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

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

narrators
  1. Anita de Monte, the artist. Dating Jack, a famous minimalist artist  in the 1980’s, born in Cuba and living in different places following Jack and his exhibits. She dies in 1985 and the story is told by her as her ghost. She is a naturalistic artist. 
  2. Raquel Toro in 1990 is an art history student from Brooklyn NYC, studying at Brown and interning at RISD for the summer. She is doing a paper on Jack Martin and dives into Jack and Anita’s life.
  3. Jack, the minimalist artist and wife murderer.

Both women are incredibly well rounded latina women. Strong, smart, witty and passionate trying to navigate a “white” world who sees them as the “other”. Racism both in big and small way as micro aggressions run through the book and will make your blood boil. 
Both timelines are very well fleshed out and I loved all the art history and artists mentions.
The book takes an interesting look at romantic relationships and what one has to give up for them.
Both characters though from different backgrounds and eras travel parts of the a similar path. They are both fascinating and have so many layers to them. They feel so vivid and like they are talking to you, one on one. 

The inspiration for this book is the mysterious 1985 death of Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta and her then husband. 
The book also touches on problems still pervasive in the museum industry, of choosing to ignore the problematic human behind the artist. And disproportionately heralding and displaying art made by white men. 
I could go on raving about this book for hours. I highly recommend it. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
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