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sailormar's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Body horror, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Death, Toxic relationship, and Racism
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Feels like a necessary book, though I have mixed feelings about Anita’s voice as a second life. I thought it was funny and relevant, but I think I didn’t really love the use of it as a plot device. Also, my revenge lust wasn’t quenched enough. I would’ve preferred to see Jack dealt with greater consequences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Torture, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Sexism, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
facciosp's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn’t love this book, but I also didn’t hate it. I found at some points the writing to be clunky and some of the themes to be cheesy. Very predictable and at points I was wondering how there was still more to be discussed in the book. Also a weird emphasis on characters weight that didn’t progress the story line. That being said, it has an interesting concept and I enjoyed Raquel and her development and growth.
Disappointing to find out from other reviews that this was inspired by a true story when that wasn’t mentioned in the book.
Disappointing to find out from other reviews that this was inspired by a true story when that wasn’t mentioned in the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Bullying
adventurebound7's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
annie_l_h's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
One of the most page turning books I’ve read all year. This novel left me thinking and absolutely had me enchanted. Only thing I would say is that some of the earlier allusions to Nick and Jack being similar in character to one another were a bit heavy handed, but overall this book was amazing. Highly recommend for fans of literature surrounding the art world as well as fans of literature that dissects privilege and identity within the art world/society as a whole.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Body shaming
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I really loved Olga Dies Dreaming and I was so excited that Anita de Monte Laughs Last was so much fun to listen to. I highly recommend the audio with multiple narrators. Jessica Pimentel does an incredible job as Anita de Monte in the 1980s. She adds so much to the reading, it truly is like listening to a movie.
Anita de Monte is based on the life of Ana Mendieta who was an artist who died in 1985 when she fell or was pushed out of an apartment window (and was married to sculptor Carl Andre). As someone who loves art, this book (and others like Still Life by Sarah Winman) make you think about how few women artists we really know. Author Xochitl Gonzalez found Ana Mendieta in an art history class.
Anita de Monte tells her story as a ghost, recalling the event that caused her death and moments with her husband Jack after her death.
In another timeline, Raquel is in art history classes at Brown studying Jack and and discovers Anita de Monte. We find similarities between their relationships and the way women artists are treated and valued.
There is also some magical realism woven into this story as she tells it from a ghost’s perspective and her interactions with her husband (iykyk).
“And, from what I was eavesdropping in the gallery that night, most of these men not only hated feminist art, but I suspected, hated women as well.”
“And then. And then I was sent to America, and rendered invisible. Rendered lifeless. Alone.”
“Well, it felt like even when I bury myself in your f*ing soil, I’m still not American enough. … To prostrate myself, in some way, for having gone to such pains to become one with a place that rejected me over and over and over again.”
“ presume her to be grateful for it, even - was only possible because he had told her, in ways great and small, that he knew best and she had signaled that he was correct.”
“She realized that so much of what she thought as good art had simply been that which had been elevated by John Temple, because it was understood by and spoke to and created by men just like John. And that in the omission of things that were made by or understood by or in conversation with people like her, Raquel had, unconsciously, begun to see those things as lesser. And that revelation sparked one that was even more painful: the reason that Raquel subconsciously believed that Nick knew “better” than her was that it was Nick’s point of view had been affirmed and internalized by the white walls of every museum or gallery that had ever been told was worth looking at.”
“…she had firmly placed them behind a wall called her past; a section of her mind she didn’t like to visit much.”
Anita de Monte is based on the life of Ana Mendieta who was an artist who died in 1985 when she fell or was pushed out of an apartment window (and was married to sculptor Carl Andre). As someone who loves art, this book (and others like Still Life by Sarah Winman) make you think about how few women artists we really know. Author Xochitl Gonzalez found Ana Mendieta in an art history class.
Anita de Monte tells her story as a ghost, recalling the event that caused her death and moments with her husband Jack after her death.
In another timeline, Raquel is in art history classes at Brown studying Jack and and discovers Anita de Monte. We find similarities between their relationships and the way women artists are treated and valued.
There is also some magical realism woven into this story as she tells it from a ghost’s perspective and her interactions with her husband (iykyk).
“And, from what I was eavesdropping in the gallery that night, most of these men not only hated feminist art, but I suspected, hated women as well.”
“And then. And then I was sent to America, and rendered invisible. Rendered lifeless. Alone.”
“Well, it felt like even when I bury myself in your f*ing soil, I’m still not American enough. … To prostrate myself, in some way, for having gone to such pains to become one with a place that rejected me over and over and over again.”
“ presume her to be grateful for it, even - was only possible because he had told her, in ways great and small, that he knew best and she had signaled that he was correct.”
“She realized that so much of what she thought as good art had simply been that which had been elevated by John Temple, because it was understood by and spoke to and created by men just like John. And that in the omission of things that were made by or understood by or in conversation with people like her, Raquel had, unconsciously, begun to see those things as lesser. And that revelation sparked one that was even more painful: the reason that Raquel subconsciously believed that Nick knew “better” than her was that it was Nick’s point of view had been affirmed and internalized by the white walls of every museum or gallery that had ever been told was worth looking at.”
“…she had firmly placed them behind a wall called her past; a section of her mind she didn’t like to visit much.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Death, Murder, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
minimicropup's review against another edition
4.5
Oof, the feels. There’s all too real magic realism, heartbreaking life lessons, and a beautiful ending.
Energy: Intrepid. Vibrant. Raw.
Scene: 🇺🇸 🇨🇺 Set in Providence, Rhode Island (1990s), NYC (1970s-1980s) and Havana, Jaruco, and Varadero Cuba (1980s).
Perspective: In the 1980s, we follow an artist who meets an untimely end as their marriage unravels with perspective from their spouse. In the 1990s, we follow a graduate student questioning their world as they learn more about the spouse of the male artist whose work they are writing about.
🐕 Howls: I find post-death or beyond-the-grave perspectives difficult, but that’s just me!
🐩 Tail Wags: Raquel. Imperfect characters. The balance of show-not-tell commentary. Overall energy and thoughtfulness. The portrayal of how established art is dictated and how limiting and destructive that is.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This is a book you’ll want to be in the headspace for. Even though I haven’t lived the character’s experiences and identities, it felt so relatable and understandable. There’s a wide span of commentary, but it never felt shallow or heavy-handed. I loved the symbolism of connecting across time and supporting the growth of each other’s spirits.
The exploration the 'man-child' and toxic gender roles was well done, too. I hated Jack, but I was glad we got his perspective because it gave us insight into how people like him justify their actions. This didn’t feel misandrist (not all men are jerks), and it explored the role of women in enabling these behaviours too.
----
🎬 Tale-Telling: Poetic and expressive but dense with long chapters.
🤓 Reader Role: Anita is talking to us directly and from beyond the grave. We are also tagging along with Raquel with a narrator who gives insight into her thoughts and actions.
🗺️ World-Building: Effortlessly 1990s and 1980s. Musical, too. This is a great book to read along with the songs listed.
🔥 Fuel: We know right away that Anita died, but there’s an unravelling mystery around how and what led to it. Will the truth be found out? Will her art survive? Raquel’s portion has relationship and coming-of-age suspense, and some research sleuthing.
📖 Cred: Hyper-realistic magical realism
🚙 Journey: Spending an afternoon lost in a book or movie, feeling all the feels.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Energy: Intrepid. Vibrant. Raw.
Scene: 🇺🇸 🇨🇺 Set in Providence, Rhode Island (1990s), NYC (1970s-1980s) and Havana, Jaruco, and Varadero Cuba (1980s).
Perspective: In the 1980s, we follow an artist who meets an untimely end as their marriage unravels with perspective from their spouse. In the 1990s, we follow a graduate student questioning their world as they learn more about the spouse of the male artist whose work they are writing about.
🐕 Howls: I find post-death or beyond-the-grave perspectives difficult, but that’s just me!
🐩 Tail Wags: Raquel. Imperfect characters. The balance of show-not-tell commentary. Overall energy and thoughtfulness. The portrayal of how established art is dictated and how limiting and destructive that is.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This is a book you’ll want to be in the headspace for. Even though I haven’t lived the character’s experiences and identities, it felt so relatable and understandable. There’s a wide span of commentary, but it never felt shallow or heavy-handed. I loved the symbolism of connecting across time and supporting the growth of each other’s spirits.
The exploration the 'man-child' and toxic gender roles was well done, too. I hated Jack, but I was glad we got his perspective because it gave us insight into how people like him justify their actions. This didn’t feel misandrist (not all men are jerks), and it explored the role of women in enabling these behaviours too.
----
🎬 Tale-Telling: Poetic and expressive but dense with long chapters.
🤓 Reader Role: Anita is talking to us directly and from beyond the grave. We are also tagging along with Raquel with a narrator who gives insight into her thoughts and actions.
🗺️ World-Building: Effortlessly 1990s and 1980s. Musical, too. This is a great book to read along with the songs listed.
🔥 Fuel: We know right away that Anita died, but there’s an unravelling mystery around how and what led to it. Will the truth be found out? Will her art survive? Raquel’s portion has relationship and coming-of-age suspense, and some research sleuthing.
📖 Cred: Hyper-realistic magical realism
🚙 Journey: Spending an afternoon lost in a book or movie, feeling all the feels.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
- Seagulls. Salt-scented air. Honking traffic. Elevator music. Studio light. Polite laughter. Sand and ocean waves. Hip hop.
- Elements of magical realism and good-for-her revenge
- Literary fiction with new adult experiences and breaking free from patriarchal and White-normalized expectations
Content Heads-Up: Prejudice/bias (class, privilege, ancestry, race). Racism (systemic, relationships, academia). Domestic abuse (physical and verbal). Toxic masculinity. Suicide (implied, on page). Murder (on page). Death, life after death (on page). Bullying. Sexism, misogyny. Body shaming. Eating disorder (brief mention). Controlling relationships. Alcohol use (intoxication).
Rep: Cuban American. Puerto Rican. Latina, Lebanese, French, Black, and White Americans. Cisgender. Gay. Lesbian. Heterosexual. Diverse body sizes. Diverse skin colours. Santería.
📚 Format: Paperback
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Racism
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Bullying, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
kelly_e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Title: Anita de Monte Laughs Last
Author: Xóchitl González
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
I received a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Theatrical • Electric • Haunting
📖 S Y N O P S I S
1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by progeny of film producers, C-Suite executives, and international art-dealers, most of whom float through life knowing that their futures are secured, Raquel feels herself an outsider. Students of color, like Raquel, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret.
But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After being captivated by Xóchitl González's writing in her debut, Olga Dies Dreaming, I immediately added Anita de Monte Laughs Last to my list of anticipated releases for 2024. I was graciously offered an ALC, which I tandem read with the book once it was released.
The audiobook, narrated by a full cast of Jessica Pimentel, Jonathan Gregg, and Stacy Gonzalez is absolutely fantastic. I would even venture to say the narration takes this book to the next level. The narrators really bring their characters to life and I could hear the emotion of the narrative in their voices. Because the story is told from multiple perspectives and in a nonlinear fashion it was definitely easier for me to tandem read than listen alone.
The pacing starts out on the slow side, yet it builds steadily to a satisfying ending. I will admit to being slightly caught off guard by the ghost element, but somehow it fit perfectly into the narrative. There is ample commentary on race and womanhood and when the two stories start to converge the story gets stronger.
I don't know that I enjoyed this one as much as her debut, yet it was definitely worth my time. It's easy to imagine Anita de Monte Laughs Last transitioning to the big screen down the road. This book isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it establishes Xóchitl González as a force in the literary world.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• art history
• strong female characters
⚠️ CW: toxic relationship, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, racism, sexism, misogyny, classism, death, murder, cursing, drug use, drug abuse, alcohol, infidelity, mental illness, eating disorder, anorexia, body shaming, fatphobia
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Everything worth doing hurts at least a little bit."
Author: Xóchitl González
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: March 5, 2024
I received a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Theatrical • Electric • Haunting
📖 S Y N O P S I S
1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by progeny of film producers, C-Suite executives, and international art-dealers, most of whom float through life knowing that their futures are secured, Raquel feels herself an outsider. Students of color, like Raquel, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret.
But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After being captivated by Xóchitl González's writing in her debut, Olga Dies Dreaming, I immediately added Anita de Monte Laughs Last to my list of anticipated releases for 2024. I was graciously offered an ALC, which I tandem read with the book once it was released.
The audiobook, narrated by a full cast of Jessica Pimentel, Jonathan Gregg, and Stacy Gonzalez is absolutely fantastic. I would even venture to say the narration takes this book to the next level. The narrators really bring their characters to life and I could hear the emotion of the narrative in their voices. Because the story is told from multiple perspectives and in a nonlinear fashion it was definitely easier for me to tandem read than listen alone.
The pacing starts out on the slow side, yet it builds steadily to a satisfying ending. I will admit to being slightly caught off guard by the ghost element, but somehow it fit perfectly into the narrative. There is ample commentary on race and womanhood and when the two stories start to converge the story gets stronger.
I don't know that I enjoyed this one as much as her debut, yet it was definitely worth my time. It's easy to imagine Anita de Monte Laughs Last transitioning to the big screen down the road. This book isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it establishes Xóchitl González as a force in the literary world.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• art history
• strong female characters
⚠️ CW: toxic relationship, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, racism, sexism, misogyny, classism, death, murder, cursing, drug use, drug abuse, alcohol, infidelity, mental illness, eating disorder, anorexia, body shaming, fatphobia
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Everything worth doing hurts at least a little bit."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, Infidelity, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, and Murder
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
anorexiaautumn_alwaysreadingseason's review
3.0
1985. Anita de Monte is an up and coming artist who becomes involved with a white man named Jack. He's an artist too and his actions make Anita feel that her work doesn't matter as much to him. She opts out of a residency in Florida to follow him to California. But when he stops introducing her as an artist, and he constantly loses his temper, she has had enough. She decides to take herself seriously if he won't. They have a toxic and abusive marriage, which results in her death. The art world protects Jack and Anita fades into the background.
In the 1990s, Raquel is an art history major at Brown. Her mentor is a Jack Martin scholar and she is writing her senior thesis about Martin to get a good recommendation. She becomes involved with an artist and loses herself, mirroring Anita's story in some ways. But after months of body shaming, an incident makes Raquel wake up. She frees herself and also discovers Anita's work and story.
This is a tough one. Looking back, I appreciate how Gonzalez weaves these two women together and criticizes the art scene for centering white male narratives. Anita's work had so much more meaning that Jack's minimalist pieces, but she wasn't recognized. The volatility of their relationship was always on full display and many people witnessed how terrible he was to her, but nobody did anything about it. Creative industries often abuse women (women of color even more).
However, this was hard to get through because of how terrible the men were. I had to mentally prepare myself every time I listened to it. I also should have looked up content warnings because there is a lot of body shaming and one of the characters struggles with disordered eating.
The audiobook production on this one is intense. The actresses got into character and really displayed the passion and emotion in the scenes that required it.
In the 1990s, Raquel is an art history major at Brown. Her mentor is a Jack Martin scholar and she is writing her senior thesis about Martin to get a good recommendation. She becomes involved with an artist and loses herself, mirroring Anita's story in some ways. But after months of body shaming, an incident makes Raquel wake up. She frees herself and also discovers Anita's work and story.
This is a tough one. Looking back, I appreciate how Gonzalez weaves these two women together and criticizes the art scene for centering white male narratives. Anita's work had so much more meaning that Jack's minimalist pieces, but she wasn't recognized. The volatility of their relationship was always on full display and many people witnessed how terrible he was to her, but nobody did anything about it. Creative industries often abuse women (women of color even more).
However, this was hard to get through because of how terrible the men were. I had to mentally prepare myself every time I listened to it. I also should have looked up content warnings because there is a lot of body shaming and one of the characters struggles with disordered eating.
The audiobook production on this one is intense. The actresses got into character and really displayed the passion and emotion in the scenes that required it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder
afrenette's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Eating disorder, and Body shaming