Like a Sack of Rice (Simile)
Toward the end of the novel, Cara goes to Alexis's salon for a haircut. Disturbed by the state of her appearance she says: "I sat in that chair like a sack of arroz with a hole in it." She compares herself to a sack of rice to emphasize the fact that she felt she did not look good that day.
Like a Fisherman (Simile)
While talking about America, Cara compares it to a fisherman: "But now I see that this country is like that fisherman with fast hands on the beach who shows you the big fat fish, but when he cooks, he says it shrink." This simile draws a parallel between a fisherman exaggerating the size of his catch and America overpromising opportunity. What Cara means when she says this is that opportunity in America is a great deal like the fish: much smaller than advertised but talked up a great deal.
Skin Like a Penny (Simile)
Cara says that Lulu's skin is "like a penny." She says this as a kind of compliment, as she says it makes her hair look good. She uses this simile to highlight the shade and brightness of Lulu's skin.
Pedaling a Bike (Metaphor)
At the beginning of the novel, Cara says: "If we don't get on this bike and pedal, for sure we get nowhere." She uses this bike metaphor to say that if they don't start working on her employment situation soon, nothing will happen for her, in the same way a bike will remain stationary if it is not pedaled.
A Ship With Many Holes (Metaphor)
When talking about her brother's marriage, Cara uses the following metaphor: "Miguelina was married to my brother, a ship with many holes." By comparing Rafa to "a ship with many holes," she emphasizes his unreliability as well as his alcoholism and health issues. What she means is that he is a bad choice for a husband.
