Customer Reviews

Telenovela

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OMG, this book is so awesome! A friend recommended that I read this book and lent me her copy. For one thing, I live in Pasadena, where the book takes place, so it was great reading about places I've been to in town. Secondly, the writer, Victor Cass has both a raw, in your face writing style, with really great dialogue, and captures the cultural nuances of the different characters' backgrounds. It's not your typical "chick lit" book as while it is "romantic" it really is about the friendship between two women of different backgrounds. As an Asian-American, born in Vietnam and raised in the U.S., I really identified with the characters, especially Miriya. Word of caution, there are some sex scenes that are kind of graphic, so this book isn't for children. HOT, though! I loved it and just bought a copy for myself.

Reviewed by: Bela M.
Member of Livin' la vida Latina
[...]

Review: You can't get anymore Latina than a telenovela, right? This book, like a telenovela, is divided into different parts. Part I tells the background of Miriya from adjusting to U.S. life and trying to lose her accent as a child to losing her father as a grown woman. In Part II, we learn about Lorena's family history and origins starting with her grandmother's marriage and conception of her children. All the suspicion, lies, and infidelity doesn't begin until Lorena notices Miriya in a local coffee shop one day. The scenes are just as sizzly and steamy in this book as they are on a TV screen. And while this story takes place, a real telenovela that every character in the book just can't live without it seems, is being watched somewhere in the background. It's a soap opera within a soap opera.

The beautiful descriptions and vivid details helped bring the story to life. The hilarious dialogue brought me back to the days when all the women in my family craved the "soap opera" life through tons and tons of juicy gossip. It has all the drama of a telenovela--sadness, jealousy, suspicion, and betrayal. At times, it was a tad predictable, and some of the sex scenes were a little too graphic for my taste (I guess that's why I don't read erotica novels.) I also thought there were too many characters. C'mon, I really didn't need to know everyone's life story. Also, there was too much cussing. I understand that cussing is a part of the everyday language. I don't have virgin ears. But I'd say I ran into f#!* and sh#! about 20-30 times in one page. The author used these words so much that they practically lost their meaning. Enough already, I get it!

All in all, I get what the author was trying to do in this book, and I commend him for that. The story is easy to get through and leaves you content, even though I wasn't too happy with Lorena's ending. That was kind've a bummer.

Victor Cass' third book, TELENOVELA, is a romantic, fast-paced, sexy novel. It is a story within a story, so to speak. The main plot is set entirely in Pasadena, California, Victor's hometown; but occasional flashbacks take us to parts of Mexico and Argentina. The "telenovela" of the title is actually a Mexican soap opera that some of the book's characters watch occasionally on TV and that, ironically, parallels the events that the main characters are actually experiencing. The book alternates between the plot of the telenovela and the events involving the book's characters, so that the melodrama of the former underscores the drama of the latter. It's an interesting, engaging dynamic!

The book's main characters are two beautiful, intelligent young Latina women who are first-generation Americans. The parents of Miriya emigrated from Argentina, and Lorena's parents came from Mexico. Unbeknownst to these protagonists, they have fallen in love with the same man, a situation that threatens the budding, genuine friendship between the two women. There are plenty of romantic scenes in the book to compete with any racy, modern movie; but there are also scenes of sadness and pathos, rib-tickling humor, and down-to-earth authenticity in how modern Latinas balance careers, cultures, generation gaps,and their own evolving identities.

Victor has written two other books: PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT: A PHOTOHISTORY, 1877-2000, issued by Herff Jones in 1999; and LOVE, DEATH, AND OTHER WAR STORIES, published by iUniverse in 2005. The first book was commissioned by the city of Pasadena, and Victor, an avid historian, devoted two years to researching the department's history (Victor is a police officer in Pasadena as well.) Victor's second book was inspired by his police experiences in Pasadena. He is currently working on his fourth book, which he hopes to complete before 2009 ends.

Love, Death, and Other War Stories: Tales of Crime and Punishment in the Wild West

Telenovela, the latest work from author Victor Cass, explores the modern-day meaning of love and friendship among a group of young, urban singles. A large, lively cast of characters offers something for everyone. This sexy, fun, over-the-top drama is guaranteed to please.

If you had asked me a week ago to watch a Spanish soap opera I'd have laughed in your face! But now that I've read TELENOVELA, I catch myself pausing on the Spanish soaps as I'm flipping channels. Cass captured the spirit and feel of soaps to a T while at the same time creating very real characters and situations in a thought provoking story.

This book was about the friendships that young women have and the things they go through to find happiness with a man. It is classified as literature for women (chick lit) but was written by a man, which made it interesting for this male reader since I could relate to the narrators viewpoint. The basic themes of life are addressed; birth, death, love, friendship, marriage, family, and comedy.

The story centers on Miriya, Junior to her family since her mother has the same name and her father Fabio gave her the nickname because he wanted a son. The plot of the story is if Miriya will marry Arturo who is Argentinean like she is, handsome, tall, dark but also a cheating, lying, bastard like all men are or so Miriya's friends say.

Then there is Lorena, the girl from the traditional family who was so protected by her parents that she couldn't even make friends with kids in the neighborhood. Lorena is the good girl, the Catholic, the one you take home to meet the family who won't embarrass you, and the friend Miriya needs as her life unravels.

This story is basically a soap opera in book form but what makes it so compelling is that a fictional Telenovela called Sofia de Amor is interwoven throughout the book. It also has a character named Arturo who is cheating on his wife, Sofia, and is so dramatic and typical of those kind of shows; attractive successful people who trust in those around them only to be betrayed by the maid, or the husband, or the private detective.

The author does a terrific job of going from scenario to scenario, just like a soap opera would, and building character development and plot; will Miriya found out what her boyfriend is doing on his "business trips", will Lorena find happiness with a man another character had an affair with, will Nathalie confess her betrayal, will all the hot pre-marital sex ever end?

There was comedy to lighten the text for example while at a family dinner with a Miriya's guest her father was being typical sloppy guy while his wife "...subtly gesture to her husband to find a napkin and wipe something - anything!" There is plenty of cursing by women, some graphic sex, and very good insight into the reasoning of why men and women do what they do to be with someone.

This book was a page turner and I found myself anxious to get back to it to found out would what happen next. Clearly written with good crisp sentences, concrete visuals, and defined characters; this novel isn't trying to solve any problems, cure any ills, but it will help you remember how much friendships can mean.

I just finished this book. It only took 2 days to read. It is fast-paced, energetic, engaging, with great dialogue and a creative plot. The characters are very diverse, with Hispanics, Armenians, Iranians, Whites, etc. We can all relate! It has funny scenes, especially with Chet the lawyer and Lupe. It also has a few sex scenes, along with light romance. Read it now!

Victor Cass did a great job of describing the complexities of relationships, with friends, family, and lovers. Telenovela is completely different than his first book (Love, Death, and Other War Stories), but just as entertaining. I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to Cass' next project.