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

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I greatly enjoyed the book Anita de Monte Laughs Last. I listened to this on audiobook and the actors brought these characters to life. I couldn’t stop listening. I finished this book over a weekend while trying to squeeze it into any of my free time! 

I loved the different point of views throughout the book of Anita, Jack, and Raquel. 

However my rating for this book is lower as it was not clear this book was based off Ana Mendieta and her life. So much was mirrored to Anita’s life and even specific art, but Gonzalez wrote without consulting the family or mentioning her name. Feels hypocritical and similar to how Jack hides Anita’s work.

I keep my rating higher as it least accomplishes what Raquel does for Anita. Gets people talking about Ana! I probably would not have known her story without this book.

I hope Gonzalez and Mendieta family can work together and turn this into the dedication Ana deserves. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/02/style/ana-mendieta-family-estate.html
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