arc tbr

A Dominican novel! Not many of those, as far as my limited knowledge goes. It's a good one - I wouldn't be surprised if this gets more buzz than it is right now... maybe a big book club will pick it at some point . It's simply perfect for a book club. First, its fluid, yet full and rich sentences (which is the characteristic that most makes me think of the reason it receives comparisons to 'Such a Fun Age' by Kiley Reid). So many important themes here and it's lovely that it's a Dominican voice this time around. Natera takes such care with these characters. Switching perspectives between a unique but complicated mother/daughter relationship, which is necessary to show their disconnect despite their closeness, but also focusing on the community of Nothar Park in NYC. The Guerrero family has been living in Nothar Park after leaving the Dominican Republic many years ago, but now might have to face moving when a new building is going up. I love that the progress of the building mimics what is happening in the relationship between Luz, the daughter and Eusebia, the mother. Luz feels like an outsider after graduating from law school. Eusebia feels like Nothar Park is her home now, that she is the mother of the neighborhood. So Eusebia plans a neighborhood crime spree in an attempt to shut down construction. I feel there are many layers within these pages, the care here in which it took Natera fifteen years to write it. The book feels lived in. I hope Natera's next book doesn't take as long. I'm glad I found this book and these characters. Natera says in the acknowledgements: "My family and I have survived immeasurable pain, loss, joy, and love as immigrants of the United States." And if all of that can produce projects such as this, at least it's something.
Set this on the shelf beside:
Deacon King Kong - James McBride
The Confession of Copeland Cane - Keenan Norris
Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid
Luster - Raven Leilani
There There - Tommy Orange
Dear Miss Metropolitan - Carolyn Ferrell