Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez

This second book by a mesmerizing author is just as fabulous as her first book was. The book is told from several perspectives over two time periods, both in the past and ten years apart. She has created a breathtaking story steeped in Hispanic folklore, magical realism, and art history while examining the physical and emotional domestic abuse that men perpetrate upon women. One of them, Anita, details the life of someone consumed by abuse and other is on a journey to reclaim themselves and their purpose--perhaps a subtle depiction of the slow but clear forward momentum for women (despite the hard right movement to strip women of their personhood). The story follows the abusive relationships of two beautiful Latino women, one, Anita, an orphaned Cuban immigrant, the other, Raquel, born to an immigrant single mother. In 1985 Anita, a successful artist in her own right, struggles for autonomy over her life and career as she navigates her contentious relationship with her renowned artist husband, Jack Martin. In 1998, art history student, Raquel, works on her final thesis. In the process, she discovers the work of Anita De Monte. Raquel becomes obsessed with understanding the mystery surrounding Anita’s death. Ironically, Raquel and Anita share similar stories as Latinas’ attempting to find acceptance in a homogenous academic and art society, while their relationships with their narcissistic entitled partners exile them from loved ones. Anita remains a vibrant character, even in death, and as such, is able to be a part of the story from the grave. There seems to be a vaguely autobiographical aspect of this, as part of it is set at Brown University and the author herself went there herself at the time Raquel was, both Latina women in a place where fitting in would seem like a lot of work. I feel a connection to this, as a Brown graduate and a long time resident of the community where González got her MFA in writing. Mostly though, it is just a wonderful telling of what is largely an old story of men and power and control over women.