Loved it! Julia Alvarez is the author of 6 novels, 3 books of nonfiction, 3 collections of poetry, and 11 books for children and young adults. Its a short, enthralling read about 4 sisters who are all fighting the battle of ageism, loss and the search for meaning in a broken world.
Antonia, devastated by the loss of her husband, wanders driftlessly and is pulled into an immigration dichotomy ,when she discovers a pregnant, young immigrant hiding in her garage. The surprises continue as Antonia departs on a 'sister rendezvous' to celebrate her birthday.
As she contemplates life without her husband, "No matter the sips, the narrow path, grief keeps ambushing her: unsuspecting moments, nooks, crannies, cracks where the root system of loving is embedded in her life. Brutally yanked out with that tearing sound of detaching a clump of grass from the ground."The descriptive narrative pulls you in, as you feel the weight of the pain.
The complications continue as the sisters' saga turns into a mystery; their beloved sister, Izzy, a retired therapist is missing. Its a tumultuous tale to the end, as the sorrow ebbs and flows.
The book thrives on vulnerabilities, the moment when the feeling comes as a revelation and then lingers, uncomfortably forever.As she describes, when discovering the fate of her sister, "Its finally come: the frightening moment she has fought hard to prevent, when not just the world but the words fall apart, and the plunge goes on and on."
In the end, the Author draws upon Kintsugi, a Japanese repair technique, of breaking a platter intentionally, to feel the "ridged gold lines, the damage made visible. the platter repaired. It tells a story. That it has been broken."
Other Books By Julia Alvarez:
Before We Were Free 2018
In the Time of Butterflies 2010
The Woman I Kept to Myself 2004
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent 1991
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