A review by whatkelsreads
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez

Anita de Montes Laughs Last is an insightful, thought-provoking story of the art world and higher education. It explores how the Western male ideals of what is “Art” erase voices other than the white man. Women and POC are relegated to the other, and studied only in comparison to the white male standard. 

However, it is extremely problematic that Gonzalez erases the real life of Ana Mendieta. Anita de Montes is clearly based on Ana Mendieta, but she is only mentioned by her first name and only in the dedication of the book. The irony of obscuring the real artist in a story about erasing female and POC voices is stark. I wish Gonzalez had chosen to write a similar story with actual fictional characters rather than borrowing from someone’s life without honoring her. 

Extreme trigger warnings for intimate partner violence. 
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