Many readers know the name of today's author from her young adult fiction novels, but Family Lore is Elizabeth Acevedo's first offering for adults. I enjoyed all three of Acevedo's previous books and looked forward to the story of a family of women who each have a unique gift, and their preparations for a loved ones living wake.
The Situation: When Ona hears that her mother wants to have a living wake, she fears the worst is about to happen. Flor may be 70 years-old, but it is not her age that is making Ona and the rest of the family believe that the woman may be dying. The thing is, Flor has always been able to know when someone is going to die. This information comes to her in dreams and she has yet to be wrong. It is her gift, just like her youngest sister, Camila, can mix and match herbs into a cure for anything, and Pastora knows the truth about people (which many find unnerving). Matilde does not seem to have a gift, but she is and has always been an incredible dancer, whenever she gets a chance to do it. With only three days until the wake, everyone is doing their best to have the event come together, as they also attempt to find out what Flor knows.
The Problem: Ona is naturally suspicious, and terrified, of the reason why Flor would want a living wake. And why she would need to have it so soon. She does her best to find out if her mother has seen her own death, with both direct and indirect questions. But Flor continues to not give anything anyway, and only sometimes gives cryptic answers. Even Pastora, the sister who can divine the truth, is seemingly at a loss. As the day of the wake approaches, the past is slowly revealed, and Flor, Matilde, Pastora, Camila, Ona, and Ona's younger cousin Yadi, all reveal their secrets, and the anxieties that are plaguing them. The stories come together to present the rich history of the six women, who eagerly await the day of the wake and whatever is to come.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction that is set in and around modern-day New York City, while also jumping back through time to when the four sisters were younger and living in the Dominican Republic. While Ona is the primary narrator, the reader also hears from her aunts Matilde, Pastora, and Camila; her mother Flor, and her cousin Yadi, all from the first person perspective. Ona has decided to interview her family members as part of a personal project, and the product is full of revelations, while also hiding some of the information that Ona most wants to know. At the beginning of the book, following a quote from poet Lucille Clifton, the reader is given a list of the family members that are mentioned, as well as their primary traits. Each chapter moves the story towards the inevitable wake, while also presenting more from the characters' paths.
My Verdict: Of course, I was aware of the pitfalls that can come from expecting a novelist to be successful in a certain area or genre, simply because they have proven successful in another area. I was excited to see what a novel for adults would look like coming from Acevedo, but I was also apprehensive, and that caution was not completely unmerited. What remains is Acevedo's command of language and her ability to put together settings and characters and situations in a way that brings the reader into a world that feels both close and real. And while the characters are interesting, and their stories and histories even more so, the lack of plot movement makes for an almost frustrating experience. The slice of life approach allows for great background, but with little payoff.
Favorite Moment: There is a moment when Pastora sees the truth about someone who has entered the shop where she works, but she decides not to speak it in that moment, and it is everything. Such a small and subtle moment was made incredibly powerful with just the smallest of observations.
Favorite Character: I can understand why many would be wary of Pastora, including her own youngest sister, Camila. But honestly, people being unnerved by Pastora and her ability to know the truth really says more about them than it does about her.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Clap When You Land, Acevedo's third YA novel, as well as Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera.
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