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A review by skoppelkam
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Leaving this one without a rating because -
Xóchitl González is absolutely on fire, with this being even an even better read than "Olga Dies Dreaming", which I loved. Unlike "Olga" which lost steam a bit for me in the end, "Anita" actually built momentum, with brilliant, kinetic pacing at the end
But - I unfortunately learned about the very real person this book is based upon, Ana Mendieta, after reading. While I would like to think González did a beautiful job of representing Mendieta's legacy and the way she affected González herself as a student, it seems that Ana Medieta's family is very upset about the stories that are surfacing based on Ana's life (this book and an upcoming America Ferrara film) and were not consulted about either. That's really a huge bummer, and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Xóchitl González is absolutely on fire, with this being even an even better read than "Olga Dies Dreaming", which I loved. Unlike "Olga" which lost steam a bit for me in the end, "Anita" actually built momentum, with brilliant, kinetic pacing at the end
But - I unfortunately learned about the very real person this book is based upon, Ana Mendieta, after reading. While I would like to think González did a beautiful job of representing Mendieta's legacy and the way she affected González herself as a student, it seems that Ana Medieta's family is very upset about the stories that are surfacing based on Ana's life (this book and an upcoming America Ferrara film) and were not consulted about either. That's really a huge bummer, and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.