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mulhollen's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I loved the different point of views throughout the book of Anita, Jack, and Raquel.
However my rating for this book is lower as it was not clear this book was based off Ana Mendieta and her life. So much was mirrored to Anita’s life and even specific art, but Gonzalez wrote without consulting the family or mentioning her name. Feels hypocritical and similar to how Jack hides Anita’s work.
I keep my rating higher as it least accomplishes what Raquel does for Anita. Gets people talking about Ana! I probably would not have known her story without this book.
I hope Gonzalez and Mendieta family can work together and turn this into the dedication Ana deserves.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/02/style/ana-mendieta-family-estate.html
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Racism
autumn_alwaysreadingseason's review against another edition
3.0
In the 1990s, Raquel is an art history major at Brown. Her mentor is a Jack Martin scholar and she is writing her senior thesis about Martin to get a good recommendation. She becomes involved with an artist and loses herself, mirroring Anita's story in some ways. But after months of body shaming, an incident makes Raquel wake up. She frees herself and also discovers Anita's work and story.
This is a tough one. Looking back, I appreciate how Gonzalez weaves these two women together and criticizes the art scene for centering white male narratives. Anita's work had so much more meaning that Jack's minimalist pieces, but she wasn't recognized. The volatility of their relationship was always on full display and many people witnessed how terrible he was to her, but nobody did anything about it. Creative industries often abuse women (women of color even more).
However, this was hard to get through because of how terrible the men were. I had to mentally prepare myself every time I listened to it. I also should have looked up content warnings because there is a lot of body shaming and one of the characters struggles with disordered eating.
The audiobook production on this one is intense. The actresses got into character and really displayed the passion and emotion in the scenes that required it.
Graphic: Body shaming and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder
thereadinggradstudent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, and Violence
phillybookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Violence
marcostorin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic friendship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Classism
kingsteph's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Toxic friendship
lizcaruth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse
ladelgado13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Emotional abuse
lindsayerin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Classism, and Murder