Family Lore

This book was more than a good read; it was an experience. It weaves together the stories of the Marte sisters, as well as those of their daughters. The women of the family have subtle, often odd, magical gifts, that they can wield in different ways. The book opens and closes with Flor, who has had premonitory visions of death since she was a child. After watching a documentary about the subject, she decides to throw herself a living wake, feeling a soul-deep desire to have this moment with her family during life rather than death.

The author has created a beautiful tapestry with these women, their stories feeling real, even with the magical realism of their world. There is so much emotion to be felt as the women recount moments in their lives, the way these moments shaped their relationships, their futures, their perspectives. The book touches on themes of sisterhood, womenhood, and motherhood within a multigenerational Dominican/Dominican-American family. It also explores the cultural differences between the generations, how traditions change and how they stay the same.

It was a beautiful read that I would recommend to everyone!

content warning: ❗death, infidelity, pregnancy❗

POV: multiple, 1st/3rd person
keywords/phrases: magic, family, lore, trauma
cover notes: gorgeous

other notes:

• There is a lot of Spanish throughout the novel. It adds a layer of texture and culture throughout that I love and appreciate, but it can be hard sometimes to translate for non-Spanish speakers as there are few contextual clues for the meanings. But the story is so beautiful that it is definitely worth the effort!
• The story is told from multiple POVs, with a large cast of characters. But there is a list of characters and brief descriptions at the beginning that is perfect for referencing.
• The writing style/format has some experimental aspects that can be a little confusing. Once I figured out the key to the formatting, it was easy to understand. It was well worth the learning curve!