The House of Broken Angels

At the end of the day, all he really knew was that he was a Mexican father. And Mexican fathers made speeches. He wanted to leave her with a blessing, with beautiful words to sum up a life, but there were no words sufficient to this day. But still, he tried. “All we do, mija,” he said, “is love. Love is the answer. Nothing stops it. Not borders. Not death.” Synopsis Big Angel is dying, but before he goes, he wants his family—all of the twisting branches of it—gathered for his last birthday. Nothing will derail Big Angel’s party—not borders, not internal family feuds, not even his own mother’s death. Told over the span of the days leading up to the party and the party itself, The House of Broken Angels is the story of an unforgettable Mexican-American patriarch and the life he built for his family, spanning decades and borders alike. Prose There is a distinctive voice to The House of Broken Angels—though I am an adult myself, Big Angel’s story is presented so intimately and warmly, I felt as if I were a child, drawn onto his knee, to hear a story from my grandfather. The prose is beautiful and enveloping in a way that invites the reader to join the family—this messy, imperfect, sprawling, grieving, celebrating family. Every word felt deliberately chosen and just right. The tone of the vignettes swing wildly from sad, to shocking, to funny, to irreverent—and yet every swing was just right. As I read, I lost myself in this book—I wasn’t sitting in bed holding a kindle—I was in Big Angel’s backyard, smelling the food, listening to the children shriek, and waiting for Big Angel to come out of his house. For entire stretches at a time, I was in Big Angel’s world in Southern California, only to snap back after thirty or forty minutes to my quiet bedroom. Those moments when you can lose yourself so completely in a book that you are no longer aware that you are reading are so rare, and yet they became common for me on the nights I read this book. Characters This family is far from perfect—there’s sadness and violence waiting in the wings for many of these characters, there’s machismo and terrible choices—and yet I loved them. I loved Big Angel’s son Lalo as he grieved, as he fumbled around his definition of what it meant to be a man. I loved Little Angel (so named because Big Angel’s philandering father reused the name on his youngest son) as he sought his place within this family as the half-brother, chosen by their father over them and then ultimately abandoned as well. Minnie, dutiful daughter, yet still missing something—torn between exasperation at being treated far younger than her thirty-something years and yet wanting to stay the baby of the family if it means her father is alive to treat her that way. And Big Angel—imperfect patriarch, yet capable of such dedication to his wife and his children that he seemed larger than life, though trapped in his wasted body. These are complicated people, defined by their blood to Angel and also their humanness, their ordinariness. I half expect there to be a real De La Cruz family in San Diego throwing Big Angel his birthday this weekend. Immigration and current events The De La Cruz family and Big Angel himself are Mexican-Americans. They are of one place, living and contributing to the community and economy of another. Some of the members of the family, including Big Angel himself, are undocumented. And here again is where I come back to Urrea’s presentation of Big Angel as larger than life and yet so very ordinary. The House of Broken Angels is the story of the family next door, or maybe across town. You buy groceries next to Big Angel’s wife Perla and you sat next to his son Lalo in high school bio. I noted in my last review that The Fruit of the Drunken Tree is a single story that explains why so many people might leave their homes in South American to come across our border. The House of Broken Angels is another. Immigration is never simple once actual human beings are involved. It is one thing to speak of policy and “illegals.” It is another to look a human being in the face—a veteran, a long-time employee, and favorite neighbor—and tell them they do not belong. You are not us. The stories of Big Angel’s families are not all stories of lives well-lived. Not yet. And yet they are lives of value. They are lives that belong. Books like The House of Broken Angels seem vitally important in this current climate—in a climate where it is not safe for a neighbor to confide over the fence that he is undocumented and scared. When maybe you don’t know whether you know anyone who is undocumented and it’s not really the thing you ask right now. Read books like The House of Broken Angels and Fruit of the Drunken Tree to remind yourself that what is at stake is the dignity and lives of people.

"House of Broken Angels" is a multi-layered novel about a Mexican family and their cross-border life in Mexico and America. Urrea creates this a remarkably unique portrait of the De La Cruz family as they come together to mourn and celebrate the lives of some of the influential figures in their family. Miguel (Big Angel) is the patriarch of the De La Cruz family and is having a birthday party to celebrate his remaining days from terminal cancer. Big Angel's mother passes away before the birthday party and as a result, the funeral is scheduled for the day before Big Angel's birthday party. The relationships between Big Angel and his wife Perla and his half-brother, Little Angel, create the most poignant parts of the book. Little Angel lives in Seattle and his time reflecting with his half-brother opens old wounds while revealing misconceptions. While the universal elements of familial relations are one foundation of this novel, the other element is the Mexican and Mexican-American experience. From La Paz, on the Baja peninsula to San Diego, the chasm can seem more than the mere hundreds of miles separating family members. Through a diverse set of characters, each vibrant in their uniqueness, who add to the complexity of this novel, "House of Broken Angels" makes you cherish the ties that bind while appreciating the diversity among us all. The only small quibble is for the first half of the book, I wound up a bit confused trying to keep all the characters clear in my head, so not to confuse relationships and merge characters. "House of Fallen Angels" is emotionally moving, bittersweet and optimistic, at the same time.

This book was magnificent! Stupendous! The theme, fo this reader, was how do we form our identity. By what, is our character defined? This author did a tremendous job in writing a story that featured one primary character, but was set within a cast of SO MANY fascinating characters. The narrative slipped from one to another without causing confusion...which is an incredible literary feat. At first, I thought what the heck! How am I going to keep up with all of these people, let alone being privy to all of their thought? However, the method in which the author allowed each of these characters to "speak" during the actual moments, in real-time with the story...positively brilliant. I was able to assimilate quite easily. The additional inner dialogue of the other characters added to the How Do I Perceive Myself vs How Am I Actually Perceived dynamic of Big Angel's end of life inventory. The poetry and the humor were sublimely interspersed. The journals...What Will I Miss. Extremely thought-provoking and extremely connective to Miguel Angel de la Cruz for the reader. Maybe not a bad idea to just get started on those journals now! During a lifetime, what a person has done and what has been done to that person are the primary go-tos when trying to define what is the story of that particular life. In actuality, there are several layers or sub-columns that accompany each of those headings. The Whys and the Wheres, the Times and the Places. How do those aforementioned perceptions impact the results of those doings and done-tos? The biggest perceptions that have the biggest impact are almost always those of our family members. This family. This de la Cruz clan had every ingredient necessary for creating several pans of Super Interesting and Unique People Cupcakes. When reading a book, I take great pleasure in pausing to look up and learn new words and facts. There were many opportunities to do so while reading The House of Broken Angels. BONUS BONUS. I live in Texas, but have never mastered Spanish, much to my anguish! I learned many words and phrases from this author. Thank you, Mr. Urrea! This wonderful story was not tidy. It was not always beautiful and funny. This story felt so real and honest. While I read, I was asking myself, how did the author know to write about someone facing the end of their life in such a poignant way? Then, upon finishing, I read the Afterword. I am so grateful to Luis Alberto Urrea for sharing this personal story within a fictional book. I have tremendous respect for his ability to craft a tale that is as honest as it is fascinating. I was drawn right into this huge de la Cruz family. I came to the party! I am still thinking about Big Angel, days later.

Liked the story and the interwoven family relationships. Sometimes felt as though the author was trying to hard to be a 'spanish writer'. Needs to forget Hundred Years or House of the Spirits and write his own story and style. Worth reading this book too though.

This is the story of Big Angel and his family. Born in Mexico, Big Angel obtained a green card and moved his family to California. We meet Big Angel as he is approaching his 70th birthday. His body is riddled with bone cancer and he knows that this will be his last birthday. He is married to the love of his life, Perla, with whom he fell in love when he first laid eyes on her sixteen year old self. Despite their mutual attraction, circumstances separated them and it is years later when they were reunited. Through hard work and determination, Big Angel moves Perla and her two sons to California and eventually into a home of their own. Their daughter, Minnie, was born in the US thus, her immigration status, unlike that of some of her family members, is not an issue. With his day dwindling, Big Angel is taking stock of his life. He has done some "bad" things in his life, but haven't we all? Big Angel wants a birthday party for his 70th birthday replete with family and friends; an opportunity to see everyone he loves and holds dear for one last time. But Mama America, his mother dies, and it is decided that his party will be held the day after her funeral. Yes, the day after her funeral. But it makes sense. Those who have to travel from out of town will not have make two trips. Despite Big Angel's focus on the "bad" things he has done, he has also done much good. As the family patriarch, he is respected by many; family, friends, and neighbors. He wants to make amends and recognizes that there were some things that he could/should have done differently; his relationship with his son Yndio, and his youngest brother, Little Angel among them. The cast of characters is many, but so necessary. Reading this book I laughed out loud, cried, shouted agreement, and savored every page. Luis Alberto Urrea understands human nature, the good, the bad, and the ugly and reveals each in this very human and delightful novel.

Fantastic insight into a journey of a Mexican family making the big step to the US. The author lost me in the middle of the book with the number of characters and I caught myself skimming thorough the pages. I'm a bit of an impatient reader. I picked the story back up in the last third with Big and Little Angel connecting and Big Angel's heroic last deed. Interesting read I may have to go back to in a few years.

In the House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea, a seventy year old man wants to find inner peace before his death, which is imminent. Miguel Angel de La Cruz, also known as Big Angel, goes on a healing inner journey. Knowing he is terminally ill, Big Angel decides to throw himself a super sweet seventieth birthday bash to bring his extended rambunctious family together. Big Angel doesn’t realize how much his family needs this party and how he helps his family members, especially his namesake half-brother, Little Angel, to embark on the healing journey with him. Big Angel’s search for inner peace and healing influences his other family members to reflect on their own lives as they see first-hand that one can live a better, happier life, even when one is confronted with death. Big Angel’s journey causes his family members to take a serious look at their lives and what they are doing or not doing for themselves as they watch Big Angel — their patriarch confront death with courage. Big Angel becomes an inspiration as he gains a deeper sense of himself through his interactions with his family. Little Angel puts it best: “To be here now, to see what you have made, humbles me. The good parts and the bad. It doesn’t matter. I thought I was going to save the world, and here you were all along, changing the world day by day, minute by minute.” Big Angel was going to say something but decided against it. changing the world poco a poco a little better right here, right now Luis Alberto Urrea earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego in 1977 and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. The House of Broken Angels is his fifth novel. Urrea is an expert at writing telling details that make his scenes come alive and evoke powerful emotions in the reader. The House of Broken Angels is a meditation on death. Its pages are burning with love of a family who likes to live life passionately — a lo maximo. Death translates into comedy as Kurt Vonnegut found out when he wrote Slaughterhouse-Five. If you’re looking for a great summer read, look no further.

“The House of Broken Angels” is a book about a family. A BIG family. The head of the family is Miguel Angel De La Cruz, AKA “Big Angel” AKA “Flaco.” He is a sort of Atlas figure, carrying his family’s whole world on his shoulder, but as the novel opens, that world is slipping from his grasp. Big Angel is dying of cancer, and his days—even his hours—are numbered. The novel is a patchwork of stories, wrapped in a collage of characters, tangled up in a web of relationships. There is a plotline that runs through the entire work, but it is almost unnecessary. The author may have included it simply as a respectful nod to the ancient art he has taken up—and that’s fitting: this is a novel very much about respect for what has come before. There are a lot of characters, and at first, I found it intimidating trying to keep up, but eventually, I just relaxed and let their stories wash over me. Clearly, the author is sympathetic to readers who might be a bit overwhelmed by the chaos. He does a good job of reminding you at intervals who these people are, and also reassures the reader that if you get confused at times, it’s okay: Even the characters themselves don’t always know if the guy that just walked in the door is a brother, cousin, uncle, nephew . . . or a complete stranger hoping to sneak in and snag a free cup of instant coffee in all the confusion. The reader, of course (at least this reader), feels like that stranger, at first. It is the art of this novel that by-and-by, the reader begins to feel like family. It’s a marvelous transformation. Hey, Sis, pass the condensed milk and tell me another story about our Abuelo.