Rating: 
Summary: It Reads Like Reality
Review: Ana a 27 year old woman lives with her parents in San Francisco. An Argentinian by birth Ani opts to go stay with her mother's sister for a time following the aunties' becoming a widow. Ani learns her Tia is being evicted from the home where she and Tio Jose lived for so many years. Ani stays with her aunt for a year during which time she begins to work with one of the charitable groups at her Tia's church and finds she is drawn to the young priest. Ani returns to San Francisco when she learns her father is dying. Not long after her Russian born Father's death Ani returns to Argentina in time to help her auntie find a suitable new home.This was an interesting book written in first person style. The format is one which finds a good bit of author information listed first, suggestion move to the back of the book. The particular format for this book is a little different than many I have read a list of 41 chapters allow the reader to click on and find the particular place where he may have stopped reading. Writer Renkoff has produced an absorbing book filled with entertaining and mostly believable characters. I did find Ani a bit too naïve for an American girl, while born in Argentina, Ani has been raised in California since childhood. Even in the most sheltered of homes it is hard for this California gal to be convinced so innocent a 27 year old would come from that state. The book is a pleasant read touching on the day to day lives of rather average people trying to live and make sense of the world around them. Entertaining, recommended for those who are not into graphic sex and profanity.
Rating:
Summary: A Touching Story
Review: Ani is a 26 year-old San Franciscan whose life is stuck in a rut. She is lonely, unfulfilled and longing for an independent life.
After her uncle passes away, she heads for Buenos Aires (where she spent her early childhood before her family emigrated to the U.S.) to care for her widowed tia, Esther.
The balance of the novel chronicles Ani's personal growth and self-discovery as she negotiates with her tia's heartless landlord, cares for the elderly through her local church and copes with her feelings for Padre Luis, her parish priest.
The prose and story have a relaxed pace that reflects the lives of Ani and Esther as they go about their daily routines, which invariably includes a daily dose of mortadella and café con leche.
The author does a great job in conveying a sense of local life and in character development. Ani and Esther are genuine people with whom the reader can empathize. I particularly felt for the stubborn and likeable Esther, who had a hard life and, at an advanced age, must deal with the uprooting of a life she had known for decades.
The novel's core strength lies in how Ani deals with loneliness, depression and a desire for a happier, more fulfilling life. Anyone who has felt similarly will relate to Ani and, at the novel's conclusion, will wish her the best.
As for criticisms, I would have liked a little background as to how Ani, at the age of 27 and having grown up in San Francisco, came to be so naïve. She seems quite sheltered, with no profession, close friends or relationship experience. Like Sandy in Grease, she is a prime candidate for a makeover, and at one point I wished I could have bought her a Long Island iced tea, a pack of cigarettes and a gift certificate to some trendy clothing store.
Also, Ani's stay in Argentina is set in the early 80s, which followed a tumultuous time in Argentine history. As someone interested in Latin American history, I wished that somehow the author could have incorporated, or at least referenced, some of those events -- especially considering that Esther's husband was a union mechanic.
However, the author seemed intent on keeping the story focused on Ani and Esther and the daily flow of their lives.
Finally, I thought the ending was a little abrupt and depressing but yet ultimately more believable than the conclusion for which the reader was hoping.
Hope to hear from you soon, Ani!
Rating:
Summary: A Simple and Touching Story
Review: Different Flags is a thoroughly enjoyable, simply told story of a young Argentine -American woman trying to find her place in the world. At the same time, she makes time to help her elderly aunt through an eviction from her long-time home, and she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Padre Luis. When reading this very visual and touching story, I realized Different Flags, in the right hands, would make a great movie. Is Hollywood listening?
Rating: 
Summary: Ani and Her Voyage
Review: Different Flags, by Eugenia Renskoff, is a good book. Ani, the protagonist of the novel is a young lady who just wants to leave home. One day a telegram arrives saying that her Uncle Juan in Argentina has died. Ani sells a few pieces of her jewelry and buys a one-way ticket to Buenos Aires. As she helps her Aunt Esther adjust to widowhood, Ani finds a different Argentina. It's not the same place she knew as a small child before going with her family to the U.S. To add to this,Ani finds herself falling in love with Padre Luis, her aunt's young parish priest.
What else can I say? I really enjoyed the book. It's a good read and it tells an interesting story.
Rating:
Summary: An Argentine version of Forbidden Love
Review: I enjoyed reading Different Flags. The story and events thoughout the book were most interesting and informative to one who has never lived in Buenos Aires. I liked the descriptions of the characters, the story teller, her Aunt and the Priest and the neighbors. The development of their relationship and interaction with each other was skillfully done. At times I had a real vision of their home, their neighborhood and daily routines. The only criticism I have with the book is the syntax. Some of the sentences end with a preposition. Perhaps the author meant to show us how the characters would talk if this were real life. My sister has also enjoyed Different Flags, and we just passed it on to another friend.
Rating:
Summary: Ani and Her Search for a New Home
Review: I have just read a new novel. It's called Different Flags, by Eugenia Renskoff, and it is different. Different Flags is not your run-of-the-mill novel. It tells a story about a young woman (26-year-old Ani) who leaves her family of origin in California to go take care of her Aunt Esther in Argentina after her Uncle Juan's death of cancer. When Ani gets to Buenos Aires, she realizes she's got problems: her own as well as her aunt's.It seems that her aunt Esther's landlord wants her to move out as soon as possible and Ani falls for the local parish priest. Different Flags is a quick read. It held my interest and it showed me quite vividly what a young woman has to go through if she really wants (and needs) to grow up in many important ways. It's not that simple.The scenes of life in Argentina aren't bad either. And as a person of Latin American descent, I'm glad there's a book taking place in Argentina. It's about time.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Descriptions of Daily Argentinean Life
Review: I received Different Flags as a gift, and I had my reservations about enjoying it. After all, the author is relatively unknown. But, as I read, I found myself impressed with the way she describes daily life in Argentina and the protagonist's attitude towards her aunt. The lead characters ( Ani, her aunt and the priest) are well-developed, too. The language and the grammar used in this book is not always the language of someone born in the United States. It's not a novel for someone seeking something American. However, this fits the story well. Different Flags takes place in another country, where people and their habits are different. The Thornbirds is a more famous book, but I didn't count it against the author of this one at all.
Rating:
Summary: Resigning to Fatalism
Review: If you're looking to stretch the boundaries of your literary intellect, Different Flags is a read that will assist you.
Ms. Renskoff has crafted a tale of forbidden love rarely spoken or written of. Her writing style, though simplistic, paints an indelible picture for the readers. So descriptive are the scenes that you feel you have a connection to the country and its inhabitants. It is the presentation of the character's thoughts and interaction, that draws you into this tale.
Ani, a native Argentine finds herself returning to her homeland to care for an elderly aunt. Upon arrival she is faced with her aunt's possible eviction. Remaining in Buenos Aires for a year, Ani involves herself with care of her aunt and charity work. This involvement places her in a precarious position, due to development of affection for the parish priest. Her emotions are those experienced by many. Her story is unique due to the object of her affection.
Different Flags, a refreshing step away from the norm. It challenges while entertaining and teaching.
Rating:
Summary: An Argentine version of Forbidden Love
Review: Recently, my friends passed this novel on to me. Read Different Flags, they told me, you'll like it. And so I did. I liked Ani the young voice of this story, her aunt Esther and their neighbors. I even liked the priest, even if maybe I wasn't supposed to. The scenes telling about life in Argentina and the way the characters are presented are well done. They give the reader more than a taste of armchair travel, and I enjoyed being taken around Buenos Aires. One thing I would have liked is less prepositions. But, I'd read this book again.
Rating:
Summary: Resigning to Fatalism
Review: When god enters into one's belief system it becomes self evident that His will dominates our own leaving us with a suubordinate vision. Ani's object of affection is forbbiden by Society, her dear aunt, and most of all herself leaving her wanting and predestined to fail. In reading DF one wonders if Ani's situation resembles our own. Perhaps where there is a will there is a way. A very good read for those who struggle with free will
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