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mishale1's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.5
Wow. What a story!
This book has powerful characters. It tells a truly unique story. It takes on some heavy stuff. And it keeps you entertained and turning pages the whole time.
This book takes place in two timelines with two different female main characters.
In 1985 we meet Anita. She is a gifted artist. She’s always on the brink of making it big. But she’s in a relationship with another artist. While Anita is female and from Cuba, her boyfriend/husband is a white male artist. And there are days it feels like he has an in with the art world and she’s being kept out. They have a really fiery relationship. It’s not a healthy relationship for either of them.
Anita finally reached the place where her own art work seems like it’s going to be truly in the public eye. And she decides to leave her husband but not before one last big fight.
And Anita winds up dead.
In 1998 we meet Raquel. She is in art school. She is also a young, female artist with family from Cuba. If she knew about Anita, she’d see some similarities. But she doesn’t know about Anita yet and it seems like no one knows Anita’s name anymore. Because, unfortunately, after Anita died her work all just faded away along with her.
Raquel is trying to fit in at a school that’s mostly white students. Mostly, rich, white students. She’s never been ashamed of her family or her background but she wanted different things.
When she meets a rich, young, handsome artist, he kind of sweeps her off her feet.
But you can see the hints of an abusive relationship. Sure, he wants her to feel beautiful and respected but he wants her to feel like he’s the only one who really sees and appreciates her.
I think this book handles abusive relationships in a delicate way. Sure, we see worse with Anita and her husband but with Raquel the most upsetting moment is a haircut.
This book also takes on the issues of how it is harder for women, especially women of other races and ethnic groups than Caucasian, to make their way in the art world. And also how history is often told by the victors. How could Anita just be erased from history? With money and connections.
And to read this story and be blown away by the plot only to find out that it’s based on a real person? Wow. It turns out there really was a Cuban female artist whose husband killed her and then not only got away scot-free but tried to erase her from history. And did it work? Her name was Anna Mendieta. She might not have gotten the last laugh but we get to see Anita get hers.
I really enjoyed this wild ride.
This book has powerful characters. It tells a truly unique story. It takes on some heavy stuff. And it keeps you entertained and turning pages the whole time.
This book takes place in two timelines with two different female main characters.
In 1985 we meet Anita. She is a gifted artist. She’s always on the brink of making it big. But she’s in a relationship with another artist. While Anita is female and from Cuba, her boyfriend/husband is a white male artist. And there are days it feels like he has an in with the art world and she’s being kept out. They have a really fiery relationship. It’s not a healthy relationship for either of them.
Anita finally reached the place where her own art work seems like it’s going to be truly in the public eye. And she decides to leave her husband but not before one last big fight.
And Anita winds up dead.
In 1998 we meet Raquel. She is in art school. She is also a young, female artist with family from Cuba. If she knew about Anita, she’d see some similarities. But she doesn’t know about Anita yet and it seems like no one knows Anita’s name anymore. Because, unfortunately, after Anita died her work all just faded away along with her.
Raquel is trying to fit in at a school that’s mostly white students. Mostly, rich, white students. She’s never been ashamed of her family or her background but she wanted different things.
When she meets a rich, young, handsome artist, he kind of sweeps her off her feet.
But you can see the hints of an abusive relationship. Sure, he wants her to feel beautiful and respected but he wants her to feel like he’s the only one who really sees and appreciates her.
I think this book handles abusive relationships in a delicate way. Sure, we see worse with Anita and her husband but with Raquel the most upsetting moment is a haircut.
This book also takes on the issues of how it is harder for women, especially women of other races and ethnic groups than Caucasian, to make their way in the art world. And also how history is often told by the victors. How could Anita just be erased from history? With money and connections.
And to read this story and be blown away by the plot only to find out that it’s based on a real person? Wow. It turns out there really was a Cuban female artist whose husband killed her and then not only got away scot-free but tried to erase her from history. And did it work? Her name was Anna Mendieta. She might not have gotten the last laugh but we get to see Anita get hers.
I really enjoyed this wild ride.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death, and Physical abuse
rokojo's review against another edition
3.5
This book follows two parallel stories, Anita de Monte, artist in 1985, and Raquel, art history student in 1998. It explores themes of racism in the art world and in Academia as well as abusive dynamics between white men and women of colour, specifically within historically white institutions.
I thought this book was well done. The characters felt real and I felt frustrated on their behalf for what they experienced. I think Raquel's story specifically dealt really well with how racism can be internalised and turned into shame, and how it feels to lose yourself in an exciting new relationship that then becomes controlling. I will say I didn't initially expect the cause of Anita's death which happened early on, but once I was able to adjust my expectations it was fine.
After reading the book and looking into it a bit more, I discovered the story of Ana Mendieta which gave the story a whole new level of meaning to learn it was inspired by her life.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.
I thought this book was well done. The characters felt real and I felt frustrated on their behalf for what they experienced. I think Raquel's story specifically dealt really well with how racism can be internalised and turned into shame, and how it feels to lose yourself in an exciting new relationship that then becomes controlling. I will say I didn't initially expect the cause of Anita's death which happened early on, but once I was able to adjust my expectations it was fine.
After reading the book and looking into it a bit more, I discovered the story of Ana Mendieta which gave the story a whole new level of meaning to learn it was inspired by her life.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Eating disorder
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