61 pages • 2 hours read
T.C. BoyleThe Tortilla Curtain
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1995A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle contrasts the lives of two California couples: Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher, affluent and living in Arroyo Blanco, and Cándido and América Rincón, undocumented immigrants living in a canyon camp. The tale, highlighting themes like income disparity and racial tension, follows these characters as their lives intertwine, revealing the harsh realities of the American Dream. This book depicts offensive language, racism, xenophobia, and sexual assault.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle is praised for its compelling narrative and deep exploration of social and racial tensions in contemporary America. Critics commend Boyle's vivid characterizations and keen socio-political insights. However, some reviewers find the novel's tone didactic and its depictions of certain characters stereotypical. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read The Tortilla Curtain?
Readers who appreciate socially conscious narratives exploring immigration, class disparity, and the American Dream, akin to The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck or The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, will find T.C. Boyle’s The Tortilla Curtain compelling and thought-provoking.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
1210LBook Details
Education
Modern Classic Fiction
Satire
Education
Race / Racism
Immigration / Refugee
Society: Immigration
Society: Class
Natural World: Environment