logo

32 pages 1 hour read

Luis Alberto Urrea

The House of Broken Angels

Luis Alberto UrreaFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Luis Alberto Urrea

The House of Broken Angels

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

San Diego, California • Contemporary

Theme
Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The House of Broken Angels takes place in San Diego over two days, spanning seven decades of memories, as the de la Cruz family, led by patriarch Big Angel, attend their mother's funeral and celebrate Big Angel's final birthday. The narrative captures their reflections on family history, personal struggles, and life philosophies amid complex family dynamics and poignant moments. Contains themes of terminal illness, gang violence, and bereavement.

Emotional

Bittersweet

Contemplative

Nostalgic

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

4.1

21,552 ratings

71%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Luis Alberto Urrea's The House of Broken Angels is widely praised for its vivid characters and emotional depth, capturing the complexities of a Mexican-American family. Critics commend Urrea’s lyrical prose and cultural authenticity. However, some find the plot occasionally meandering and dense. Overall, it's a powerful, heartfelt narrative rich in familial themes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The House of Broken Angels?

Readers of The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea would appreciate family sagas rich in cultural heritage and emotional depth. Fans of Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits or Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude would find this novel’s exploration of Mexican-American identity compelling.

4.1

21,552 ratings

71%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

San Diego, California • Contemporary

Theme
Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.