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Sabrina & Corina
A haunting debut story collection on friendship, mothers and daughters, and the deep-rooted truths of our homelands, centered on Latinas of indigenous ancestry that shines a new light on the American West.
Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s magnetic story collection breathes life into her Latina characters of indigenous ancestry and the land they inhabit. Set against the remarkable backdrop of Denver, Colorado–a place that is as fierce as it is exquisite–these women navigate the land the way they navigate their lives: with caution, grace, and quiet force.
In “Sugar Babies,” ancestry and heritage are hidden inside the earth but tend to rise during land disputes. “Any Further West” follows a sex worker and her daughter as they leave their ancestral home in southern Colorado only to find a foreign and hostile land in California. In “Tomi,” a woman leaves prison and finds herself in a gentrified city that is a shadow of the one she remembers from her childhood. And in the title story, “Sabrina & Corina,” a Denver family falls into a cycle of violence against women, coming together only through ritual.
Sabrina & Corina is a moving narrative of unrelenting feminine power and an exploration of the universal experiences of abandonment, heritage, and an eternal sense of home.
Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s magnetic story collection breathes life into her Latina characters of indigenous ancestry and the land they inhabit. Set against the remarkable backdrop of Denver, Colorado–a place that is as fierce as it is exquisite–these women navigate the land the way they navigate their lives: with caution, grace, and quiet force.
In “Sugar Babies,” ancestry and heritage are hidden inside the earth but tend to rise during land disputes. “Any Further West” follows a sex worker and her daughter as they leave their ancestral home in southern Colorado only to find a foreign and hostile land in California. In “Tomi,” a woman leaves prison and finds herself in a gentrified city that is a shadow of the one she remembers from her childhood. And in the title story, “Sabrina & Corina,” a Denver family falls into a cycle of violence against women, coming together only through ritual.
Sabrina & Corina is a moving narrative of unrelenting feminine power and an exploration of the universal experiences of abandonment, heritage, and an eternal sense of home.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
About the author
Kali Fajardo-Anstine
6 books1,514 followersKali Fajardo-Anstine is the nationally bestselling author of the novel Woman of Light (Random House, 2022), winner of the Reading the West Award in Fiction, the Women Writing the West Willa Award in Historical Fiction, and nominated for the Colorado Book Award, the Carol Shields Prize, the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award.
Fajardo-Anstine’s first book is the widely acclaimed short story collection Sabrina & Corina (Random House, 2019), a finalist for the National Book Award, the PEN/Bingham Prize, the Story Prize, the Saroyan International Prize, and winner of a American Book Award and a Reading the West Award in Fiction.
In 2023, Fajardo-Anstine’s introduction to Willa Cather’s beloved classic Death Comes for the Archbishop was published by Penguin Classics.
Fajardo-Anstine’s honors include awards from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Denver Mayor’s office. She is the 2022 - 2024 Endowed Chair in Creative Writing at Texas State University. Fajardo-Anstine has received fellowships from Yaddo (2017, 2021), MacDowell (2018, 2021), Hedgebrook, and Tin House. Her writing has appeared in the The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, O the Oprah Magazine, The American Scholar, Boston Review, and elsewhere. Translated into numerous languages, her work has been published in Japanese, Italian, German, Slovenian, Spanish, and Turkish.
Born in Denver, Colorado, she is the second eldest of seven siblings. Fajardo-Anstine dropped out of high school weeks into her senior year, earning her GED and going on to graduate with a BA in English and Minor in Chicana/o Studies from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She holds an MFA from the University of Wyoming and worked for over a decade as an independent bookseller at West Side Books in North Denver.
Fajardo-Anstine’s first book is the widely acclaimed short story collection Sabrina & Corina (Random House, 2019), a finalist for the National Book Award, the PEN/Bingham Prize, the Story Prize, the Saroyan International Prize, and winner of a American Book Award and a Reading the West Award in Fiction.
In 2023, Fajardo-Anstine’s introduction to Willa Cather’s beloved classic Death Comes for the Archbishop was published by Penguin Classics.
Fajardo-Anstine’s honors include awards from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Denver Mayor’s office. She is the 2022 - 2024 Endowed Chair in Creative Writing at Texas State University. Fajardo-Anstine has received fellowships from Yaddo (2017, 2021), MacDowell (2018, 2021), Hedgebrook, and Tin House. Her writing has appeared in the The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, O the Oprah Magazine, The American Scholar, Boston Review, and elsewhere. Translated into numerous languages, her work has been published in Japanese, Italian, German, Slovenian, Spanish, and Turkish.
Born in Denver, Colorado, she is the second eldest of seven siblings. Fajardo-Anstine dropped out of high school weeks into her senior year, earning her GED and going on to graduate with a BA in English and Minor in Chicana/o Studies from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She holds an MFA from the University of Wyoming and worked for over a decade as an independent bookseller at West Side Books in North Denver.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,915 reviews
April 16, 2019
3.5+ star.
There is a depth of sadness in these stories, lightened at times by connections with others or by a slight acknowledgement or recognition that maybe there is a way forward. Children, mostly young girls, being left behind by their mothers and sometimes their fathers by death, by being left willfully, or by abandonment even before they have left is a recurring theme in a number of these stories. They all take place in or around Denver, Colorado where Latina women struggle with physical violence, drugs, financial problems, and loss. One of the most affecting stories is “Julian Plaza” where two young girls are dealing with their mother’s illness as she is dying of cancer and the family struggles to care for her. “Tomi” is another that I found especially moving, one with a glimmer of hope where an eight year old boy connects with his ex-con aunt who is trying to find her own way, after his mother leaves. I can’t say I enjoyed all of the stories equally. At the end of a few I was left hanging and didn’t feel there was any closure for the characters, but mainly not for me. However, the majority of the stories are well written, thought provoking and emotionally captivating.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley.
There is a depth of sadness in these stories, lightened at times by connections with others or by a slight acknowledgement or recognition that maybe there is a way forward. Children, mostly young girls, being left behind by their mothers and sometimes their fathers by death, by being left willfully, or by abandonment even before they have left is a recurring theme in a number of these stories. They all take place in or around Denver, Colorado where Latina women struggle with physical violence, drugs, financial problems, and loss. One of the most affecting stories is “Julian Plaza” where two young girls are dealing with their mother’s illness as she is dying of cancer and the family struggles to care for her. “Tomi” is another that I found especially moving, one with a glimmer of hope where an eight year old boy connects with his ex-con aunt who is trying to find her own way, after his mother leaves. I can’t say I enjoyed all of the stories equally. At the end of a few I was left hanging and didn’t feel there was any closure for the characters, but mainly not for me. However, the majority of the stories are well written, thought provoking and emotionally captivating.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley.
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February 11, 2021Time to read is hard to come by lately (time to do anything is hard to come by lately) and I’ve turned to short stories to fill those small stolen moments. Sabrina & Corina has been my companion during the twenty minutes I have to myself each evening while my husband is putting my daughter to bed. And while most nights I am eager to hear his footsteps coming down the stairs, lately I keep hoping it’s really just the dog coming down so I have more time to finish the story I’m reading. These are stories about Latinx and Indigenous women in the West. Mothers and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, complicated women, layered family histories . . . all of it fully rendered in such a short span of time.
March 5, 2020
More detailed review to come!
Update 3/4/20:
Average rating: 3.72/5
Final rating: 3.5/5
I felt so all over the place with this collection, and I think ultimately my biggest takeaway is that this was sad to read. Not that it was badly written - it emphatically was not - but there is so much sadness here that it is ingrained in every single world, and I sometimes find that difficult to read. My mental health only allows for so much sadness before I'm desperate for any small amount of joy, and I think that's a huge part of why it took me an entire month to read 11 short stories. These are good, and I'll get into them each individually in a moment, but know that this isn't a happy collection in any way and I think you all should know that going in.
Ok. Let's talk about the stories themselves.
Sugar Babies - 4/5
God this was sad (be prepared to hear that more times). This is a story about motherhood and the past and digging up trauma, which are all ultimately the themes of this collection so this is a fitting introduction. It also has bitingly funny moments with Sierra, a girl already so sad at only 13-years-old. Beautifully written and so effective in describing a scene that sets a tone. I don't know how I would feel about this one if it hadn't been the introductory story of Sabrina & Corina, but I do think it perfectly set you up for the fiction you are going to read in the pages that follow.
Sabrina & Corina - 3.5/5
"Sabrina & Corina" is a meditation on femininity, on a family of women who only come together out of habit in times of tragedy. It's a reflection on how often violence is a visitor in their lives and how commonplace it's become in their rituals. It's a story of cousins, of parallel girlhoods that stray and become a part of the pattern. I feel like I'm describing a lot of what this covers rather than my personal feelings on the story, but that's mostly because I think every story has so much to say that I want to explain every part of it. I'm not parsing through simple stories, there is so much here to dig through that I could read it over and over again and get something different out of it every time. That being said, I think there was something missing here and it held me back from really getting into the story.
Sisters - 3.5/5
Another story of silence and violence. "Sisters" is about the commonplace aspects of violence that women endure and how no one will see that it's happening. Dory is our main character, and is potentially queer, seeing other women in a particular light that also allows her to recognize the horror that's happening all around them. I don't know that I fully understood the title "Sisters" but my guess is there is a double meaning there: a story about biological sisters and the story of a sisterhood formed through acts of violence and silence.
Remedies - 5/5
Easily my favorite of the collection. It's about things inherited (a theme of the collection) from mother to daughter, remedies to get rid of what makes you ill. It's also about broken family, about women doing more than they need to to make up for their perceived wrongs, and how women punish themselves for the acts of men. It's a truly brilliant story and I think it hits every single thematic note that Sabrina & Corina represents as a collection.
Julian Plaza - 3/5
This is a tragic story about a mother dying of cancer and her young daughters as they try to deal with their mother being sick. I didn't fully understand the plot of this story, it felt disjointed and unsure. I loved the descriptions and how disturbing it could sometimes be, but I think the the lack of cohesion in the plot really hurt my overall enjoyment of this one.
Galapago - 4/5
It's time for another round of GRIEF! AND! INHERITED! TRAUMA! This one hit hard. It's about a grandmother being forced into a nursing home after a misunderstanding caused a death. It's mournful but also sad even when it comes to the family members who are still living and the pain they can cause when they're trying to help.
Cheesman Park - 5/5
Another favorite, this is brilliant but just deeply sad. Mothers and daughters, wives and girlfriends, all bruised and grieving for different things. For feeling lost, for being left behind, for being the one to be hit, for the times they felt less lonely. It's a heartbreaking story of women and their tragedies. This story also had my favorite line in the collection:
"Time didn't feel as long or as wasteful in the company of another woman."
Tomi - 3.5/5
This added a lot to the collection because I think it brought something new that I was really needing. It was a break of sorts, a focus on slightly lighter things. It made me feel more prepared going into the remainder of the stories. I loved Tomi, the titular character, and his relationship to his aunt, the connection that they shared over stories real and fictional. However, this contained a lot of fatphobia and the use of the r slur and it was not the first time that either of those things had been present in the collection. Usually that would have meant a dnf for me (I generally avoid most books that contain casual slurs) but I do think it was attempting to be reflective of a certain community and a certain mindset. The fatphobia for the rest of the stories was definitely present though, and I would beware of that going in if that triggers you.
Any Farther West - 2/5
Frankly, I just didn't understand the purpose of this story. It's meandering, telling a story about a girl and her mother and yet another guy that should be treating women better. It began and it ended and I gained really nothing at all.
All Her Names - 3/5
This is another one where I wasn't fully sure what the point of the story was. I liked the idea of this woman making her mark by tagging trains, knowing her name would go all the places she never would, but there is an abortion storyline connected to the main character and her issues with her husband and I just didn't understand the resolution or even the purpose of that part of the story.
Ghost Sickness - 4.5/5
Beautifully told, and dreadfully sad (which should really be the tagline for ). It's a parallel story of a missing boyfriend, a rapidly approaching history final, and the undertones of death our lead girl isn't yet aware of. It's incredibly well done and a super strong conclusion to the collection.
Hopefully these mini reviews help to explain my all-over-the-place feelings on this collection. There were moments of truly inventive and brilliant writing, but it sometimes lost its way or fell flat in execution. I think there's a lot here to love, and I'm glad I chose this collection to start out my year of short stories, but I was really hoping for something slightly stronger than what I got.
Update 3/4/20:
Average rating: 3.72/5
Final rating: 3.5/5
I felt so all over the place with this collection, and I think ultimately my biggest takeaway is that this was sad to read. Not that it was badly written - it emphatically was not - but there is so much sadness here that it is ingrained in every single world, and I sometimes find that difficult to read. My mental health only allows for so much sadness before I'm desperate for any small amount of joy, and I think that's a huge part of why it took me an entire month to read 11 short stories. These are good, and I'll get into them each individually in a moment, but know that this isn't a happy collection in any way and I think you all should know that going in.
Ok. Let's talk about the stories themselves.
Sugar Babies - 4/5
God this was sad (be prepared to hear that more times). This is a story about motherhood and the past and digging up trauma, which are all ultimately the themes of this collection so this is a fitting introduction. It also has bitingly funny moments with Sierra, a girl already so sad at only 13-years-old. Beautifully written and so effective in describing a scene that sets a tone. I don't know how I would feel about this one if it hadn't been the introductory story of Sabrina & Corina, but I do think it perfectly set you up for the fiction you are going to read in the pages that follow.
Sabrina & Corina - 3.5/5
"Sabrina & Corina" is a meditation on femininity, on a family of women who only come together out of habit in times of tragedy. It's a reflection on how often violence is a visitor in their lives and how commonplace it's become in their rituals. It's a story of cousins, of parallel girlhoods that stray and become a part of the pattern. I feel like I'm describing a lot of what this covers rather than my personal feelings on the story, but that's mostly because I think every story has so much to say that I want to explain every part of it. I'm not parsing through simple stories, there is so much here to dig through that I could read it over and over again and get something different out of it every time. That being said, I think there was something missing here and it held me back from really getting into the story.
Sisters - 3.5/5
Another story of silence and violence. "Sisters" is about the commonplace aspects of violence that women endure and how no one will see that it's happening. Dory is our main character, and is potentially queer, seeing other women in a particular light that also allows her to recognize the horror that's happening all around them. I don't know that I fully understood the title "Sisters" but my guess is there is a double meaning there: a story about biological sisters and the story of a sisterhood formed through acts of violence and silence.
Remedies - 5/5
Easily my favorite of the collection. It's about things inherited (a theme of the collection) from mother to daughter, remedies to get rid of what makes you ill. It's also about broken family, about women doing more than they need to to make up for their perceived wrongs, and how women punish themselves for the acts of men. It's a truly brilliant story and I think it hits every single thematic note that Sabrina & Corina represents as a collection.
Julian Plaza - 3/5
This is a tragic story about a mother dying of cancer and her young daughters as they try to deal with their mother being sick. I didn't fully understand the plot of this story, it felt disjointed and unsure. I loved the descriptions and how disturbing it could sometimes be, but I think the the lack of cohesion in the plot really hurt my overall enjoyment of this one.
Galapago - 4/5
It's time for another round of GRIEF! AND! INHERITED! TRAUMA! This one hit hard. It's about a grandmother being forced into a nursing home after a misunderstanding caused a death. It's mournful but also sad even when it comes to the family members who are still living and the pain they can cause when they're trying to help.
Cheesman Park - 5/5
Another favorite, this is brilliant but just deeply sad. Mothers and daughters, wives and girlfriends, all bruised and grieving for different things. For feeling lost, for being left behind, for being the one to be hit, for the times they felt less lonely. It's a heartbreaking story of women and their tragedies. This story also had my favorite line in the collection:
"Time didn't feel as long or as wasteful in the company of another woman."
Tomi - 3.5/5
This added a lot to the collection because I think it brought something new that I was really needing. It was a break of sorts, a focus on slightly lighter things. It made me feel more prepared going into the remainder of the stories. I loved Tomi, the titular character, and his relationship to his aunt, the connection that they shared over stories real and fictional. However, this contained a lot of fatphobia and the use of the r slur and it was not the first time that either of those things had been present in the collection. Usually that would have meant a dnf for me (I generally avoid most books that contain casual slurs) but I do think it was attempting to be reflective of a certain community and a certain mindset. The fatphobia for the rest of the stories was definitely present though, and I would beware of that going in if that triggers you.
Any Farther West - 2/5
Frankly, I just didn't understand the purpose of this story. It's meandering, telling a story about a girl and her mother and yet another guy that should be treating women better. It began and it ended and I gained really nothing at all.
All Her Names - 3/5
This is another one where I wasn't fully sure what the point of the story was. I liked the idea of this woman making her mark by tagging trains, knowing her name would go all the places she never would, but there is an abortion storyline connected to the main character and her issues with her husband and I just didn't understand the resolution or even the purpose of that part of the story.
Ghost Sickness - 4.5/5
Beautifully told, and dreadfully sad (which should really be the tagline for ). It's a parallel story of a missing boyfriend, a rapidly approaching history final, and the undertones of death our lead girl isn't yet aware of. It's incredibly well done and a super strong conclusion to the collection.
Hopefully these mini reviews help to explain my all-over-the-place feelings on this collection. There were moments of truly inventive and brilliant writing, but it sometimes lost its way or fell flat in execution. I think there's a lot here to love, and I'm glad I chose this collection to start out my year of short stories, but I was really hoping for something slightly stronger than what I got.
November 22, 2019
An often dark yet overall moving short story collection that centers Latinas living in Denver, Colorado. These women’s experiences are diverse, though common themes run throughout the collection, including familial and domestic violence, what happens when people we love change, and the culture and resilience of Latinas. Each story felt distinct and important yet also blended well together, to form a collection about working-class women whose experiences are often ignored in the landscape of American literature.
While I felt drawn to this book based on its premise of promoting female friendship, feminine power, and the experiences of Latinas overall, I struggled to fully emotionally connect with quite a few of the stories. With one story, “Tomi,” about an ex-con who once drove her car into an elderly couple’s picture window and now takes care of her eight-year-old nephew, I felt such a sense of tenderness and warmth toward the characters and how much they cared about one another. Yet this sense of tenderness felt absent from other stories. Perhaps this is because the stories often expose the true cruel realities these women experience, and being removed from Latinx culture I may not have the worldview for this collection to resonate. Regardless, I hope that Kali Fajardo-Anstine feels proud for this distinct set of short stories and that it continues to connect with other readers.
A few of other standout bits that I enjoyed from the collection: in the title story, “Sabrina and Corina,” the notion of watching a friend you love change in front of you and all the emotions that accompany that, the reoccurring point of how patriarchal and capitalistic forces often bind women to men for economic security even when those men hurt them, and the call-out of whiteness and gentrification in “Ghost Stories.” Curious to read what others thought of and think of this book.
While I felt drawn to this book based on its premise of promoting female friendship, feminine power, and the experiences of Latinas overall, I struggled to fully emotionally connect with quite a few of the stories. With one story, “Tomi,” about an ex-con who once drove her car into an elderly couple’s picture window and now takes care of her eight-year-old nephew, I felt such a sense of tenderness and warmth toward the characters and how much they cared about one another. Yet this sense of tenderness felt absent from other stories. Perhaps this is because the stories often expose the true cruel realities these women experience, and being removed from Latinx culture I may not have the worldview for this collection to resonate. Regardless, I hope that Kali Fajardo-Anstine feels proud for this distinct set of short stories and that it continues to connect with other readers.
A few of other standout bits that I enjoyed from the collection: in the title story, “Sabrina and Corina,” the notion of watching a friend you love change in front of you and all the emotions that accompany that, the reoccurring point of how patriarchal and capitalistic forces often bind women to men for economic security even when those men hurt them, and the call-out of whiteness and gentrification in “Ghost Stories.” Curious to read what others thought of and think of this book.
February 21, 2022
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Genre:
Contemporary + Cultural + Short Stories
National Book Award Nominee for Fiction (2019)
This is the first book I read among those nominated for the National Book Award in 2019, I hope to get around and read the rest as well. Sabrina & Corina is a book of short stories where stories revolve around Latina women who live in Colorado. All the stories share the same element which is struggles. These women face lots of challenges in their life due to different factors be it, violence, grief, drug/alcohol addiction, illness or financial difficulties. Each story has its own unique circumstances but they all share the same elements of loss and struggle.
My most favorite story of the whole collection is Julian Plaza with a mother suffering from cancer and her two little girls trying to take care of her. It is hard to read about how the whole family's life changes when one member is ill and dying.
It is quite tricky to evaluate a book of short stories especially when the book itself is around 200 pages only. So Having 11 stories in total gives an average of 20 pages for each story. Of course, the lengths of the stories are different, but my point here is that the stories were too short for my taste. There was not much scope to build the characters and get attached to them. Some of the stories were really good, a few of them were just OK. These are the stories with my rating for each one of them:
01-Sugar Baby: 3.5
02-Sabrina & Corina: 4.0
03-Sisters: 3.5
04-Remedies: 3.5
05-Julian Plaza: 4.5
06-Galapago: 3.5
07-Cheeseman Park: 4.0
08-Tomi: 4.0
09-Any Further West: 3.5
10-All Her Names: 3.0
11-Ghost Sickness: 3.0
Sabrina & Corina is an interesting book that shows us the different types of struggles that a person or a family can go through. You can categorize the stories in the slice of life genre. You will be able to relate to a few of them easily. I am giving it a good 3.5 stars out of 5.0.
October 9, 2019
4.5 stars
This was a brilliantly crafted collection. They are stories that were strongly themed and tied together, by location, by the Indigenous and Latinx women who populated each story, and by the themes of things that bind these women and these communities together. Still, each story felt distinct and almost all of them felt full. There were times that Farjardo-Anstine built you up to the height of an emotion and left you there, but it only increased the haunting feeling of her collection.
I had to read this slowly, and I think the reason I docked 0.5 star was personal-- this was tough to read. Many of the stories were about grief, loss, abandonment, and the struggle of these women to live and survive in a system that is built against them. There is so much inheritance here, too. It really speaks to how difficult it is to break patterns of poverty and abuse. Most of the time, it felt to me that the stories were more about fully capturing a moment, a present informed by legacies, with no real look at hope in the future. This isn't a critique against want Farjardo-Anstine did, just a reason why I had to take breaks in between stories.
Tomi was hands down my favorite story, perhaps because it did have that spark of hope. I just also loved the main character and her connection to her nephew.
If you enjoy short story collections, I would highly recommend this one. I would cautiously recommend it to people who don't typically read short stories, especially if they are looking for stories about Lantinx identities.
This was a brilliantly crafted collection. They are stories that were strongly themed and tied together, by location, by the Indigenous and Latinx women who populated each story, and by the themes of things that bind these women and these communities together. Still, each story felt distinct and almost all of them felt full. There were times that Farjardo-Anstine built you up to the height of an emotion and left you there, but it only increased the haunting feeling of her collection.
I had to read this slowly, and I think the reason I docked 0.5 star was personal-- this was tough to read. Many of the stories were about grief, loss, abandonment, and the struggle of these women to live and survive in a system that is built against them. There is so much inheritance here, too. It really speaks to how difficult it is to break patterns of poverty and abuse. Most of the time, it felt to me that the stories were more about fully capturing a moment, a present informed by legacies, with no real look at hope in the future. This isn't a critique against want Farjardo-Anstine did, just a reason why I had to take breaks in between stories.
Tomi was hands down my favorite story, perhaps because it did have that spark of hope. I just also loved the main character and her connection to her nephew.
If you enjoy short story collections, I would highly recommend this one. I would cautiously recommend it to people who don't typically read short stories, especially if they are looking for stories about Lantinx identities.
August 23, 2024
"time didn't feel as long or wasteful in the company of another woman."
kali fajardo-anstine's ability to capture the quilt of indigenous lives scattered across the southwest, the instability of mestizaje—an identity constantly in flux—and the ever-shifting cultural allegiances that plague communities at war with colonialism is brilliant. in this stunning collection of short stories, grief is slow to seep in, knife-like, a kind of reverse nostalgia: longing for a future that does not yet exist. and a desperate desire to recapture what once lived. these stories were indescribably human, populated by women battling violence, addiction, desire, at once melancholy and sanguine. 4.5 stars. this is an invaluable addition to the xicana canon.
kali fajardo-anstine's ability to capture the quilt of indigenous lives scattered across the southwest, the instability of mestizaje—an identity constantly in flux—and the ever-shifting cultural allegiances that plague communities at war with colonialism is brilliant. in this stunning collection of short stories, grief is slow to seep in, knife-like, a kind of reverse nostalgia: longing for a future that does not yet exist. and a desperate desire to recapture what once lived. these stories were indescribably human, populated by women battling violence, addiction, desire, at once melancholy and sanguine. 4.5 stars. this is an invaluable addition to the xicana canon.
March 13, 2019
The cycles of violence against women in these stories broke me. But Kali Fajardo-Anstine has a way in her writing to make you want to read me. I really wish this was a novel, I was so invested in the characters and plot that I read the book twice (only 200pgs). This collection of short stories is ugly yet beautiful. A moving narrative on the life of Indigenous Latina women; Sabrina & Corina is a must read. Thank you, NetGalley & Random House, (One world Publishing) for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2022
A hauntingly authentic account of motherhood, friendship, addiction, and belief. Wonderfully deep characters showcase the day to day experiences of indigenous and Latina women as they navigate oppression, strained relationships, and connections to land, history, expectations, and dreams. Sincere, direct, and sorrowful, this collection is a beautifully crafted window into the soul, into what could have been, what could still be. A gorgeous debut that echoes long after it’s conclusion.
February 7, 2024
Sabrina & Corina is a touching collection of short stories. In these 11 stories Kali Fajardo-Anstine depicts the lives and experiences of Latinas in the United States (mainly in Denver, Colorado). Their everyday realities are marked by many social injustices: poverty, racism, sexism, addiction, parental neglect, emotional and physical abuse. While Fajardo-Anstine doesn't shy away from portraying their bleak circumstances, the stories never felt pessimistic or overwhelming depressing. As the characters are contending with grief and trauma—personal and generational—they find some solace in moments of connection, a sense of understanding or kinship, with others. The women in these stories also find comfort in taking part in or looking back to family traditions. These scenes gave the stories a rather bittersweet tone, one that perfectly complemented Fajardo-Anstine's tender yet bold prose.
Motherhood, sisterhood, and female agency are at the heart of these 11 stories. While these overaching themes gave a sense of unity to the collection, their similarities—in tone, topics, and style—caused the less memorable stories to blur together (some of these were 'Sisters', 'Julian Plaza', and 'Any Further West'). The stories that really stood out to me were 'Sugar Babies', 'Sabrina & Corina', and 'Tomi'. 'Sugar Babies' was easily a 5 star read and my favourite in the whole collection (perhaps because Fajardo-Anstine faithfully renders the perspective of a young girl).
Sabrina & Corina is a heart-rendering debut and I will be on the lookout for Fajardo-Anstine's future work.
Motherhood, sisterhood, and female agency are at the heart of these 11 stories. While these overaching themes gave a sense of unity to the collection, their similarities—in tone, topics, and style—caused the less memorable stories to blur together (some of these were 'Sisters', 'Julian Plaza', and 'Any Further West'). The stories that really stood out to me were 'Sugar Babies', 'Sabrina & Corina', and 'Tomi'. 'Sugar Babies' was easily a 5 star read and my favourite in the whole collection (perhaps because Fajardo-Anstine faithfully renders the perspective of a young girl).
Sabrina & Corina is a heart-rendering debut and I will be on the lookout for Fajardo-Anstine's future work.
February 15, 2020
This book of short stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine (and from the Tournament of Books longlist) focuses on the lives of Latina and/or indigenous women living in an area of Denver. Families, traditions, and violence are important themes.
This is an ownvoices collection, which is important all the time, but definitely lately. Highly recommended!
This is an ownvoices collection, which is important all the time, but definitely lately. Highly recommended!
October 15, 2020
Thank you One World for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love the cover art. It's gorgeous and eye catching. This collection of short stories, Sabrina and Corina, centers around female, Latina indegiounous life and culture within the vicinity of Denver, Colorado.
I love the cover art. It's gorgeous and eye catching. This collection of short stories, Sabrina and Corina, centers around female, Latina indegiounous life and culture within the vicinity of Denver, Colorado.
April 15, 2020
Sabrina & Corina is a collection of 10 short stories primarily about Latinx women in the Denver area. It is rather bleak, full of poverty and violence and more specifically near Saguarita, a place where the land with its silken fibers of swaying grass resembled a sleeping woman with her face pressed firmly to the pillow, a golden blonde by day, a raven-haired beauty by night. as described at the beginning of the first story, 'Sugar Babies'. Each story has good description (Above us the ceiling fan spun in rapid circles, slicing the air, sending waves of coolness over each of us. My mother and father kept glancing at one another—smiling, chewing, smiling, sipping, and smiling some more. ) and expresses a bit of fleeting hope (driving day and night, her little white truck sliding from mountain peak to valley, through snow and heat waves, windstorms and lightning. Her headlights beam bright and warm, shining into town, the place where I’ll live when I’m finally a grown-up and my mother’s black hair is silver and her face is well lined.). However, and maybe it is just due to the sanitary crisis and the several other books about violence against minority communities, I found this one a bit of a drag. In any case, I was unaware of the importance of the Latinx community in Colorado and the book definitely made me appreciate that.
My List of 2020 Pulitzer Candidates: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
My blog about the 2020 Pulitzer: https://wp.me/phAoN-19m
My List of 2020 Pulitzer Candidates: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
My blog about the 2020 Pulitzer: https://wp.me/phAoN-19m
October 17, 2019
National Book Award Longlist 2019. Fajardo-Anstine’s collection of short stories featuring Latinx and native women are bittersweet. There are themes of love, abandonment, betrayal, abuse, friendship, and mother-daughter relationships.
A parenting class project in ‘Sugar Babies’ has one of them reflecting on her own parents’ abandonment and neglect. In ‘Sabrina & Corina’, Corina’s grandmother insists that she use her make-up skills to obscure the strangle marks on Corina’s cousin’s neck so that the casket can be open. The process has Corina reflecting how her once-close cousin drifted away from family. Doty is bullied by her sister to ‘double-date’ in ‘Sisters’--but Doty’s date proves to be an abuser.
Families are a recurring theme. The children’s mother is dying of cancer in ‘Julian Plaza’ and it is hard for them to accept that the exuberant woman they once knew will never recover. After Pearla Ortiz is repeatedly robbed in ‘Galapago’, her granddaughter tries to move her out of her home of fifty-plus years. Nicole goes to live with her brother and his son after her release from prison in ‘Tomi’. She introduces Tomi to a world not dominated by video games. In ‘Ghost Sickness’, Ana studies at a nearby campus and rediscovers the importance of her Navajo ancestry.
Enjoy this debut effort from a promising new author.
A parenting class project in ‘Sugar Babies’ has one of them reflecting on her own parents’ abandonment and neglect. In ‘Sabrina & Corina’, Corina’s grandmother insists that she use her make-up skills to obscure the strangle marks on Corina’s cousin’s neck so that the casket can be open. The process has Corina reflecting how her once-close cousin drifted away from family. Doty is bullied by her sister to ‘double-date’ in ‘Sisters’--but Doty’s date proves to be an abuser.
Families are a recurring theme. The children’s mother is dying of cancer in ‘Julian Plaza’ and it is hard for them to accept that the exuberant woman they once knew will never recover. After Pearla Ortiz is repeatedly robbed in ‘Galapago’, her granddaughter tries to move her out of her home of fifty-plus years. Nicole goes to live with her brother and his son after her release from prison in ‘Tomi’. She introduces Tomi to a world not dominated by video games. In ‘Ghost Sickness’, Ana studies at a nearby campus and rediscovers the importance of her Navajo ancestry.
Enjoy this debut effort from a promising new author.
December 19, 2018
This collection blew me away. Each story here is centered on the experiences of Latinas of indigenous descent in and around Denver. Fajardo-Anstine brings her readers so close to her characters – their desires, their fears, their families, their histories – that we feel like we're inside their bodies and minds. SABRINA & CORINA is deeply intimate, profoundly beautifully written, so surprisingly and flawlessly plotted that each turn of the page is a revelation. I can't stop thinking about it. I can't wait to buy it for everyone I know.
Read
November 15, 2020A beautiful short story collection.
I do wish some of the stories were longer because each time I connected with a character and wanted to learn more about them, the story ended 😩
I do wish some of the stories were longer because each time I connected with a character and wanted to learn more about them, the story ended 😩
April 28, 2021
There are times when we open a book and its undiscovered terrain. The social construct we live in doesn't always apply to the story we are entering so we have to come in with an open mind. In this book, Kali Fajardo-Anstine takes certain elements and amplifies it to the point were we grow weary of the terror, the evil, and all of the harm done against the women that we encounter. I think it was meant to be written that way. Sometimes the stories and the settings are the same but the impact they have on you are still striking. To see the same violence over and over again, the cycle can either infuriate you to action or numb you. I think she meant for the reader to feel this. I think she wanted certain aspects of the world we live in amplified and mirrored in such a way that we didn't lose sight of them. We often get muddled through with fogs and mists that are put in the way to draw focus away from the bigger picture. She wants us to confront this, to get tired of the gentrification, of the violence against women, of white men using them as commodities, as exotic objects that they can use to immortalize their name, to perpetuate their violence while still feeling superior, to continue the colonization of the land but now through the women. It's an amazing read. She doesn't mince words. Sometimes the worst harm is done through family that ask well "what did you expect"? Family that is supposed to be there for you but can't be there for themselves so you have to either sink with them or let them go. It's just a provocative and offers a different perspective into the lives of indigenous Latina women. The cycle of violence that follows generations and the chains between the stories were wonderfully crafted. You see parallels between the stories that guide how the story impacts you. I think this repetition of the same violence amplifies your indignation against colonization. The prose hits you in a way that just makes the story hurt and leave behind a bruise as a reminder of the violence. The violence that we should be furious at and the people that continue to perpetuate it. Just a five star read overall.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2022
Sabrina & Corina: Stories was a haunting but beautiful debut collection of short stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine and all taking place in Colorado, featuring indiginous Latinas at the core of these stories. Since Colorado is my home, I enjoyed the stories focusing on young Latinas in many of the old and established Denver Hispanic neighborhoods as well as the beautiful San Luis Valley lying beneath the majestic Spanish Peaks. Many of their unique voices and struggles are presented in unforgettable heartbreaking prose throughout these stories as Fajardo-Anstine examines their lives as well as the many societal issues among the working class indiginous Hispanic women are explored.
I don't think that I possibly could convey the power in this book without leaving one with the words of Julia Alavarez:
I don't think that I possibly could convey the power in this book without leaving one with the words of Julia Alavarez:
"Kali-Fajardo-Anstine's collection of stories, Sabrina & Corina, isn't just good, it's masterful storytelling. Fajardo-Anstine is a fearless writer: her women are strong and scarred witnesses of the violations of their homelands, their culture, their bodies; her plots turn and surprise, unerring and organic in their comprehensiveness; her characters break your heart, but you keep going because you know you are in the hands of a master. . . Her stories move through the heart of darkness and illuminate it with the soul of truth. Comparisons came to mind: the Alice Munro of the high plains, the Toni Morrison of indiginous Latinas--but why compare her to anybody? She is her own unique voice, and her work will easily find a place, not just in Latinx literature, but in American literature and beyond."
October 12, 2019
Some excellent, sadly memorable stories.
October 3, 2019
A collection of stories centered around Native and Hispanic women in Colorado, particularly the Denver area. All the different relationships between women within a family are explored - grandmother, mothers, sisters, cousins. Themes include absent mothers, poverty, gentrification, and the ways women can hurt themselves and others through their relationships. I wanted more variation in the stories, but still a solid collection.
November 23, 2018
This short story collection about Indigenous Latina women living in Colorado and bound by family, tradition, trauma, mental illness, and a lot of death. It was a good book, and it touched on a lot of important topics. I appreciated the way that absence and abandonment was explored in so many narratives. The common experiences of the various women felt real and connected. Family loomed large in this book. It was palpable. But. The format. I felt with every new story, that I had to start over getting familiar with everyone again, despite the common themes in this book. I wish, so much, that this book had been a novel about various women in the family living their lives around the tragedy in the title story. I wish we could have come to know them all and their stories and histories in relationship to this central loss. I wanted an epic story of a spread out family and all of the common ties and differences that shaped their relationship to this particular loss; I wanted to see their resilience and their traumas shape their reactions. I wanted a very very long novel. There were excellent seeds here. I’m excited to see more from the author. Thank you netgalley for the ARC L, opinions are my own.
December 20, 2019
Kali Fajardo-Anstine's words are magic. Sabrina & Corina stories are atmospheric and raw, penetrating straight to your core. The details are exquisite, the emotions are palpable.
A true time stopper.
My BOOKSTAGRAM
A true time stopper.
My BOOKSTAGRAM
August 21, 2019
Incredible.
Review to come.
Review to come.
October 13, 2019
I think I just read the @nationalbookfoundation fiction winner. These women!!! These stories!!! That writing!!! They made me ache, they made me cry, they broke me, they blew my mind.
October 15, 2021
Undici racconti ambientati a Denver che hanno come protagoniste le chicas messicane, figlie di genitori e nonni emigrati in Colorado, e che racconta di un West America sempre più gentrificato ma dalle ancora vive ascendenze latine.
1. Bambini di zucchero
“L’odore intenso della terra rivoltata mi assalì. Tutto era quieto, in modo terrificante. Pensai a come il mondo potesse essere estremamente silenzioso e a quando poco prima, in piedi accanto a mia madre, per un attimo avevo avuto paura che mi avesse lasciata lì sulla collina, abbandonata per sempre.”
2. Sabrina &Corina
“Sabrina era la mia migliore amica, la cugina a cui ero più legata. […] Era brillante e viveva intensamente ogni esperienza, dalle delusioni di cuore alle notti passate a bere, quando stavamo sveglie fino alle quattro del mattino a mettere a punto le nostre piccole vite con una immensità che solo Sabrina era capace di immaginare.”
“ ‘Sabrina’ sussurrai, dandole un colpetto sulla spalla, ma stava già dormendo, e per la prima volta in vita mia sentii la mancanza di qualcuno che mi stava seduto proprio accanto.”
3. Sorelle
“Nelle settimane prima che venisse derubata della vista, Dolores ‘Doty’ Lucero aveva assistito alla propria vita come se fosse qualcosa di ordinario dando per scontato il modo in cui la luce del sole premeva tra le tende di pizzo la mattina al risveglio. Non aveva fatto particolarmente caso alla sorella minore, Tina, che buttata su un fianco russava sonoramente in camera, con un seno che le scivolava fuori dalla camicia da notte di raso.” (incipit)
4. Rimedi
“Un dermatologo riesce a eliminare una verruca in quattro o cinque secondi con una bomboletta di azoto liquido. Io posso eliminarla in una notte con uno spicchio d’aglio e un cerotto. Le dita puzzeranno per giorni, ma la verruca non tornerà più. […] Se avete il raffreddore o il cuore spezzato, bevete una tazza di atole caldo preparato solo con del mais blu.” (incipit)
5.Julian Plaza
“ ‘Starò con lei tutti i giorni’ disse Cora. Mio padre si coprì il viso con tutte e due le mani. Si alzò dal tavolo e andò in bagno. Sentimmo l’acqua del rubinetto scorrere, e sotto quel suono, un lungo singhiozzo profondo.”
6. Galapago
“Il giorno prima che uccidesse un uomo, Pearla Ortiz aveva pranzato a casa con la nipote Alana. Si erano sedute insieme al tavolo di alluminio della piccola cucina giallo canarino e avevano mangiato wrap ripieni di tacchino e un’insalata di cavolo nero.” (incipit)
7. Cheesman Park
“L’ho presa tra le braccia e mi ha inzuppato la spalla destra di lacrime. La sua pelle era calda, a differenza dei capelli freddi appoggiati alla mia guancia. Mi sono guardata intorno e mi sono resa conto che non riuscivo a ricordare l’ultima volta in cui avevo passato un pomeriggio con un’amica. Il tempo non sembrava così lento o inutile in compagnia di un’altra donna.”
8. Tomi
“Sono rimasta a lungo seduta al tavolo, ho pensato a molte cose, a mia madre e mio padre, a me e mio fratello da bambini, a quanto erano stati neri i capelli di Manny un tempo, a quanto poco era cambiata a casa nostra. Il vecchio pavimento di quercia, la strana consistenza polverosa dell’aria, il tremolio delle tende verdi e la morbidezza quieta della notte. Questa casa era tutto ciò che avessimo mai avuto.”
9. Ancora più a ovest
“La sua postura era malferma e rozza, come se avesse dato in prestito la sua pelle a un’altra persona. In quel preciso momento capii che sarebbe rimasta per sempre intrappolata nella sua corrente, saltando da una grande onda all’altra. Non mi avrebbe mai tirata fuori da quel mare.”
10. Ogni suo nome
“Era come ai vecchi tempi, quando erano giovani e Michael le bastava. Alicia gli diede una spinta con la spalla destra. ‘Ti penso sempre, Mikey. Quando sento un treno passare vicino casa all’una di notte, sei tu’. Adoravo i treni, quell’avanzare precipitoso che cambiava la percezione del tempo.”
11. La malattia degli spiriti
“E così Clifton aveva raccontato ad Ana la storia del Primo uomo e della Prima donna, di come erano nati dalla polvere di stelle e dalla terra, erano risaliti dal regno dell’oscurità nel sottosuolo e avevano attraversato molti mondi, lasciandosi alle spalle le tenebre delle loro origini per una vita fatta di sole e aria.”
Vincitore dell’American Book Award.
1. Bambini di zucchero
“L’odore intenso della terra rivoltata mi assalì. Tutto era quieto, in modo terrificante. Pensai a come il mondo potesse essere estremamente silenzioso e a quando poco prima, in piedi accanto a mia madre, per un attimo avevo avuto paura che mi avesse lasciata lì sulla collina, abbandonata per sempre.”
2. Sabrina &Corina
“Sabrina era la mia migliore amica, la cugina a cui ero più legata. […] Era brillante e viveva intensamente ogni esperienza, dalle delusioni di cuore alle notti passate a bere, quando stavamo sveglie fino alle quattro del mattino a mettere a punto le nostre piccole vite con una immensità che solo Sabrina era capace di immaginare.”
“ ‘Sabrina’ sussurrai, dandole un colpetto sulla spalla, ma stava già dormendo, e per la prima volta in vita mia sentii la mancanza di qualcuno che mi stava seduto proprio accanto.”
3. Sorelle
“Nelle settimane prima che venisse derubata della vista, Dolores ‘Doty’ Lucero aveva assistito alla propria vita come se fosse qualcosa di ordinario dando per scontato il modo in cui la luce del sole premeva tra le tende di pizzo la mattina al risveglio. Non aveva fatto particolarmente caso alla sorella minore, Tina, che buttata su un fianco russava sonoramente in camera, con un seno che le scivolava fuori dalla camicia da notte di raso.” (incipit)
4. Rimedi
“Un dermatologo riesce a eliminare una verruca in quattro o cinque secondi con una bomboletta di azoto liquido. Io posso eliminarla in una notte con uno spicchio d’aglio e un cerotto. Le dita puzzeranno per giorni, ma la verruca non tornerà più. […] Se avete il raffreddore o il cuore spezzato, bevete una tazza di atole caldo preparato solo con del mais blu.” (incipit)
5.Julian Plaza
“ ‘Starò con lei tutti i giorni’ disse Cora. Mio padre si coprì il viso con tutte e due le mani. Si alzò dal tavolo e andò in bagno. Sentimmo l’acqua del rubinetto scorrere, e sotto quel suono, un lungo singhiozzo profondo.”
6. Galapago
“Il giorno prima che uccidesse un uomo, Pearla Ortiz aveva pranzato a casa con la nipote Alana. Si erano sedute insieme al tavolo di alluminio della piccola cucina giallo canarino e avevano mangiato wrap ripieni di tacchino e un’insalata di cavolo nero.” (incipit)
7. Cheesman Park
“L’ho presa tra le braccia e mi ha inzuppato la spalla destra di lacrime. La sua pelle era calda, a differenza dei capelli freddi appoggiati alla mia guancia. Mi sono guardata intorno e mi sono resa conto che non riuscivo a ricordare l’ultima volta in cui avevo passato un pomeriggio con un’amica. Il tempo non sembrava così lento o inutile in compagnia di un’altra donna.”
8. Tomi
“Sono rimasta a lungo seduta al tavolo, ho pensato a molte cose, a mia madre e mio padre, a me e mio fratello da bambini, a quanto erano stati neri i capelli di Manny un tempo, a quanto poco era cambiata a casa nostra. Il vecchio pavimento di quercia, la strana consistenza polverosa dell’aria, il tremolio delle tende verdi e la morbidezza quieta della notte. Questa casa era tutto ciò che avessimo mai avuto.”
9. Ancora più a ovest
“La sua postura era malferma e rozza, come se avesse dato in prestito la sua pelle a un’altra persona. In quel preciso momento capii che sarebbe rimasta per sempre intrappolata nella sua corrente, saltando da una grande onda all’altra. Non mi avrebbe mai tirata fuori da quel mare.”
10. Ogni suo nome
“Era come ai vecchi tempi, quando erano giovani e Michael le bastava. Alicia gli diede una spinta con la spalla destra. ‘Ti penso sempre, Mikey. Quando sento un treno passare vicino casa all’una di notte, sei tu’. Adoravo i treni, quell’avanzare precipitoso che cambiava la percezione del tempo.”
11. La malattia degli spiriti
“E così Clifton aveva raccontato ad Ana la storia del Primo uomo e della Prima donna, di come erano nati dalla polvere di stelle e dalla terra, erano risaliti dal regno dell’oscurità nel sottosuolo e avevano attraversato molti mondi, lasciandosi alle spalle le tenebre delle loro origini per una vita fatta di sole e aria.”
Vincitore dell’American Book Award.
October 10, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sabrina & Corina: Stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine is a collection of short stories based around Latinas of Indigenous descent living in Western America. My absolute favorites of the bunch are "Sisters," "Cheesman Park," "Tomi," & "Any Further West."
Each of these stories has a sense of absence, a sense abandonment. The various bittersweet relationships between mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, women and their male counterparts, women and other women are very much explored with care. It keeps you attached to the snippets of the lives we jump into for just a few minutes.
I absolutely adored the thought-provoking character study, the character work that was done to bring the lives of these women to reality. There is such unique and divine quality surrounding them, Faji's voice is beautiful and her descriptions of Latin American culture are poignant. You have to slow down and truly take these stories in, take in the way Faji uses language to coat the pages of her collection in a fine mist of dazzling truth and magic.
There are strong and compelling survivors that live through cycles of violence acted upon their bodies, their culture, their lands. A lot of the narrative is very bleak and dark at times, though. It helps to slow down two-fold because then you aren't as heavy-hearted reading this collection in just one sitting but also when Faji brings in the light, you can find some hope through her utter honesty.
Indigenous women are missing or dead. There is violence enacted upon the woman body at every turn and yet nobody says a word at the physical evidence of that fact. Two of my five star short stories in this collection: "Sisters" and "Cheesman Park" actually have similar discussions on the way that battered or "bruised" women are not seen.
Faji truly does not pull her punches in exploring the harsh realities of not only womanhood but being of Indigenous descent and being other. This collection is out in this world now and honestly, recommend to get yourself a copy.
Sabrina & Corina: Stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine is a collection of short stories based around Latinas of Indigenous descent living in Western America. My absolute favorites of the bunch are "Sisters," "Cheesman Park," "Tomi," & "Any Further West."
Each of these stories has a sense of absence, a sense abandonment. The various bittersweet relationships between mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, women and their male counterparts, women and other women are very much explored with care. It keeps you attached to the snippets of the lives we jump into for just a few minutes.
I absolutely adored the thought-provoking character study, the character work that was done to bring the lives of these women to reality. There is such unique and divine quality surrounding them, Faji's voice is beautiful and her descriptions of Latin American culture are poignant. You have to slow down and truly take these stories in, take in the way Faji uses language to coat the pages of her collection in a fine mist of dazzling truth and magic.
There are strong and compelling survivors that live through cycles of violence acted upon their bodies, their culture, their lands. A lot of the narrative is very bleak and dark at times, though. It helps to slow down two-fold because then you aren't as heavy-hearted reading this collection in just one sitting but also when Faji brings in the light, you can find some hope through her utter honesty.
Indigenous women are missing or dead. There is violence enacted upon the woman body at every turn and yet nobody says a word at the physical evidence of that fact. Two of my five star short stories in this collection: "Sisters" and "Cheesman Park" actually have similar discussions on the way that battered or "bruised" women are not seen.
Faji truly does not pull her punches in exploring the harsh realities of not only womanhood but being of Indigenous descent and being other. This collection is out in this world now and honestly, recommend to get yourself a copy.
October 21, 2019
A collection of short stories about women living in Colorado, who are all decedents of Indigenous tribes in Latin America. The standouts for me were “Sugar Babies,” “Sabrina and Corina,” “Sisters,” and “Tomi” but they are all well written. As others have noted, the voices of the characters, and many of their challenges, do feel repetitive by the end, but overall I’m glad to see this on the NBA shortlist. 3.5 rounded up.
March 26, 2020
This book ends with the origin tale of the Navajo people, which is a cool inversion. In Sabrina & Corina, Kali Fajardo-Anstine's debut collection of short stories, this "reorder" seems to be the form that follows function--we wind up at the beginning of time, and enter stories at the end of a character's life, relationship, hometown, or their memory of these things.
This is likely a sign of my own ignorance, but I didn't know much (read: ANYTHING) about the indigenous and Latinx populations of Colorado before reading this book, and so in addition to reorganizing narrative time, Fajardo-Anstine also introduces many readers to Old Denver, its architectural and communal beauty, and its narrative permanence even in the midst of the ongoing gentrification, displacement, and yuppie reinvention of her native city. These stories include really thoughtful discussions of space, family, and belonging, which are some of my favorite issues to see discussed on the page. Even better, unlike some of the other millennial POC stories I've been reading lately, Fajardo-Anstine's characters aren't over-explained for the sake of an assumed white audience: she trusts that her readers are--or want to honestly meet--the people in her family and community.
Like my Goodreads friend Thomas noted , some of these stories tend to linger on the dysfunctional tethers of family, and are a bit too rushed to linger in moments of true intimacy. While there is usually a general inclusion of a well-meaning elder woman (nice to know there are praying grandmothers in Colorado!), by about the sixth story, this begins to feel like not enough. I agree with Hoolia's comment on Thomas' review that Fajardo-Anstine's novel will surely fix this, as we'll have more time than these (very-short) stories allow to see the core of these character's relationships, as well as their understandable dysfunction and apathy.
On that note, I cannot wait to read her novel, Woman of Light, which will be an inter-generational tale about a Colorado family! Kali Fajardo-Anstine has found an early fan in me, and I look forward to her future work.
This is likely a sign of my own ignorance, but I didn't know much (read: ANYTHING) about the indigenous and Latinx populations of Colorado before reading this book, and so in addition to reorganizing narrative time, Fajardo-Anstine also introduces many readers to Old Denver, its architectural and communal beauty, and its narrative permanence even in the midst of the ongoing gentrification, displacement, and yuppie reinvention of her native city. These stories include really thoughtful discussions of space, family, and belonging, which are some of my favorite issues to see discussed on the page. Even better, unlike some of the other millennial POC stories I've been reading lately, Fajardo-Anstine's characters aren't over-explained for the sake of an assumed white audience: she trusts that her readers are--or want to honestly meet--the people in her family and community.
Like my Goodreads friend Thomas noted , some of these stories tend to linger on the dysfunctional tethers of family, and are a bit too rushed to linger in moments of true intimacy. While there is usually a general inclusion of a well-meaning elder woman (nice to know there are praying grandmothers in Colorado!), by about the sixth story, this begins to feel like not enough. I agree with Hoolia's comment on Thomas' review that Fajardo-Anstine's novel will surely fix this, as we'll have more time than these (very-short) stories allow to see the core of these character's relationships, as well as their understandable dysfunction and apathy.
On that note, I cannot wait to read her novel, Woman of Light, which will be an inter-generational tale about a Colorado family! Kali Fajardo-Anstine has found an early fan in me, and I look forward to her future work.
September 22, 2021
[3.5 stars]
Kali Fajardo-Anstine's debut story collection centers women of Latina and Indigenous descent in the American Southwest, particularly Colorado. All of these stories are in conversation with one another, reflecting on issues of generational trauma, the mysterious link between death and beauty, and absent parents. Many of the characters are biracial, and in some way they grapple with their identity within a community where they aren't fully any one race.
Admittedly, it took me a while to get into this collection. Though I enjoyed the first story 'Sugar Babies,' I found the ones to follow a bit surface-level and it wasn't until we got to 'Julian Plaza' where I started to see the threads that run through this collection. Perhaps it was simply the subject matter of the first few stories or maybe I was getting used to Fajardo-Anstine's writing, but eventually I found myself immersed in this world she has excellently crafted on the page.
My biggest issue with theses stories is I found they didn't go far enough; many of them seemed to pull back right at the crux, or not dig deep or go a bit more extreme to drive home a point. For me, at least, a short story has to have a hook, something compelling to make it memorable and oftentimes that may look at bit exaggerated when compared to real life. But we are only experiencing a slice of life from these characters, and in stories like 'Remedies' and 'Galapagos' we just don't get enough from them.
'Tomi' is a standout story that really pulled at my heartstrings and made me feel for the complicated relationships the narrator had with her family, and with herself. 'Any Further West' also captured that loneliness of childhood, especially of one ruled by a wayward parent, so well.
Fajardo-Anstine's strength lies in her ability to capture emotion in specific moments; to make the specific universal for the reader. Although I don't share many lived experiences with these protagonists, I was able, if only for a moment, to understand their world and share in their story. As any good story does, it relays not so much a lesson or moral but a shared experience that would otherwise be nonexistent.
Kali Fajardo-Anstine's debut story collection centers women of Latina and Indigenous descent in the American Southwest, particularly Colorado. All of these stories are in conversation with one another, reflecting on issues of generational trauma, the mysterious link between death and beauty, and absent parents. Many of the characters are biracial, and in some way they grapple with their identity within a community where they aren't fully any one race.
Admittedly, it took me a while to get into this collection. Though I enjoyed the first story 'Sugar Babies,' I found the ones to follow a bit surface-level and it wasn't until we got to 'Julian Plaza' where I started to see the threads that run through this collection. Perhaps it was simply the subject matter of the first few stories or maybe I was getting used to Fajardo-Anstine's writing, but eventually I found myself immersed in this world she has excellently crafted on the page.
My biggest issue with theses stories is I found they didn't go far enough; many of them seemed to pull back right at the crux, or not dig deep or go a bit more extreme to drive home a point. For me, at least, a short story has to have a hook, something compelling to make it memorable and oftentimes that may look at bit exaggerated when compared to real life. But we are only experiencing a slice of life from these characters, and in stories like 'Remedies' and 'Galapagos' we just don't get enough from them.
'Tomi' is a standout story that really pulled at my heartstrings and made me feel for the complicated relationships the narrator had with her family, and with herself. 'Any Further West' also captured that loneliness of childhood, especially of one ruled by a wayward parent, so well.
Fajardo-Anstine's strength lies in her ability to capture emotion in specific moments; to make the specific universal for the reader. Although I don't share many lived experiences with these protagonists, I was able, if only for a moment, to understand their world and share in their story. As any good story does, it relays not so much a lesson or moral but a shared experience that would otherwise be nonexistent.
June 4, 2019
This collection was everything I wanted it to be and more! It's centered around Latina women of indigenous ancestry and that is definitely the shining star in all of these stories and BRAVOOOO for bringing this into the spotlight. It felt refreshing, and I feel honored to have these words.
These stories revolve around women, mostly working class women, who are strong, courageous and determined humans. Their ancestors were here before America was America and I think people (mostly white people) forget this or unfortunately, choose not to care. History books tell us certain stories about the wild West, but this collection shows us the truth and gives us a lens to see the West from something other than a white person's gaze. Halle-frigin-lujah. It helps us remember and honor those cultures that were here first-and that makes me feel like I'm holding literal magic in my hands.
There is a depth to each story and always a sense that although things might be tough or hard, or let's be honest, just real, cause this shit isn't always easy...but that there is a way to progress and move forward. BUT THEN, add women-centered stories, culture, intimate portrayals, gorgeous sentence structure and storytelling and characters you fall in love with immediately (for both good and bad)-yes please! BUT WAIT, you also get love, atmospheric descriptions where landscape and location plays a main character, thoughts about heritage and what that means, friendship, and family dynamics...screaming. BUT ALSO, most of the narrative takes place in Denver, Colorado (I'm only a short drive from Denver and so many references and places in the stories I could picture) and I nearly screamed with excitement as I frantically flipped pages while soaking it all in. This collection is that good.
These stories are tough, emotional and have a sense of sadness interwoven in each one. So when you read them, don't expect happy, funny (although I laughed quite a few times), or a lighthearted read. What you need to expect is a connection with characters you may never make again (although I have high hopes we will start to see more of this from authors and from Fajardo-Anstine herself) and a sense that our true history is important and should be honored. This collection will make you laugh, cry, worry, think and ultimately, a better person. I truly believe in the magic of this book.
Sabrina and Corina is beautiful collection of stories (even the cover is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen) and I would suggest you run and grab a copy of this asap. I promise you, you won't regret it!
P.S. I was lucky enough to meet Kali Fajardo-Anstine last week in Denver and I haven't come down from the high since. I can't wait to see what else she has to offer us-I know a book is in the works for sure and I'm thrilled!!!
copied from my blog over at http://www.bookishfolk.com
These stories revolve around women, mostly working class women, who are strong, courageous and determined humans. Their ancestors were here before America was America and I think people (mostly white people) forget this or unfortunately, choose not to care. History books tell us certain stories about the wild West, but this collection shows us the truth and gives us a lens to see the West from something other than a white person's gaze. Halle-frigin-lujah. It helps us remember and honor those cultures that were here first-and that makes me feel like I'm holding literal magic in my hands.
There is a depth to each story and always a sense that although things might be tough or hard, or let's be honest, just real, cause this shit isn't always easy...but that there is a way to progress and move forward. BUT THEN, add women-centered stories, culture, intimate portrayals, gorgeous sentence structure and storytelling and characters you fall in love with immediately (for both good and bad)-yes please! BUT WAIT, you also get love, atmospheric descriptions where landscape and location plays a main character, thoughts about heritage and what that means, friendship, and family dynamics...screaming. BUT ALSO, most of the narrative takes place in Denver, Colorado (I'm only a short drive from Denver and so many references and places in the stories I could picture) and I nearly screamed with excitement as I frantically flipped pages while soaking it all in. This collection is that good.
These stories are tough, emotional and have a sense of sadness interwoven in each one. So when you read them, don't expect happy, funny (although I laughed quite a few times), or a lighthearted read. What you need to expect is a connection with characters you may never make again (although I have high hopes we will start to see more of this from authors and from Fajardo-Anstine herself) and a sense that our true history is important and should be honored. This collection will make you laugh, cry, worry, think and ultimately, a better person. I truly believe in the magic of this book.
Sabrina and Corina is beautiful collection of stories (even the cover is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen) and I would suggest you run and grab a copy of this asap. I promise you, you won't regret it!
P.S. I was lucky enough to meet Kali Fajardo-Anstine last week in Denver and I haven't come down from the high since. I can't wait to see what else she has to offer us-I know a book is in the works for sure and I'm thrilled!!!
copied from my blog over at http://www.bookishfolk.com
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