Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by readsofgosia
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
5.0
And there she comes, Anita de Monte, with all her personality, emotions, and charisma. I loved her so much, despite her being a quite loud narrator in an audiobook. Her energy and passion were inspiring, and her insight into femininity was ahead of her time. She was an artist, underestimated and murdered by someone who couldn't comprehend her greatness. Now, as a spirit, she tells us what had happened to her.
On the opposite side of the story is Raquel, who, 13 years after Anita's death, comes to learn about her while preparing her thesis. She doesn't have the energy and voice of Anita, but her passion towards art is undeniable. Yet, here they come – men in the art world who would deny her any agency, who will, under false pretenses of care, make her small.
From my point of view, I could write my own dissertation about the relationship of Raquel with a boy whose name I don't even remember. She is the shy, uncertain protagonist who, in a coming-of-age story, needs to find herself and try to learn the connection to her intuition. This book strongly resonates with any woman who ever doubted herself, believing others' opinions are more valid than her own. Despite Anita and Raquel being Latinas, I found myself easily connecting with their experiences and empathizing with them. Therefore, I credit Xochitl Gonzalez for a lesson in the widespread range of my own emotions – from happiness to giddiness. I loved how the family dynamic worked here, the strong sense of pride in heritage and family background. I loved how both Anita's and Raquel's faith intertwine, as if history were repeating itself, or at least was on its way. The question accompanied me throughout the book: will it end the same way?
I loved the intention behind the storytelling. There were many foreshadowing moments and metaphors that brought each chapter deeper meaning. The strong sense of purpose behind this story was the most exhilarating thing about it, and I loved it! This is the strongest book of the year for me, and I can't wait for more from this author!
On the opposite side of the story is Raquel, who, 13 years after Anita's death, comes to learn about her while preparing her thesis. She doesn't have the energy and voice of Anita, but her passion towards art is undeniable. Yet, here they come – men in the art world who would deny her any agency, who will, under false pretenses of care, make her small.
From my point of view, I could write my own dissertation about the relationship of Raquel with a boy whose name I don't even remember. She is the shy, uncertain protagonist who, in a coming-of-age story, needs to find herself and try to learn the connection to her intuition. This book strongly resonates with any woman who ever doubted herself, believing others' opinions are more valid than her own. Despite Anita and Raquel being Latinas, I found myself easily connecting with their experiences and empathizing with them. Therefore, I credit Xochitl Gonzalez for a lesson in the widespread range of my own emotions – from happiness to giddiness. I loved how the family dynamic worked here, the strong sense of pride in heritage and family background. I loved how both Anita's and Raquel's faith intertwine, as if history were repeating itself, or at least was on its way. The question accompanied me throughout the book: will it end the same way?
I loved the intention behind the storytelling. There were many foreshadowing moments and metaphors that brought each chapter deeper meaning. The strong sense of purpose behind this story was the most exhilarating thing about it, and I loved it! This is the strongest book of the year for me, and I can't wait for more from this author!