consider myself a crafty person, this book was a little much for me. While the storyline was entertaining, it had a few flaws that made it less enjoyable and a little difficult to read. The majority of what I liked in the book is portrayed in my synopsis. From the synopsis on the back cover, I gathered the book would have some Spanish terms, names, and cultural influences, but I did not expect it to the degree it was used. Sometimes I could understand the Spanish words without using the glossary in the back, but more often than not, I needed it to help understand the translation. The author makes mention of the fact that some Spanish words have different regional meanings and that the definitions used in this book are specific to her characters. After conferring with friends of Spanish descent and checking Spanish/English translations, I found some terms with definitions that did not match up with their very specific, well-known derogatory meanings. Most likely the author wasn’t comfortable using the harsher language and instead chose her own more subtle terms.

The unconventional use of Spanish words seemed to take me away from the characters rather than draw me to them. I did not connect with the characters of this book. I found the main character to be quite annoying, childish, and self-centered. Each character was full of drama that they seemed to create for themselves out of boredom or a need for attention, rather than from actual issues. The book held my attention enough, but I was never attached to it. I was content to read when I had time. My favorite part was the last third of the book when the characters were mostly separate from each other and finally getting their act together.

Overall, this book is probably best read by extreme lovers of crafts, those familiar enough with Spanish who would not need to consult the glossary, or someone looking for a very different read. I cannot say I have ever read another book quite like this one; it is unique. While I am sure others will enjoy it more than I did, the book simply wasn’t for me.