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By: OHOPE 009
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2025-12-22 16:04:55 |
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A challenging subject to read about. A well-written book that kept us on edge, to see what was going to happen next. Very small print! |
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By: OPOTI 001
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2025-12-19 16:57:03 |
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This incredible book seduced us all. The depiction of the many facets of the human spirit was an emotional and informing experience. We were all grateful for the opportunity to understand more about migration and migrants. |
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By: CHCH 553
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2025-12-09 12:08:24 |
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A good read that lead to some interesting discussions around the theme, and the difference between places like Mexico and the relative safety of NZ. Some felt the pace petered out in the second half of the book. |
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By: PLIMM 003
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2025-12-05 14:45:35 |
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We all really loved this book. Well-written, kept you on the edge of your seat. |
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By: TAUP 011
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2025-11-17 12:19:53 |
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Everyone found the book very suspenseful and it kept you on your toes. Eye opening re the cartel's influence in Mexico. |
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By: BLENH 014
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2025-11-10 11:37:58 |
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This promoted good discussion especially around how much a person's lived experiences are required to write believable fiction. |
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By: HIKUR 001
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2025-10-20 14:02:38 |
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A harrowing, riveting read - a good introduction to readers on the difficulties facing people fleeing their home countries. Generated much discussion about cultural appropriation and immigration. |
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By: WHANG 001
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2025-09-29 12:27:42 |
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Not only a compulsive read but all agreed this is a book which made an impact that will last a lifetime. Enjoyed debating how well this book would have been received if published in the political climate of 2025. |
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By: AUCK 100
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2025-08-31 12:56:48 |
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American Dirt is an intense and at times harrowing read. It is thought provoking and a confronting reminder of why people choose to flee from their homes and take dangerous journeys to reach safety. Our group noted the challenges of “being normal” after such experiences. |
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By: HAMIL 062
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2025-08-07 09:59:39 |
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Not an easy read,harrowing, heartbreaking and disturbing, but a gripping and powerfully told story that drew you in and kept you involved. Though some of us didn't want to read another agonizing story, we are glad to be better informed on the plight of migrants. There was a fair balance between the kindness and cruelty of strangers. |
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By: DUNED 083
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2025-05-22 09:58:36 |
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All loved this book. A powerful and compelling narrative with strong characters, and of course it provoked discussion of the current situation in the USA. |
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By: TEPUK 008
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2025-05-19 10:04:47 |
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We all thoroughly enjoyed American Dirt and didn't feel it deserved the controversy it received. It was a rollercoaster of a story right from the powerful beginning. We all felt we gained better insight and understanding into the Mexican/U.S. immigration issue. |
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By: CHCH 557
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2025-05-14 21:53:55 |
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Most enjoyed the book. Interesting conversation about the controversy of a white American writer telling a complex Mexican story. |
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By: WELL 189
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2025-04-12 11:06:40 |
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Most of us could not put this book down. We found the characterisations so realistic, and the raw emotion compelling. We enjoyed - and had a lot of discussion about - the depth of the story and the issues and complex choices faced by the characters, not just black and white/good and bad. The whole story turned on every single interaction - we couldn't wait to see what happened. The whole story generated almost 2 hours of discussion about the situation of migrants/refugees, societal and government responses, the Trump presidency response to immigration in his first and second terms. |
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By: RICH 012
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2025-03-04 11:30:57 |
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Very interesting and realistic. |
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By: TWIZ 004
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2025-01-28 07:05:09 |
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Some members has read this before and chose not to read it again. Mixed reviews from the others, with some finding it an engrossing read and some who did not enjoy the content. |
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By: WHANG 023
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2024-09-18 21:01:32 |
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I read it but never liked it, few finished it, mixed reception. It borders on what I’ll call Poverty Porn. A gruesome story that only exists in lives wrapped in poverty of one sort or another. It’s a book of fiction, not even a biography, supposedly representative of the lives of many, but ultimately the lives of none. |
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By: WHANG 028
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2024-03-06 13:07:02 |
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Everyone "enjoyed" the book - harrowing but unable to put it down. |
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By: AUCK 014
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2024-02-14 11:47:54 |
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Not everyone read this book in our group, but those who did found it very gripping. At a time when migrant stories in America are so front of mind, this was a reminder of what that means for individuals forced to flee their home and country, for whatever reason. We were mindful of some of the criticism of the author's authenticity, but that did not detract from the narrative. It was certainly a page turner! |
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By: DUNED 001
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2024-01-08 10:32:11 |
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A gripping read - a view of desperation that leads people to leave everything behind for hugely different reasons. |
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By: WHITBY 002
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2023-11-08 11:00:19 |
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We all thought this was a great read, it had good characters, plot and was quite topical. It was harrowing and compelling, a book we couldn't put down and deserving of a second read. The reader could feel the grief, fear, uncertainty, terror and desperation as the pair escape the cartels. In spite of some negative comments which some of us found on the internet, we felt we learnt a lot from this book and are keen to follow up by reading some firsthand experiences. |
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By: CHCH 523
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2023-11-01 21:00:03 |
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Liked by all. Found quite a lot to discuss including how the book was received by Mexicans and how the author was critiqued. |
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By: NAP 032
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2023-09-09 17:13:11 |
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Our group enjoyed the book, created varied discussion, and all felt sad for the migrants trying to escape the Cartel. Compelling enough to want to keep on reading. |
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By: AUCK 456
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2023-05-22 10:28:37 |
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Everyone "enjoyed" the book, as much as you can say you enjoyed such a harrowing story. Many people found they could only read in short bursts as the story overwhelmed them, but was so compelling they had to continue. |
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By: CHCH 548
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2023-05-19 13:20:56 |
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Great read, quite eye opening to the struggles in Mexico and the cartels. Group all felt let down with the ending though, quite underwhelming. |
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By: CHCH 155
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2023-05-19 13:15:25 |
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We found this read harrowing and yet compelling. The present situation (05/23) on today's news highlights migrant's plight. The reality was that much more understood. |
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By: NELS 093
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2023-05-18 10:06:58 |
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This book really generated a lot of discussion beyond the book. Topics such as borders, rights to storytelling, marketing of books, awareness of the topic. Half of us couldn't put it down, the other half persevered to finish it. Not light reading. |
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By: WHANG 009
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2023-03-13 10:11:03 |
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An excellent read, with wide discussion on journalists, borders ( N.Z's so clearly defined), beauty, and families. One of our most successful selections. |
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By: UPMO 002
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2023-03-02 12:34:43 |
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A compelling read. |
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By: CHCH 043
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2022-12-12 18:56:55 |
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A really good vivid read though rather harrowing. Some discussion of the criticism the book attracted in the United States but we felt we were too far removed to judge. |
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By: CHCH 240
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2022-10-30 12:18:29 |
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A brilliant read but hard to call it enjoyable! A fascinating eye-opener to what we hear about in the news of the refugees fleeing South American countries and the horror of the drug-cartels. Sheer determination and a mother's love shine through during the horrific days of their journey to escape. Well worth reading - and it kept us on the edge of our seats until the end! |
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By: TAUR 059
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2022-09-03 13:47:11 |
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All in the group were totally engrossed from the moment they picked up the book and all found the characters compelling. We all were both horrified and moved by all the migrants had to endure and felt the writing of the journey and its characters and their particular hardships & stories was excellent. There were a couple of points raised about the likelihood of certain parts of the story but as a book of fiction we didnt feel it detracted from the overall story. Some discussion on US immigration and the possibilities for illegal migrants in the US. |
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By: GORE 007
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2022-08-23 12:21:42 |
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Such a moving account of a mother's love for her son against enormous challenges. A perspective of the immigrant issue in the Americas that tells a side of the story we had not encountered. |
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By: QUEEN 013
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2022-08-10 12:40:08 |
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Best book we've read since joining BDS. Tough topic, well-written and nail biting til the end. Highly recommended by us! |
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By: NELS 040
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2022-06-15 12:30:22 |
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A winner with our group! |
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By: WAIKA 002
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2022-06-01 15:31:18 |
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A very gripping book which highlights the dire reality faced by refugees fleeing for their safety. |
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By: AUCK 399
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2022-04-29 11:39:23 |
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We were all exhausted after reading this book, so well-written and so frightening. Several admitted to tears, and we were all aware of how many more migrants there will be in the future. One of our better books, but as we looked at what we have read over the years, it is a standout. |
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By: WHITBY 005
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2022-04-20 18:29:58 |
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Majority of the group rated this gripping thriller highly. Powerfully written and thought provoking story that stays with you. |
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By: DRUM 001
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2022-03-07 10:34:00 |
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Everyone enjoyed the book - including husbands! The questions generated great discussion amongst members. A big tick all round. |
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By: PUKEKO 001
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2022-02-26 17:47:27 |
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Vivid and compelling. Two of our 10 members did not finish the book, not because they disliked it but because the story was so distressing. All agreed that this was a powerfully written book. |
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