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A review by 2treads
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
challenging
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
With the purse comes the strings' - Olga
Gonzalez has written an utterly entertaining contemporary novel, filled with snark, snappy dialogue and recollections, interesting characters and interactions, while also managing to speak to social, familial, intimate and racial issues.
Olga is savvy and her ambitions keep her pushing, she will tweak a process here and appropriate some napkins there. All in the fairness of turning a profit.
The absent presence of Olga's mother is so strong that her revolutionary and socialist ideals and beliefs are felt through her letters and in the ways we see Olga respond to and conduct herself in the rich circles in which she has fought to climb into.
The more we glean from letters written by their mother helps the reader to question the deeper, concerning ideals still being held so close to heart by our main characters. Olga searches for her worth through the attention and patronage from the rich for whom she creates lavish weddings and other events, to her brother, an educated and intelligent congressman who holds harmful internalised views on sexuality and identity. Which is worrying with respect to what felt like a glossing over of the queer presence within the narrative.
Although the revolutionary passion of Olga's mother is appreciated, how she decides to show support to her kids is worrying. She berates Olga for following her dreams, yet encourages Prieto to not let family or familial obligation keeping him from his aspirations. To me that read of an inherent bend towards boosting a son more than a daughter. But this is all an agenda to utilise for her own means.
Gonzalez has written an utterly entertaining contemporary novel, filled with snark, snappy dialogue and recollections, interesting characters and interactions, while also managing to speak to social, familial, intimate and racial issues.
Olga is savvy and her ambitions keep her pushing, she will tweak a process here and appropriate some napkins there. All in the fairness of turning a profit.
The absent presence of Olga's mother is so strong that her revolutionary and socialist ideals and beliefs are felt through her letters and in the ways we see Olga respond to and conduct herself in the rich circles in which she has fought to climb into.
The more we glean from letters written by their mother helps the reader to question the deeper, concerning ideals still being held so close to heart by our main characters. Olga searches for her worth through the attention and patronage from the rich for whom she creates lavish weddings and other events, to her brother, an educated and intelligent congressman who holds harmful internalised views on sexuality and identity. Which is worrying with respect to what felt like a glossing over of the queer presence within the narrative.
Although the revolutionary passion of Olga's mother is appreciated, how she decides to show support to her kids is worrying. She berates Olga for following her dreams, yet encourages Prieto to not let family or familial obligation keeping him from his aspirations. To me that read of an inherent bend towards boosting a son more than a daughter. But this is all an agenda to utilise for her own means.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment