Book: Family Lore
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Publisher: Ecco (Harper Collins) https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/ecco
Release Date: August 1, 2023
Genre: Literary fiction, magical realism
Summary: This book follows the four Marte sisters: Matilde, the oldest, is said to have no magic, but she can dance like no one else, a passion she leans on in the face of her husband's infidelity. Flor has dreams of impending deaths — and now she has decided to throw herself a living wake, much to her family’s concern and confusion. Pastora, whose magic allows her to know the truth in what she hears, wants nothing more than to protect her family; and Camilla, whose proficiency with herbs and tinctures is unrivaled, is tired of being overlooked. Also interwoven are the stories of Flor’s daughter Ona, who is doing some family anthropology while struggling with her own desire to start a family; and Yadi, whose comfortable life is upturned by her childhood love's release from prison. In the complex internal thoughts and memories of these six women, Family Lore tells the story of preparations for Flor’s wake and the challenges, questions, and feelings that come along.
My Thoughts: Family Lore is a work of art. It is lyrical and magical, at times both quiet and exuberant, and full of love, hope, fear, grief, and all sorts of challenging emotions woven into a truly beautiful story. The four Marte sisters and their two daughters have such distinct stories and voices that each chapter feels like a story of its own, yet they are interconnected so beautifully to create a complex and wonderful narrative of mothers and daughters, sisters and aunts and nieces, and the ways women love and care for one another across distance, time, and other, more internal barriers. Their magic, both individual and collective, fills this story in more ways than one, and their memories of growing up in the Dominican Republic give further insight to the bonds these women have forged. I know I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
Content Warnings: Grief, death, sexual content, sexual assault
Rating: 5/5 stars
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