The Three Kings: A Christmas Dating Story (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
I liked it a lot, but only gave it 3 stars because of the unnecessary gay/white bashing. Yeah, she qualified it, yeah the more educated charactars constantly admonished the others about it, but I thought it was lazy onher part. Zach could have been a bit more rounded out. I mean, anybody that shallow- why would he have married her in the first place, let alone have good sex with her and stay for 6 years. So the set-up was weak and phony. the other parts were pretty good, though some seriouslydisturbing men, to be honest. And then it was funny- everyone castigated her for being too white, which led to her losing herself and her love for her peeps. But those peeps sure did need that money that she made from being so "white" and estranged from her peeps. I mean- painting on silk clothes? Yeah, that would have made her a ton of money quick. I don't know. it just seemed like Christy was damned if she did and damned if she didn't. I'm glad she had the breakthrough of love and understanding. But I also felt she should have stood up for herself. She had to get into the "white woman- Rene Zellweger" mindset to leave her community and pursue her dream. If she'd stayed Christy in the hood in her mindset she'd have been there with Maggie having babies, left and right. So, yeah, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, but again, be careful of throwing out the bathwatertoo. Maybe you still need it. And while I liked Maggie, andI know about the Wise Latina thing, and Maggie did pretty good at that. But I'm sorry, she aint that wise if she didn't educate her daughter to avoid getting knocked up at 15 like her mom before her. I just feel ilke Ms. Valdes-Rodriguez is basically saying- The ways of the Brown are good, And the ways of the White are bad and doesn't have to be that way. I struggled with this kind of thinking from others all of my life. So it's kind of disturbing.It's a testament to how well she has drawn the characters and discusses these issues that I still gave it 3 stars.BTW, I am Black. I'm still in the mood for fiction by Latina authors and Valdes-Rodriguez is one of my all time favorites and I've read all her adult novels.This time around she tells the story of Christy de la Cruz, a highly successful interior designer to high end clients in New Mexico. After her marriage ends, she finds herself turning to the internet and dating books like The Rules to piece her love life back together. At the end of her romantic rope, she prays to the Virgin Mary to send her some single, eligible men to date (because The Rules suggest you date more than one guy at a time). Soon after, at a family gathering, her cousin Maggie introduces her to three men who happen to be cousins (to each other, not to Maggie and Christy). The men are named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar...yes, like the Three Kings in the Nativity Story.Maggie suggests sort of a dating experiment and Christy must go out on three dates with each of these very different cousins to decide which one is more of a match for her. Unorthodox, of course, but very funny!
What do You think about The Three Kings: A Christmas Dating Story (2010)?
This was a cute story loved it perfect for the single gals holiday !
—pia
Kind of dumb but it was ok to read while at the beach.
—Sim97
