Jacqueline Bograd Weld

Wonderful, atmospheric, evocative writing. A family of enervated and enervating aristos are put on trial for their uselessness and inability to function as contributing members of society. The whole town shows up for this kangaroo court, held in the courtyard of the family home, and the prosecutor makes a popular case.

The defense? Led by the one adult member of the family with more than two neurons to bang together: Dona Soraida, the seemingly immortal parrot. Dona Soraida puts up a spirited defense of her family, with surprising and successful results, though at a huge cost to the family's happiness and, quite probably, their future as well.

Laced with much vulgar and colloquial Spanish, it's a delightful book and a fast, fun read. It falls short of the final fence separating it from the best books, in the end, because of the ending. It just felt like it stopped, rather than ended, at a dramatic moment...and no amount of wishing it was different could make me give it that last star.… (more)