The Four Girls

`How the Garcia girls lost their accent' by `Julia Alvarez' is about `The Four girls' Carla, Yolanda, Sandra, Sofia who come to US as immigrants with their parents. Even the eldest doesnt remember if they were ever referred to as 'the two' or 'the three' girls.

The book is neatly delineated into interesting chapters. Each can be read as stories in themselves. The chapters have varied central settings. Some deal with how the girls connect with their roots when they go for summer vacation,
mothers 'innovation' drive. Though some chapters like the one on the fathers 70th birthday celebration or the one in which Sandra is going through her starvation phase are written once the characters grow up, the smooth flow in the writing is maintained.
'Floor Show' is a good chapter with Sandra trying to get back at a lady in her childish way.

May 23,2006