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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: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, and Gaslighting
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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
3.75
Feels like a necessary book, though I have mixed feelings about Anita’s voice as a second life. I thought it was funny and relevant, but I think I didn’t really love the use of it as a plot device. Also, my revenge lust wasn’t quenched enough. I would’ve preferred to see Jack dealt with greater consequences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
george_tte's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Systemic oppression and domestic abuse contrasted in fantastic, fleshed-out characters. It was slow at first, but once it picked it up I found it hard to stop reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Homophobia
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I really loved Olga Dies Dreaming and I was so excited that Anita de Monte Laughs Last was so much fun to listen to. I highly recommend the audio with multiple narrators. Jessica Pimentel does an incredible job as Anita de Monte in the 1980s. She adds so much to the reading, it truly is like listening to a movie.
Anita de Monte is based on the life of Ana Mendieta who was an artist who died in 1985 when she fell or was pushed out of an apartment window (and was married to sculptor Carl Andre). As someone who loves art, this book (and others like Still Life by Sarah Winman) make you think about how few women artists we really know. Author Xochitl Gonzalez found Ana Mendieta in an art history class.
Anita de Monte tells her story as a ghost, recalling the event that caused her death and moments with her husband Jack after her death.
In another timeline, Raquel is in art history classes at Brown studying Jack and and discovers Anita de Monte. We find similarities between their relationships and the way women artists are treated and valued.
There is also some magical realism woven into this story as she tells it from a ghost’s perspective and her interactions with her husband (iykyk).
“And, from what I was eavesdropping in the gallery that night, most of these men not only hated feminist art, but I suspected, hated women as well.”
“And then. And then I was sent to America, and rendered invisible. Rendered lifeless. Alone.”
“Well, it felt like even when I bury myself in your f*ing soil, I’m still not American enough. … To prostrate myself, in some way, for having gone to such pains to become one with a place that rejected me over and over and over again.”
“ presume her to be grateful for it, even - was only possible because he had told her, in ways great and small, that he knew best and she had signaled that he was correct.”
“She realized that so much of what she thought as good art had simply been that which had been elevated by John Temple, because it was understood by and spoke to and created by men just like John. And that in the omission of things that were made by or understood by or in conversation with people like her, Raquel had, unconsciously, begun to see those things as lesser. And that revelation sparked one that was even more painful: the reason that Raquel subconsciously believed that Nick knew “better” than her was that it was Nick’s point of view had been affirmed and internalized by the white walls of every museum or gallery that had ever been told was worth looking at.”
“…she had firmly placed them behind a wall called her past; a section of her mind she didn’t like to visit much.”
Anita de Monte is based on the life of Ana Mendieta who was an artist who died in 1985 when she fell or was pushed out of an apartment window (and was married to sculptor Carl Andre). As someone who loves art, this book (and others like Still Life by Sarah Winman) make you think about how few women artists we really know. Author Xochitl Gonzalez found Ana Mendieta in an art history class.
Anita de Monte tells her story as a ghost, recalling the event that caused her death and moments with her husband Jack after her death.
In another timeline, Raquel is in art history classes at Brown studying Jack and and discovers Anita de Monte. We find similarities between their relationships and the way women artists are treated and valued.
There is also some magical realism woven into this story as she tells it from a ghost’s perspective and her interactions with her husband (iykyk).
“And, from what I was eavesdropping in the gallery that night, most of these men not only hated feminist art, but I suspected, hated women as well.”
“And then. And then I was sent to America, and rendered invisible. Rendered lifeless. Alone.”
“Well, it felt like even when I bury myself in your f*ing soil, I’m still not American enough. … To prostrate myself, in some way, for having gone to such pains to become one with a place that rejected me over and over and over again.”
“ presume her to be grateful for it, even - was only possible because he had told her, in ways great and small, that he knew best and she had signaled that he was correct.”
“She realized that so much of what she thought as good art had simply been that which had been elevated by John Temple, because it was understood by and spoke to and created by men just like John. And that in the omission of things that were made by or understood by or in conversation with people like her, Raquel had, unconsciously, begun to see those things as lesser. And that revelation sparked one that was even more painful: the reason that Raquel subconsciously believed that Nick knew “better” than her was that it was Nick’s point of view had been affirmed and internalized by the white walls of every museum or gallery that had ever been told was worth looking at.”
“…she had firmly placed them behind a wall called her past; a section of her mind she didn’t like to visit much.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gaslighting
alsbap08's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism, and Gaslighting
cesca_natalia's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
afrenette's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Classism
anxietee9's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Eating disorder, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Dysphoria
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
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