Review by abditoryalive - The Cemetery of Untold Stories

abditoryalive 's review for:

The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez

3.0

reflective sad slow-paced

The happiest moments of my life were in the past. I was a ghost before my time

🪦A story about stories, memory and the legacy you leave behind. The premise is intriguing, an aging writer buries her unfinished stories, ironically some parts feel unfinished.

Unresolved Threads:

Like what happened to her friend? that part of the story just kinda dropped off without closure. Filo and Perla mother never got that reunion with their lost mother Tatica that was linked to Alma's father? The timeskip between Perla being released seems sudden as well, did she ever speak?

🪦A love letter to writing and creation. There is some beautifully, heart-breaking introspective moments.

🪦 While the novel explores fascinating ideas, its execution feels more like a collection of unfinished thoughts than a fully realized story. I found myself admiring from afar rather emotionally connecting to it. I will admit some themes were too close to comfort.

I just want one untraumatized woman, but that's not what this story is for

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🪦 Historical Significance: I feel like I've learnt much about Bienvenida Ricardo y Martínez, which I did thoroughly enjoy. Her Prescence leant a sense of realism and richness to the overall narrative.

That's why in certain tribes they say when an old person dies, a library is gone.

🕯️Fans of philosophical and literary fiction and woman's history.

Content Warnings