Harare Review of Books

272 pages.

First published on July 18, 2023 (Knopf)

Fiction.

Books like this are why I read!

I was transported by Cristina García’s novel about multiple generations and branches of the del Pino family, in Cuba, Miami, L.A, Berlin, and Moscow. We are presented with, among other characters: the ailing, ageing matriarch; a vengeful and possibly murderous ghost, my favourite character (although she’s quite abominable); and a very cool and rather unworldly drag queen, my second-favourite character. There are lovers, family fights, and a delightful little boy. There’s a great deal of pain, as there always is in families. All of this is held together by strong, vividly portrayed women.

I hesitate to use the cliche, but this is a book that delights in magical realism. The aforementioned ghost is fully realised as a member of the family. Fidel Castro is present too, with his beard and cigar. All of the dark moments of the novel are perfectly balanced out with laugh-out-loud ridiculousness, and each character is given enough space to work through their life issues (except, perhaps, for the little boy, who comes to the story late).

An altogether enjoyable and wonderful novel, that caused me to completely forget where I was while I was immersed in it, and that I couldn’t put down. I’m grateful to Cristina García for a very satisfying ending, too, which, for a while, I wasn’t sure would come about.

Thank you to Knopf and to NetGalley for the ARC.

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