A review by penny_literaryhoarders
The Book of Emma Reyes by Emma Reyes

3.0

This was a memoir written in letters by Emma Reyes. She had a very bizarre, incredibly impoverished and astonishingly abusive upbringing. Her mother was someone Emma and her sister referred to as Mrs. Maria. After years of abuse that included horrific violence that included being locked in closets, rooms, etc for the entire day, sometimes days, Mrs. Maria abandoned them and the girls were taken to a convent.

The majority, in fact most, of this memoir is stories from the convent. This was a "good" read, if I can phrase it that, but it wasn't a gripping one - there was a great deal of the everyday storytelling of the common everyday happenings in the convent so it wasn't the most fascinating story once Emma arrives at the convent? For certain, her days there weren't all wonderful either. But, I don't know - it probably doesn't sound right to say - but it was a good read, but nothing exceptional for me. Emma Reyes did overcome and came of age in exceptionally bizarre and terrible conditions - but this memoir does not cover her adult years and the moving forward to her adult life as a successful artist.

Sorry for the ramble.

I started this when it was relevant for #WomeninTranslation month and finished it this weekend. Thank you to Viking/Penguin US for sending the hardcover of The Book of Emma Reyes.