The Situation: It is 1985 in New York City, and the relationship between Anita de Monte and her husband Jack Martin has been volatile and explosive for years, and yet they have stayed together. While both of them are artists, Jack has a long history of being revered for his sculptures. Anita has certainly garnered her own amount of attention through her work, but her ability to cultivate her own career seems to only add fuel the fire the always burns around her and her husband. In 1998, art student Raquel has learned all about Jack Martin while attending Brown University. And when she begins to date a young artist on the rise, the world she already carefully navigated as one of the few art students of color at the university becomes even more of a puzzle.
The Problem: When Anita is found dead back in 1985, it was the only thing everyone was talking about. But by 1998, she has been all but forgotten. Jack even stood trial for her murder, another detail that seems to have been forgotten by history, as only his work and legacy is ever discussed in galleries, and in the classroom. As Raquel prepares for her fourth and final year of college, and her prestigious internship in the summer before, she finds herself questioning her own place in the art world. She may be dating one of the artists of the moment, allowing her access to parties and events she would have never considered before, but she does not exactly feel welcome...more like tolerated. And does the man she is with accept her as herself? Or as another piece of art to form to his liking?
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction book that is set mostly in 1985 New York City, and 1998 Providence, Rhode Island. Anita knows exactly what it means to be a Cuban-born artist attempting to carve her own space in the art world in the U.S. Being married to the great Jack Martin certainly has its perks, but Anita is not riding his coattails, and manages to secure her own opportunities apart from him. Had her life not been cut short, would she still be remembered? Would art students like Raquel be able to learn about her work from a textbook? Instead of finding out about her nearly by accident? Raquel knows by experience that students who look like her must work twice as hard, and when they are rewarded, the event is surrounded by resentment, and suspicion of affirmative action. With a little bit of magical realism, Anita and Raquel's stories come together in an exploration of art and identity.
My Verdict: This book is intense, sometimes heavy, often frustrating, but most of all, fun. Both Anita and Raquel are not without their flaws - Anita admits as much - but they are both interesting protagonists that are also pretty different from each other. I found myself fully involved in both of their stories, eager to see how it all came together, and being not at all disappointed. And the discussion of the struggle for non-white artists to be accepted and praised in the same was as someone like Jack Martin is an honest one that does not shy away from the truth. The fight to not change who you are, but also fit into a world that is not used to someone like you being there, is explored well and expertly handled.
Favorite Moment: There is a moment when Raquel's surprise and rage causes her to do something that she frankly should have done weeks before, and the moment feels perfect.
Favorite Character: Despite her faults and blind spots, I adore Raquel and enjoyed her journey. The college years that approach graduation and cause a person to really consider what comes next are terrifying for many, but Raquel does it. She faces the hard questions and (eventually) figures it out for herself.
Recommended Reading: Olga Dies Dreaming is a different kind of book, but full of the same kind of well-described settings and fully formed characters facing relatable and real hardships.
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