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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: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Classism
reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The highlighting of forgotten voices is not a new concept to explore. It will be easy for some to dismiss this as pushing a tired narrative at best or at worse while I don't picture those of the persuasion would be interested in this book to begin with being heavy handed in some of the elements it highlights. I confess that I had a bit of a jaded opinion until I started getting into the ryhthm of the narrative and the pieces started to fall into place.
So I'd challenge these readers to consider that they author chose to set this in a specific time frame. While there has been an increasing push to acknowledge forgotten voices we only got to this place where our eyes and hearts are open to a broader concept of how we were taught and now view history by people who existed at that turning point. That's not to say that there weren't many before our current day who didn't let stories be forgotten. But I'd venture to guess that it was in a time like the late 90s that the second perspective travels in that existed at this really significant crossing between timing and attention that started the ball rolling to where we find ourselves now.
ONe aspect about this novel that I appreciate is the parallel not only how someone's work is judged, but how their personality is. We are used to seeing characters like Anita cast as angry, vengeful, spiteful ,and ugly. In this book Anita isn't restrained, that is true, but it's also painfully clear that both people in that relationship are toxic in their own ways. The difference is that female anger is far less 'acceptable'. Anita, nor the author, ever apologizes for this portrayal because why should it be demeaning for Anita but not her husband? It's wrapped up in the same bow as his career- what happens when he comes under suspicion as opposed to what would happen to her. I loved her anger because it wasn't just that--it was passion. It was her being completely honest with herself and the world.
Without wanting to give away the twist to this novel, I absolutely adored how it gave a fantastical element constraints. I loved the concept of memory as fuel, power. It adds an extra layer to the revelations that can be contained simply by acknowledging and lifting up a voice.
I also enjoyed how it brushed on not asking for erasure of things that have long been deemed as classics or masters, but just challenged the reasons why and supported the expansion of those notions.
The notion of family, found and real, was also an incredible point.
Finally, I generally consider it a good thing if reading a book from the perspective of someone who shares a different life experience from me if I'm uncomfortable. I welcome it making me consider my own ideas and ways of thinking. So I struggle with how to express this particular reaction I had. It's not because it rang my guilt bell. It was more of a second hand pain for some of the couples I have known.
I very recently finished another book that dealt with an interracial and class relationship that was disastrous. Now I'm not saying for a moment that those experiences are even outliers. The emphasis on more privileged trying to 'better' others is probably more common than ever, honestly. But it left me wondering if there was any room to portray these things as anything but. Or, on the other side of seeing these things portrayed, for them to be completely idealized with no understandings and full acceptance. It was a little disheartening to see relationships that were portrayed as possibly having serious flaws being recognized and altered to spiraling. Though, to be fair, if the misconceptions stemmed from class or race or only when these two converged is not necessarily apparent.
Given the particular narrative I understood why things went in this direction for this story and the sake of parallels. It just led me to the realization of how much appreciation I have for stories where differences are seen, mistakes are made, and addressed in ways that paint characters in less drastically villainous ways. Not necessarily for everything to be happily ever after or magically okay. People can fail to make a relationship work, fail to realize in all the ways they still need to work on themselves, without being all out destructive to the other. It wouldn't have worked in this story, but I hope we are also creating spaces for that dynamic to be shown if only in homage to people who have navigated these spaces of cross cultural relationships when it was even less prominent or portrayed as just a mater of fetishism.
a really memorable, passionate, read. Though, as an art lover, I suppose I might have also gone in with bias.
So I'd challenge these readers to consider that they author chose to set this in a specific time frame. While there has been an increasing push to acknowledge forgotten voices we only got to this place where our eyes and hearts are open to a broader concept of how we were taught and now view history by people who existed at that turning point. That's not to say that there weren't many before our current day who didn't let stories be forgotten. But I'd venture to guess that it was in a time like the late 90s that the second perspective travels in that existed at this really significant crossing between timing and attention that started the ball rolling to where we find ourselves now.
ONe aspect about this novel that I appreciate is the parallel not only how someone's work is judged, but how their personality is. We are used to seeing characters like Anita cast as angry, vengeful, spiteful ,and ugly. In this book Anita isn't restrained, that is true, but it's also painfully clear that both people in that relationship are toxic in their own ways. The difference is that female anger is far less 'acceptable'. Anita, nor the author, ever apologizes for this portrayal because why should it be demeaning for Anita but not her husband? It's wrapped up in the same bow as his career- what happens when he comes under suspicion as opposed to what would happen to her. I loved her anger because it wasn't just that--it was passion. It was her being completely honest with herself and the world.
Without wanting to give away the twist to this novel, I absolutely adored how it gave a fantastical element constraints. I loved the concept of memory as fuel, power. It adds an extra layer to the revelations that can be contained simply by acknowledging and lifting up a voice.
I also enjoyed how it brushed on not asking for erasure of things that have long been deemed as classics or masters, but just challenged the reasons why and supported the expansion of those notions.
The notion of family, found and real, was also an incredible point.
Finally, I generally consider it a good thing if reading a book from the perspective of someone who shares a different life experience from me if I'm uncomfortable. I welcome it making me consider my own ideas and ways of thinking. So I struggle with how to express this particular reaction I had. It's not because it rang my guilt bell. It was more of a second hand pain for some of the couples I have known.
I very recently finished another book that dealt with an interracial and class relationship that was disastrous. Now I'm not saying for a moment that those experiences are even outliers. The emphasis on more privileged trying to 'better' others is probably more common than ever, honestly. But it left me wondering if there was any room to portray these things as anything but. Or, on the other side of seeing these things portrayed, for them to be completely idealized with no understandings and full acceptance. It was a little disheartening to see relationships that were portrayed as possibly having serious flaws being recognized and altered to spiraling. Though, to be fair, if the misconceptions stemmed from class or race or only when these two converged is not necessarily apparent.
Given the particular narrative I understood why things went in this direction for this story and the sake of parallels. It just led me to the realization of how much appreciation I have for stories where differences are seen, mistakes are made, and addressed in ways that paint characters in less drastically villainous ways. Not necessarily for everything to be happily ever after or magically okay. People can fail to make a relationship work, fail to realize in all the ways they still need to work on themselves, without being all out destructive to the other. It wouldn't have worked in this story, but I hope we are also creating spaces for that dynamic to be shown if only in homage to people who have navigated these spaces of cross cultural relationships when it was even less prominent or portrayed as just a mater of fetishism.
a really memorable, passionate, read. Though, as an art lover, I suppose I might have also gone in with bias.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Eating disorder
lngoldstein's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The more I learn about this book the harder it is to review it. This novel is based (not loosely) on the actual life of Cuban artist Ana Mendieta. Gonzalez says in an interview that Mendieta’s ghost vented to her in frustration that she hadn’t been able to tell her story on her own terms and insisted Gonzalez use her voice in the story which is how we end up with a first person POV from the titular character, Anita De Monte, who is based on Mendieta, in the novel. Gonzalez also says that Anita was meant to be an homage to the artist, not a direct analogue, except that reading both Ana and Anita’s stories blurs the line between fact and fiction, as Mendieta’s niece pointed out after receiving an advance copy. Besides the similarity of their names, Anita’s art in the novel closely resembles Mendieta’s and Anita’s husband Jack’s resembles Mendieta’s husband Carl Andres’. Anita dies in the exact same way, in almost the same location as Mendieta, potentially even in the same year as the actual events took place. Raquel Mendieta has expressed concerns about how her aunt’s story is told and there have been debates about if the Ana Mendieta estate’s blessing should be secured before producing works based on Mendieta’s life story.
I get the idea of pulling inspiration but this feels too close to Mendieta’s life to have not not given written homage to the actual woman and work that inspired this novel, which is sad and ironic as the main theme of Gonzalez’s novel is the under representation, mistreatment and discreditation of Latin artists. In the novel, Anita’s family loses control over her estate so it feels icky for Gonzalez to have written about how that hurt the fictional Anita and her family but then find out she did not consult the Mendieta estate throughout the process of writing or selling this novel.
Finally, however, a quick note on the actual contents of the book. I can’t say it was great; I found every character at least mildly annoying, the plot predictable and the writing a little over-explicit in describing things that were made obvious from the characters’ personalities and actions but it still managed to be compelling. The personalities really came through (for better or worse) in the audiobook, which was engaging. I personally didn’t mind the elements of magical realism and even enjoyed certain parts especially towards the end but be warned it goes into that territory.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
lsartist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Murder
sassyjax's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Murder
readswithcocktails's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Murder
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: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
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: Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
rkjreads's review against another edition
2.0
Edited to take off a star after learning the family of Ana Mendieta did not approve of this book, hence why she is not named in the text despite it being a retelling of her story.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
kallsypage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.
In 1980s New York City, Cuban American artist Anita de Monte is a rising star in the art world just as the art career of Jack, her arrogant husband, is fading from the spotlight. That is until she is found dead outside of her apartment. Although her untimely death made waves, her memory, her art, and her name were soon forgotten by most.
In 1998, Raquel is an art history student battling with the feeling that no matter how hard she works, she is still seen as an outsider in the pretentious art world that is still largely uninclusive. As she works on her final thesis, Raquel begins to notice parallels between her own life and relationship with Anita's life and relationship.
The story is told by Anita, Raquel, and Jack in two different timelines. Xóchitl González does such a fantastic job of giving each of these characters their own unique voices through her writing style and the audiobook has fantastic narrators that bring the characters even more to life.
There were so many times I wanted to scream while reading (listening) this book and jump in the pages to shake some of the characters. If I had a physical copy of the book I probably would have thrown it a time or two (and please know I mean this as a high compliment!). I went through so many emotions while reading this book and it will be sticking with me for a long time!
In 1980s New York City, Cuban American artist Anita de Monte is a rising star in the art world just as the art career of Jack, her arrogant husband, is fading from the spotlight. That is until she is found dead outside of her apartment. Although her untimely death made waves, her memory, her art, and her name were soon forgotten by most.
In 1998, Raquel is an art history student battling with the feeling that no matter how hard she works, she is still seen as an outsider in the pretentious art world that is still largely uninclusive. As she works on her final thesis, Raquel begins to notice parallels between her own life and relationship with Anita's life and relationship.
The story is told by Anita, Raquel, and Jack in two different timelines. Xóchitl González does such a fantastic job of giving each of these characters their own unique voices through her writing style and the audiobook has fantastic narrators that bring the characters even more to life.
There were so many times I wanted to scream while reading (listening) this book and jump in the pages to shake some of the characters. If I had a physical copy of the book I probably would have thrown it a time or two (and please know I mean this as a high compliment!). I went through so many emotions while reading this book and it will be sticking with me for a long time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia
Minor: Suicide and Outing