Cover Image: Signal To Noise

Signal To Noise

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This was such an interesting and incredible read, there was such depth and intrigue. I found myself completely entranced by the story.

Was this review helpful?

I tried to read this several times in several formats. Some of Moreno-Garcia's books just arent for me and, sadly, this one will be added to that list.

Was this review helpful?

Another epic story by Silvia Moreno Garcia, who has become an icon for our times. There’s something reverential about the way she depicts characters that makes reading her books feel like picking up a diary. Her characters feel real in a way that most never do. I love her directness and wit in her writing, and I especially love the times in which she sets her books—always an interesting era.

Was this review helpful?

This book had great characterization, excellent story telling, and made me want to keep reading. I will continue to read from this author and look out for their new releases.

Was this review helpful?

This book was soo good. The main character was incredibly relatable and the world building was incredible. I’ve loved every book by Silvia and can’t wait to read more

Was this review helpful?

amazing. silvia moreno-garcia is just !!! what an incredible book to add to the great collection. i just love her mind!

- thanks to netgalley & the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I spent most of this book, a reprint of an early novel by Silvia Morena-Garcia, loathing the central character. The story bounces back and forth between “the past” (1988) and “the present” (2009), and the adventures of Meche (short for Mercedes, which she loathes) and her two best friends, Sebastián and Diana. The three were misfits in high school, each with their own family dramas and challenges. Mecha’s definitely the leader of the group, and she’s endlessly sarcastic, demanding, and miserly in her friendship. Her alcoholic father is a radio DJ and aspiring music historian, obsessed with vinyl records. Almost by accident, Meche discovers that by wishing hard enough while playing a specific record, she can make things happen. Soon she’s roped her friends into a magical circle, searching for especially potent songs and practicing increasingly dark acts of magic. In the present, she’s returned home for her father’s funeral, reliving the past as she packs up his papers and record collection.

I really wish Meche had been a more sympathetic character or that the turning point in her descent into magical violence had been more clear. I cared more about awkward, earnest Sebastián with his long-time, unspoken crush on Meche, and loyal Diana with her fussy dresses, Easy-Bake oven, and lupus diagnosis. Sebastián and Diana each had a moral compass but not enough courage to stand up to Meche. Even so, the story caught me up and kept me turning pages. This is an early work, and the author has matured greatly. I like her later characters a lot better, particularly those in Mexican Gothic, The Beautiful Ones, and Gods of Jade and Shadow.

Was this review helpful?

I an a HUGE fan of Silvia MG so I went into this one bling. Just like her other books, this coming of age story is beautifully written and be tu atmospheric.
It represented all the raw emotions of a teenager and made me feel very nostalgic. I also really appreciated the MC’s personality. She’s a bit prickly but remains true to herself, and I find it more realistic when characters are grey and not black nor white.

Great book

Was this review helpful?

A trio of teens in 1980s Mexico City discover they can cast spells through music, but decades later aren't speaking to each other when Meche--the ringleader of their group--returns to Mexico for her estranged father's funeral. I really enjoyed the atmospheric descriptions of place / setting and all the 80s nostalgia (despite being a 90s baby myself), but the book seemed to struggle with whether it was YA or adult. It's definitely adult due to the language and content, to be clear, but because most of the story takes place when the protagonists are teens in the 80s--as well as the writing and tone--it felt more YA to me. I don't mean that as an insult either, but I do think the lack of clear age / audience target made the story feel a bit off to me.

There was a lot to enjoy, but also a lot that left me wanting, including the repeated us of the F slur to bully a straight male character. I know that was common at the time but it felt gratuitous, especially since there are no actual LGBTQ characters and the homophobia is never really dealt with. I also was really intrigued by the idea of the music being used as magic in the story, but wanted it to be explored a bit more thoroughly I think. Maybe that's a me problem, since this book was more about relationships and taking ownership of your mistakes than about that fantasy elements, but still.

Was this review helpful?

I've been very hit or miss on Moreno-Garcia's Books since Gods of Jade and Sorrow, this is definitely a hit from her and I look forward to more from her.

Was this review helpful?

I'm a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and making sure I read her backlist books that are slowly getting rereleased, I haven't found a book of hers that I haven't enjoyed yet. The writing is beautiful, the stories are always so complex with so many messages, I loved this

Was this review helpful?

I found Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s debut novel to be a fascinating read. While it was not as good as her other novels, it was interesting to see how her writing improved time. The story was very simple with very little happening. I did like the characters, and I found the romance to be very swoon worthy. However, I preferred her scarier stories rather than her romances. Still, it was a very light read! I recommend this for fans of Lucinda Riley!

Was this review helpful?

Moreno-Garcia's pretty writing is a strength but sadly, the characters under-delivered and the plot couldn't do justice to both a coming-of-age tale and a romantic storyline. The magic does save the novel, both powerful and seamlessly integrated.

Was this review helpful?

It took me to long to finally get to read this book and I hate myself for doing this. I'm in love. And I have a new Silvia favorite.

I love the characters and their flaws and the way that the plot took a way that I didn't expect and how painful and sublime this story was.

I love that fact that it has its own soundtrack and Ioved that I knew some of the songs and I loved even more to learn the existence of new ones, mainly the Mexican music that, even being Latin American (I'm Brazilian) I didn't know.

I love the way she wrote music as a magic catalist and I loved how this book remembered me of the craft and being totally different at the same time.

Was this review helpful?

Silvia Moreno Garcia never misses.

Silvia's prose and writing is as beautiful and gripping as her other books. I love how authentic and distinct the characters are throughout the book. The emotions bleeds through the page. The magic is as intricate and interesting as Garcia's other books. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

DNF @ 25%

I think I'm giving up on Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic, so I tried to read her backlist but I DNF everything. I don't know, they're always just so boring and I can barely push through them. I think I'm just not a fan of her.

Was this review helpful?

Magic lives on the pages of this novel. Threaded throughout these adults looking back on their respective coming of age stories is the occult, hierophants, witches, the power of three, and vinyl records amplifying their their magical skills.
As you read the book, play the songs referenced in on the pages of this adventure. The lyrics serve as a form of pathetic fallacy, a mirror, explaining and intensifying the crisis, the tension, the spark of romance, the bitter knots of jealousy, and general teenage angst.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this a lot! What struck me the most was just how real and authentic the characters felt, in both timelines, even with the magical realism.

I wasn't a huge fan of how the two timelines were structured. It felt like they should have interconnected or been in sync more. I'm not sure, but it just felt like something was missing to connect everything.

As with Mexican Gothic, the writing just pulls you in, so people who like other books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia will be sure to like the writing here as well.

3.5

Was this review helpful?

Rating : 3 out of 5
Blurbs :
Mexico City, 1988. Long before iTunes or MP3s, you said "I love you" with a mixtape. Meche, awkward and fifteen, discovers how to cast spells using music, and with her friends Sebastian and Daniela will piece together their broken families, and even find love...

Two decades after abandoning the metropolis, Meche returns for her estranged father's funeral, reviving memories from her childhood she thought she buried a long time ago. What really happened back then? Is there any magic left?

Thoughts : A debut work of Silvia Moreno-Gracia and, obvs, one of her weakest works. I still enjoy it just fine and recommend this book for you who like cozy fantasy. It's a standalone too btw! so you don't have to commit yourself to a bunch of books.

Thank you Netgalley for the early copy

Was this review helpful?

Silvia Moreno Garcia rarely disappoints and it was the same with her debut. Evocative prose, incredibly complex characters and magical realism rooted in music—what more can you ask for? Turns out, alot.
While ound the dual timeline of Mercy's story, I found myself disinterested in younger Mercedes. Her character was all sharp edges and it made her a little one dimensional. Impressive as always, just not the right fit for me

Was this review helpful?