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lindsayerin's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Classism, and Murder
breanneporter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book, even more than Olga Dies Dreaming, which I also really enjoyed. Anita de Monte Laughs Last alternates between three perspectives over the course of nearly 20 years, following renowned artist/sculptor Jack Martin, his wife and up and coming Cuban-American artist (and titular character) Anita de Monte, and 20-year-old art history student Raquel Torro, who is navigating a new (but familiar) romantic relationship and a thesis on Jack Martin when she discovers the work of the forgotten Anita, who is still very much around to haunt those who have buried her and her work.
This novel has so much fantastic feminine rage and excellent critiques of patriarchy and white feminism. The majority of it is an incredibly frustrating and infuriating read, with moments of righteous revenge to counterbalance the overwhelming injustice and inequity that’s happening, but the title tells you what you need to know to keep reading. Anita and Raquel are both excellent characters, set up to have so many similarities while still having such distinct voices and personas that made them both feel so real. While I understand why we get Jack’s point of view, those were undoubtedly my least favorite chapters, as it’s hard to stomach being inside the self-righteous delusion of an evil and insecure man, but it certainly did only fuel my ire and my desire for justice. I do think that the characters of Claire and Margot were almost cartoonishly awful, (and I mean come on, that night was so bad that I can’t believe be Mavette could ever come back from it, her lack of action and support for Raquel) but I’m glad that the point was made (though these two didn’t get the justice they deserved in my mind!). I love how Xochitl Gonzalez writes about class and privilege and womanhood and I will always read whatever she writes!
This novel has so much fantastic feminine rage and excellent critiques of patriarchy and white feminism. The majority of it is an incredibly frustrating and infuriating read, with moments of righteous revenge to counterbalance the overwhelming injustice and inequity that’s happening, but the title tells you what you need to know to keep reading. Anita and Raquel are both excellent characters, set up to have so many similarities while still having such distinct voices and personas that made them both feel so real. While I understand why we get Jack’s point of view, those were undoubtedly my least favorite chapters, as it’s hard to stomach being inside the self-righteous delusion of an evil and insecure man, but it certainly did only fuel my ire and my desire for justice. I do think that the characters of Claire and Margot were almost cartoonishly awful, (and I mean come on, that night was so bad that I can’t believe be Mavette could ever come back from it, her lack of action and support for Raquel) but I’m glad that the point was made (though these two didn’t get the justice they deserved in my mind!). I love how Xochitl Gonzalez writes about class and privilege and womanhood and I will always read whatever she writes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexism, Racism, Classism, and Misogyny
katielong84's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Classism
laurenexploresbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Art, power, love, murder, and finding yourself all come together in this challenging and beautiful novel. I felt so much rage, sorrow, and hope while reading this work. It is a work that particularly to me as a Chicana woman reminds me to not make myself small, or palatable to a white gaze and be myself, and demand change in systems.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Classism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Murder, Racism, and Death
martinj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Racism
Minor: Sexual violence
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
TL;DR: So disappointing! Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González is another well-written, captivating read that I gave a low rating to because I have fundamental ethical issues with how the author chose to write this story. In short, this book champions the value of remembrance and the important role someone’s cultural background and life story plays in their art, but González betrays these very values in the act of writing this book.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last follows two timelines. The first follows the titular Anita de Monte, an upcoming Cuban American artist in a fractious marriage with Jack Martin, a minimalist darling in the art world. Jack’s cruel narcissism and Anita’s strong sense of self-worth clash repeatedly, until one day Anita is found dead after a fall from their New York City apartment in 1985. The second timeline takes place in the late 1990s from the perspective of Raquel, an art history student at Brown University who is eager to find her place in the elite art world. Raquel chooses to write her thesis on Jack Martin but discovers the forgotten art and life of Anita de Monte in the process, changing her life trajectory.
The chapters from Raquel’s perspective are the strongest part of the story. Raquel’s life, perspective, and relationships are fleshed out and vibrant; González expertly builds the world around her and explores how that world’s exclusivity, xenophobia, and racism negatively affects Raquel’s career and personal life. The little details make this story come to life, and it’s clear that it comes from a place that is close to the author’s heart and experiences. Through Raquel’s work in the art world, the book also makes some interesting points about culture, art, and storytelling.
Anita’s chapters are captivating due to González’s strong writing style, but something about Anita’s character feels off to me. Anita is significantly less developed as a character than Raquel; despite the book’s repeated assertions that Anita’s Cuban identity and past profoundly shape her character and her work, these elements remain blurry and underdeveloped. I looked up reviews of this book on GoodReads and discovered that Anita’s story is directly inspired by the true life and death of Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta, right down to the small details about Anita’s life and work. (Thank you to Avery Desmond for bringing this to my attention in their review!)
This is a problem for two reasons.
One, González never makes it clear to the reader that Anita’s story is a fictional retelling of a real-life tragedy. Nowhere in this book does it say that it was inspired by real people and events, and the author does not mention Mendieta by her full name; the most she gets is a quick first-name mention in the dedication. Which is so fucking weird, especially since one of the book’s biggest morals is how important it is to remember the names and contributions of women of color in art, especially for people like Anita, who were victimized and mistreated in their life and death. So why does it feel like González is intentionally deceiving her audience and burying the real story of Ana Mendieta?
Two, González is a non-Cuban author fictionalizing the story of a real Cuban American person, and it shows. Her depictions of Cuba and Anita’s Cuban-ness feel way more stereotypical and flat compared to Raquel’s. The book asserts that Anita is more than just a “spicy Cuban” stereotype, but ultimately, that’s all she really gets to be in the story. The author relegates her background, family life, and relationship to Cuba to just a handful of sentences, and almost all we see of Anita are moments where she’s angry, spiteful, or vengeful. That’s not to say that Anita doesn’t have a good reason for her anger, but I think a Cuban author who truly felt strongly about doing service to Ana’s story would do a much better job at crafting a fully realized character. Again, González’s choice to write Anita clashes with the values espoused in the book, which makes clear the perils of divorcing art from a person’s cultural background. Why did González feel like she was the right person to tell Ana Mendieta’s story, and why doesn’t she even acknowledge that she’s telling it?
I’m so disappointed, because Raquel’s story could have stood on its own as this book’s only narrative. As I said earlier, Raquel’s chapters are well-written, powerful, and engaging. González wouldn’t need to change anything about Raquel’s story, except to replace the name “Anita de Monte” with “Ana Mendieta” and mention the real-life artist in an author’s note. But because González decided to appropriate a historical tragedy without acknowledgment, this book left a bad taste in my mouth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Murder, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Racism
Moderate: Eating disorder and Body horror
bibliomich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Following two parallel stories set a decade apart, Anita de Monte Laughs Last dives deep into the themes of art, ego, racism, classism, feminism, and love. And Xochitl Gonzalez does this with such brilliant wit that the book had me literally laughing out loud one second, and then dropping my mouth in astonishment in the next.
What I loved:
- The audiobook narration. If you can listen to this one, I highly recommend it. The book rotates between three different narrators, all of whom bring so much life and passion to the characters' voices.
- The characters: Anita de Monte is the queen of revenge, and I loved every second of it. Beyond the title character, though, Gonzalez has created a full cast of characters whom you love to love and/or love to hate.
- The way the author depicts the art world: I'll admit--I know nothing about the art world, art history, or art genres, but it didn't matter at all. Gonzalez swept me up into this world, and even though I was coming in with no prior knowledge, I felt like I understood it all. The elitism, the b.s., the racism--all of it was so well illustrated that I could see these scenes playing out in my mind as if I were standing there in those very galleries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy!
What I loved:
- The audiobook narration. If you can listen to this one, I highly recommend it. The book rotates between three different narrators, all of whom bring so much life and passion to the characters' voices.
- The characters: Anita de Monte is the queen of revenge, and I loved every second of it. Beyond the title character, though, Gonzalez has created a full cast of characters whom you love to love and/or love to hate.
- The way the author depicts the art world: I'll admit--I know nothing about the art world, art history, or art genres, but it didn't matter at all. Gonzalez swept me up into this world, and even though I was coming in with no prior knowledge, I felt like I understood it all. The elitism, the b.s., the racism--all of it was so well illustrated that I could see these scenes playing out in my mind as if I were standing there in those very galleries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Death, Eating disorder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Murder, and Racism
reneethebookbird's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Classism
burnedoutbookdragon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
WHEWW CHILE! I am still thinking about this book days later, unable to fully describe how I feel about it, but here goes...
Method:: audiobook
Rating: 5+ ⭐
Narration: 5⭐
Diversity: YES
If you want a book that makes you FEEL, this book is for you. This book is frustratingly REAL, provocative, and having you go through all the emotions! Reading this book is like watching a car accident (before, during, and after), wanting to look/walk away because it's devastating but you can't because you just have to know what happens.
I think almost every woman has dated a man like Jack/Nick, which is sad. A man who's attracted to powerful, passionate women, but their insecurities take over. This book has dual timelines from the '80s, following Anita de Monte and Jack. Also in the late '90s, Raquel, an art history student at a prestigious university, who's life starts to mirror that of Anita's. There are three points of view, switching between Anita, Jack, and Raquel. Whoever voiced Anita's character NEEDS AN AWARD. She had me oscillate between love, hate, and empathy for Anita. The writing is superb. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. The narration was beautiful.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an uncorrected proof audiobook, in exchange for an honest review
Method:: audiobook
Rating: 5+ ⭐
Narration: 5⭐
Diversity: YES
If you want a book that makes you FEEL, this book is for you. This book is frustratingly REAL, provocative, and having you go through all the emotions! Reading this book is like watching a car accident (before, during, and after), wanting to look/walk away because it's devastating but you can't because you just have to know what happens.
I think almost every woman has dated a man like Jack/Nick, which is sad. A man who's attracted to powerful, passionate women, but their insecurities take over. This book has dual timelines from the '80s, following Anita de Monte and Jack. Also in the late '90s, Raquel, an art history student at a prestigious university, who's life starts to mirror that of Anita's. There are three points of view, switching between Anita, Jack, and Raquel. Whoever voiced Anita's character NEEDS AN AWARD. She had me oscillate between love, hate, and empathy for Anita. The writing is superb. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. The narration was beautiful.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an uncorrected proof audiobook, in exchange for an honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Death, and Classism
kimberpoi's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was simply incredible from start to finish. This novel surrounds two parallel timelines with similar couplings and a crime in the timeline of the past. This novel includes mystery, intrigue, art, family dynamics and so on, The multiple layers that the author was able to create and move the story along was masterful. I enjoyed her prior novel but this was just so much more than I expected! I found myself mentally yelling at the characters, questioning if events on paper actually occurred until the very end. I highly recommend this novel. 5 plus stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racism, Eating disorder, and Death
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