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crystalisreading's review against another edition
I requested an advanced copy of One Year of Ugly, excited to read a novel that gave me some perspective on the experience of Venezuelan emigrants, and of life in Trinidad, in a "fun, fresh" style. My initial due diligence prior to requesting the book confirmed that the author was from Trinidad, which gave me some confidence that the perspective would be authentic.
However, when I finally opened the book to read it this week, I was immediately put off by the language the author used to refer to the main characters' home country, calling Venezuela a "socialist cesspit". Something about the tone of that first chapter set my teeth on edge. it didn't seem like language that a family would use after fleeing their home country, or would use about each other. It sounded like a sneering perspective of someone more socially and economically stable than the characters she was writing.
So I did some more in-depth research on the author, only to realize that Caroline Mckenzie is a white Trinidadian attempting to write from the perspective of Venezuelans, emigrants, debtors, people of color--people significantly less privileged than her. A story that might be compelling in the hands of an #ownvoices author instead feels condescending and exploitative, disrespectful to the characters, their country of origin, and the majority of the people represented in their new homeland. That's not even to mention the transphobia, ableism, and sexualization of Latine women that other reviewers have called out. This feels like classic colonizer writing, and it is not for me, which is why I did not finish this book, nor will I be doing so, nor will I be recommending this book to anyone.
Thanks anyway to #NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an #advancedcopy of #OneYearofUgly.
However, when I finally opened the book to read it this week, I was immediately put off by the language the author used to refer to the main characters' home country, calling Venezuela a "socialist cesspit". Something about the tone of that first chapter set my teeth on edge. it didn't seem like language that a family would use after fleeing their home country, or would use about each other. It sounded like a sneering perspective of someone more socially and economically stable than the characters she was writing.
So I did some more in-depth research on the author, only to realize that Caroline Mckenzie is a white Trinidadian attempting to write from the perspective of Venezuelans, emigrants, debtors, people of color--people significantly less privileged than her. A story that might be compelling in the hands of an #ownvoices author instead feels condescending and exploitative, disrespectful to the characters, their country of origin, and the majority of the people represented in their new homeland. That's not even to mention the transphobia, ableism, and sexualization of Latine women that other reviewers have called out. This feels like classic colonizer writing, and it is not for me, which is why I did not finish this book, nor will I be doing so, nor will I be recommending this book to anyone.
Thanks anyway to #NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an #advancedcopy of #OneYearofUgly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Transphobia, Ableism, Xenophobia, and Misogyny
This is a privileged white Trinidadian author attempting to write a book from the perspective of a Latine family who fled Venezuela for Trinidad. it is chock full of bigotry. Proceed with caution, if you must proceed at all.readwithchar's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Transphobia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
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