Contemporary Fiction: Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera

Any day I get to purchase a new book is a good day. And being able to purchase more than one at a time is a great feeling...gripping the small stack in both hands and looking at the brightly colored spines...fantastic. One of my more recent book hauls included Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera. In this story, a mother and daughter find themselves seemingly at odds when a new developer begins to build in their neighborhood, setting off a series of events that threatens those who live there.

The Situation: Nothar Park has been Eusebia's home since she arrived in New York City from the Dominican Republic 20 years ago. She and her daughter, Luz, joined her husband, Vladimir, who made the journey before them. The then young couple did everything they could to give Luz the Ivy League education that led her to a high-powered career as a lawyer. Unfortunately, Luz's planned and coveted rise to the top has been thwarted by the news that she has been fired. And buying all of those pricy clothes and shoes is what has kept her living at home with her parents. Now everyone in Nothar Park is watching as a long unoccupied building is torn down and construction begins on a new structure, and everyone knows that change - mostly unwelcome change - is coming to Nothar Park.

The Problem: For Eusebia, the pathway forward could not be more clear. Something must be done to stop what is threatening their neighborhood. And Luz needs to find another job soon and make sure not to let all of the sacrifices that was made for her to have this life go to waste. For Luz, losing her job is certainly a setback, but she is not sure she wants to get right back onto the track she was on, no matter how nice the clothes were and how great the champagne tastes. As for the neighborhood, this could be exactly what needs to happen for her and her father's plan to come to fruition. Plus, the handsome and wealthy developer in charge of the new construction is clearly smitten with Luz. But something is very wrong with Eusebia. Not only is her behavior different, but her plans to save the neighborhood are definitely questionable, if not outright dangerous.

Genre, Themes, History: This book is a work of fiction set in modern day New York City, specifically in the predominantly Dominican Nothar Park. The storytelling is mostly split between Eusebia and Luz, with a few interruptions by a trio of sisters known as the Tongues. Through Eusebia and Luz, the reader is able to piece together not only the full family history, but also the effects of their codependent relationship, which at this point has reached a predictable level of toxicity. The anger and resentment is on every other page, while Vladimir seems almost blinded by plans and hope for the future. And when the long-time residents are threatened when new developers show an interest in the previously ignored area, mother and daughter are at odds like never before. 

My Verdict: This story has layers, and before it is even presented to the reader, there is clearly a deep and rich history behind how the characters got to where they are and why they relate to each other the way they do. And because of the well-developed picture of Nothar Park and the colorful characters that inhabit it, I can easily say I enjoyed reading this book. However, I will also say that the story structure is messy, and some things simply did not fit. For the first half of the book, the character of Luz was hard to picture, and that could be because she was in a place of transition and was trying to figure out who she was and who she wanted to be...perhaps that confusion simply translated from the page. Overall, the book is an intimate look at the experience of a neighborhood of residents that are mostly immigrants, whose home they have made in the U.S. is now being threatened due to its newly perceived value; and a supposedly close mother and daughter who find themselves holding the other at bay due to resentment and unspoken secrets. 

Favorite Moment: Luz is at a dinner party meeting the friends of her new boyfriend, and she is suddenly confronted with the reality of this new man she has become enamored with.

Favorite Character: Though they are never given individual names, I liked the Tongues: identical triplet women who live in Nothar Park, and spend their days observing their fellow residents and gossiping. 

Recommended Reading: I have three recommendations for this one: First is Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez, which also focuses on a young ambitious woman chasing after the bougie lifestyle that Luz desires. Second, there is The Sellout by Paul Beatty, a hilarious satire in which the protagonist uses unconventional means to help his community. And last is You Sound Like a White Girl by Julissa Arce, a nonfiction book in which the author lays out the case against immigrants chasing assimilation into "American" culture.