Thank you Libro.fm, #partner for the ALC of Woman of Light in exchange for my honest review. I purchased this book for my own collection.
Publisher: One World / Random House Audio
Published: June 7, 2022
Summary:
A dazzling epic of betrayal, love, and fate that spans five generations of an Indigenous Chicano family in the American West, from the author of the National Book Award Finalist Sabrina & Corina
“There is one every generation–a seer who keeps the stories.”
Luz “Little Light” Lopez, a tea leaf reader and laundress, is left to fend for herself after her older brother, Diego, a snake charmer and factory worker, is run out of town by a violent white mob. As Luz navigates 1930’s Denver on her own, she begins to have visions that transport her to her Indigenous homeland in the nearby Lost Territory. Luz recollects her ancestors’ origins, how her family flourished and how they were threatened. She bears witness to the sinister forces that have devastated her people and their homelands for generations. In the end, it is up to Luz to save her family stories from disappearing into oblivion.
Written in Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s singular voice, the wildly entertaining and complex lives of the Lopez family fill the pages of this multigenerational western saga. Woman of Light is a transfixing novel about survival, family secrets, and love, filled with an unforgettable cast of characters, all of whom are just as special, memorable, and complicated as our beloved heroine, Luz.
My thoughts:
This was a bookclub read that I’m so glad I ended up participating in. I was on the fence about picking it up, but it really was not only a great read, but one that really lends to being discussed.
This is a multi-generational story that moves around different timelines, all the while focusing on one particular character – Luz. I loved how we see her relationships to certain people develop and how she explores her family’s ancestors. I will say that it takes a little getting used to how the story is structured, as it is not linear by any means. The time jumps are jarring at first, and since I had the audio I was a bit confused. But luckily I had a print copy on hand and was able to look back to see what was going on and then continue with the audio.
The author does such a great job shedding light on the struggles Chicano families faced in Colorado in the early 20th century, especially the women. I have not read anything about this time period, nor about this group of people, so this in and of itself was so enlightening. I also loved how Luz felt the need to know these stories and bring them forward. That idea was so powerful.
This book is one that I know I will be thinking about for a long time to come. It’s even one that I might pick up again because I’m sure I will benefit from rereading…it’s just that type of book.
Audio thoughts:
I thought the narrator, Melinna Bobadilla, did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. Her pacing and intonation were spot on. Because of the nonlinear storyline, it was helpful to pair with the physical book.
