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emma's Reviews > Anita de Monte Laughs Last
Anita de Monte Laughs Last
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emma's review
bookshelves: authors-of-color, diverse, non-ya, arc, historical, literary-fiction, 3-and-a-half-stars
Feb 05, 2024
bookshelves: authors-of-color, diverse, non-ya, arc, historical, literary-fiction, 3-and-a-half-stars
may ana mendieta's memory live forever.
i just wish i could find her real name in this book.
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
i just wish i could find her real name in this book.
(review to come / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
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Reading Progress
January 31, 2024
– Shelved
February 5, 2024
–
Started Reading
February 6, 2024
–
Finished Reading
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Kiva
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rated it 4 stars
Feb 05, 2024 09:17AM
Wow, this book sounds amazing!
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Cannot wait to read this, especially now that I’m aware it is inspired by Ana Mendieta’s story.
So glad you mentioned Ana Mendieta!
You might want to check out the recent NT Times article about Ana Mendieta's story that has been championed for years by her niece, Raquel Cecelia. Why this author had to repurpose this story with zero regard to Ana's family, and zero regard to using Raquel's name as her 'heroine' is a mystery. #troublesomeauthor
I really expected to see Ana Mendieta mentioned in the author’s note. I wonder though if the omission was to prevent legal jeopardy since one of the parties just died a couple months ago.
That’s exactly what the author responded to me on an IG DM as I couldn’t understand why her name wasn’t mentioned. She said the book is dedicated to her, but her last name was left out.
YES YES YES!!! I just wrote my review and ranted about how this very omission is what caused me to not like it!
She dedicated the book to Ana! But I definitely was disappointed to not see something more purposeful. I had no idea who Ana was until reading the comments here, and then went back to check for SOME MENTION. It seems so odd to write an entire book about someone’s life and mention that person only once - and by first name - with no narrative or explanation.
Gonzalez dedicated the book to Ana. It’s in the front of the book. It would’ve been great to have addressed it a bit more in an Afterward. I’m wondering if it didn’t happen because she did not get the blessing of Ana Mendieta’s estate.
I enjoyed how the author blurred reality with the fictional rendition of Ana’s life. Prior to reading this book, I had briefly heard of Ana, her art, and the controversy surrounding her demise. That said, I also appreciate that this book is a work of fiction, and truly enjoyed the prose and use of mythicism and parallel storylines. I certainly empathize with Ana’s surviving family members, but at the end of the day this is a fictional work. I do not think the author ever intended this book to be a retelling of Ana’s story - it is not a non-fiction piece. Instead, it drew inspiration from her to create a new story.
This was my thought exactly. She dedicated the book to her but first name only. I found that disturbing.
Thanks for the mention of Ana Mendieta, I had no idea who she was until reading this comment. I wonder why the author didn´t explain that at least in the afterword or acknowledgments.
I agree - may Ana Mendieta's life and art live on.
I disagree with these criticisms. This is a fictional story that brings together elements of MANY female artists’ experiences, not just one. To suggest that this novel is about one particular artist is absolutely myopic.
