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twirlsandwhirls's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was so excited to read this book because I loved Xochitl Gonzalez's debut, Olga Dies Dreaming. I hear about this one and got in the hold line at my local library before it was released!
This was a harder read for me than I expected because it touched a lot on experiences I thought I'd buried, of being a Black face in a sea of white ones within my academic field and overall college experience. Of working in white spaces, of being in art museums and not hearing much about artists of color. Robert Jones Jr.'s quote on the back of the book says that this book is an "affirmation for anyone who's ever had to 'work twice as hard to get half as much.'" I felt that strongly as I read through.
The depiction of relationships between Latina artists and white ones were tough to read because there was so much that rang true about them (Raquel and Nick being from different New Yorks, for example) but more so because those relationships brought so much pain. They weren't equal or equitable. The white artists had money, power, and access in a way that exotified the Latina artists and made them look like gold diggers. I feel like I read so much about Nick Fitzsimmons and Jack Martin, more than my fill really, but I didn't need to because I'd heard of folks like them before.
Seeing Anita de Monte haunt Jack Martin and his collaborators was so cool! Imagining that ceiba tree filled with bats was riveting. I wonder what her trips to Cuba had been like before she died. What rituals had she engaged in? How did she connect to the ancestors, to nature? /spoiler> I just had to read about Ana Mendienta, the artist who the titular Anita de Monte was based on. I'd love to learn more about her and the artists she surrounded herself with since no one works in a vacuum. This was such a complicated read and a strange book in the best of ways. It was worth it for me to sit with it and work my way through the story. Hopefully in the future, a story like this will just be about Latinas existing and not having to fight for every little thing.
This was a harder read for me than I expected because it touched a lot on experiences I thought I'd buried, of being a Black face in a sea of white ones within my academic field and overall college experience. Of working in white spaces, of being in art museums and not hearing much about artists of color. Robert Jones Jr.'s quote on the back of the book says that this book is an "affirmation for anyone who's ever had to 'work twice as hard to get half as much.'" I felt that strongly as I read through.
The depiction of relationships between Latina artists and white ones were tough to read because there was so much that rang true about them (Raquel and Nick being from different New Yorks, for example) but more so because those relationships brought so much pain. They weren't equal or equitable. The white artists had money, power, and access in a way that exotified the Latina artists and made them look like gold diggers. I feel like I read so much about Nick Fitzsimmons and Jack Martin, more than my fill really, but I didn't need to because I'd heard of folks like them before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder
spookymartinireads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Art history meets magical realism meets scorned women getting their revenge meets white fragility meets first gen experiences. Slow burn but towards the end of the second half of the book I could not stop thinking about Anita and Raquel, the protagonists, so worth finishing imo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racism
spinstah's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
It took me a little while to get into this but once I did I found it really engaging. I liked the parallel structure of Anita and Raquel’s lives and thought the way the trial was handled in the narrative was perfect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Domestic abuse
whatkelsreads's review against another edition
Anita de Montes Laughs Last is an insightful, thought-provoking story of the art world and higher education. It explores how the Western male ideals of what is “Art” erase voices other than the white man. Women and POC are relegated to the other, and studied only in comparison to the white male standard.
However, it is extremely problematic that Gonzalez erases the real life of Ana Mendieta. Anita de Montes is clearly based on Ana Mendieta, but she is only mentioned by her first name and only in the dedication of the book. The irony of obscuring the real artist in a story about erasing female and POC voices is stark. I wish Gonzalez had chosen to write a similar story with actual fictional characters rather than borrowing from someone’s life without honoring her.
Extreme trigger warnings for intimate partner violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
sylvimblack's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
sarahrose_a's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
I wish there had been a lot less/none from the POV of the chauvinist abuser…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Domestic abuse
ebroeffle's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
This was difficult emotionally at times, but overall I still really enjoyed it and it is a powerful novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Classism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder and Homophobia
openbookheartmind's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Eating disorder
luhreen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
kharcourt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I loved the overarching story of two Latina artists interweaving across generations, I struggled to get through this book due to the heavy domestic abuse, especially the chapters from the abuser’s perspective. I would have preferred to hear from solely from Anita and Raquel, and to have their stories start to interweave earlier on in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Gaslighting