I, Juan de Pareja - Elizabeth Borton de Treviño

This book was okay. Not completely fascinating, but not completely boring either. The kind of book that if there was a movie - the movie would likely be better.

The book was assigned before winter break, so maybe I had a more motivation to read it so I could finish it before then. Honestly, I didn't hate reading it, but it wasn't good enough that I'd  read more than I had to. Like most books, it had it's high peaks and lower aspects. Sometimes I found myself wondering, even just the slightest bit, what would happen next. Then others, it was a "let's just get this done as soon as possible" kind of read.

The story was interesting, but I think the author could've made it more intriguing. However, the book is based on a real person, so the author did her best. It is about a slave who had a loving Master and Mistress, until they died. When they died, he was led to his new home in Spain by a cruel guy. So cruel, that Juan ran away from him to try to find his own way to Spain. His plan failed because his greedy guide wouldn't get paid until he brought him safely to his new master. We are relieved when his new master is nothing like his guide, in fact, the very opposite. He is a wonderful painter and soon the master and the slave, Juan de Pareja, become good friends. But, Juan started to want to learn the art of painting, which was illegal for slaves. So, he taught himself in secret. As the story progresses, it gets more interesting and a little more suspenseful. That's why I would say the ending was the best.

The ending was what you hoped for throughout the story, along with a little love story. It's beautiful, joyful, and satisfying. Then - woah! -  plot twist! It goes downhill then back up to the peak. It's basically the equivalent of a book roller-coaster, however, it's not hectic or insane, it just keeps us on our toes until the very end. Very well written near the end.

All in all, the book was satisfying, but not my favorite. Like other books before it, it had good parts and others that weren't so good. One of the best things about this book, though, is that it is not predictable. Although, I'm still glad I didn't have to read it on winter break.