San Miguel

by T.C. Boyle
San Miguel cover
Good Books rating 3.0
Historical Fiction
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  • ID: 10183
  • Added: 2026-01-16
  • Updated: 2026-01-16
  • ISBN: 9781408830710
  • Publisher: A&C Black
  • Published: 2012-09-19
  • Reviews: 3

San Miguel is a vivid and gripping story of hard lives pitched against the elements, the desires of stubborn men and the unbearable burden of love, from master American storyteller T. C. Boyle. The novel follows two families over time, each struggling to survive on the remote and unforgiving island. Marantha Waters, a 38-year-old woman, arrives with her husband and daughter, hoping for a new life but finding only isolation and hardship. Decades later, another family arrives, facing the island's haunting history and the threat of war. The novel explores themes of love, isolation, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity./n/nThe island of San Miguel serves as a stark and unforgiving backdrop to the lives of the families who call it home. The novel's vivid descriptions of the island's harsh environment and the families' struggles to survive create a powerful and moving narrative. Boyle's masterful storytelling brings to life the complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of love and hope in the face of adversity.

Reviews
Bookmunch · Bookmunch · 2012-10-19
negative 2.50

The novel's exploration of the island's inhospitable terrain is compelling, but the focus on the characters' unhappiness makes it a depressing read. The prose is faultless, but the story is ultimately unsatisfying.

Bookmunch highlights the novel's vivid portrayal of the island's harsh environment, which serves as a fitting backdrop for the characters' struggles. However, the relentless focus on their unhappiness makes the story a challenging and depressing experience. The prose is praised for its precision and rhythm, but the overall narrative fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion. Bookmunch suggests that while the novel is well-crafted, it may not be for those seeking a more uplifting reading experience.

Quick quotes

    San Miguel, like Anacapa in When the Killing's Done, is relatively inhospitable terrain, hard to reach and hard to occupy.

    It takes a certain kind of person to thrive in such a place.

    The novel is ultimately depressing and unsatisfying.

The Guardian · Stephen Amidon · 2012-10-12
mixed 3.50

The book's vivid descriptions of the landscape are impressive, but the narrative falls short of being truly epic. The characters' stories are intertwined in a way that highlights the harsh realities of island life.

Stephen Amidon praises T.C. Boyle's skill in evoking the rugged beauty of the island, making the setting almost a character in itself. However, he finds that the story, while ambitious, doesn't quite reach the epic proportions it aims for. The intertwining narratives of the two families are compelling, but the overall impact is somewhat diluted by the sheer scope of the novel. Amidon appreciates Boyle's ability to capture the essence of human struggle against nature, but feels the execution could have been more focused.

Quick quotes

    Boyle is skilful enough to make it feel as though it is reaching in that direction.

    His evocations of landscape are vivid and compelling.

    The narrative falls short of being truly epic.

NPR · Heller McAlpin · 2012-09-20
negative 3.00

The novel maintains Boyle's signature satirical tone, but the characters are treated with a biting harshness that makes the story difficult to enjoy. The island setting is beautifully described, but the overall tone is bleak.

Heller McAlpin notes that T.C. Boyle's 'San Miguel' is a departure from his usual satirical style, but the biting tone remains. She finds the characters unlikable and the story harsh, which makes it a challenging read. Despite this, McAlpin appreciates the vivid descriptions of the island and the intricate exploration of human nature. The novel's bleak tone is a significant factor, making it a more somber experience than some of Boyle's other works.

Quick quotes

    T.C. Boyle's past work is largely satirical and tough on his characters.

    In San Miguel, readers will find the same biting tone, but none of the levity.

    The island setting is beautifully described, but the overall tone is bleak.

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