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

dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.25

as well written and engaging as this book is, it is deeply uncomfortable to read. while I understand this book sets out to tackle some heavy topics, there were times when it felt slimy, the way she wrote. what made it worse was the utter lack of care the author has for the subject. 
Anita de Monte is based off a real life artist named Ana Mendieta- a women mentioned only vaguely in the dedication (just called 'Ana'). Ana Mendieta was a Cuban artist with (essentially) the same life as the fictional Anita, who has a living family that has spoken out regarding her treatment in the book. Like Anita, Ana Mendieta was murdered by her artist husband, also thrown out of a 34th story window. A husband who was also aquitted. Had this book not been as disrespectful and exploitative towards Ana and her family, it would have earned 2 or 2.5 stars (due to how uncomfortable it was to read, and how excessive some of the misogyny/DV/racism was). For more information about Ana, here is an article that can be found in the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/02/style/ana-mendieta-family-estate.html
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