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pauradisparire's review
3.25
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.
As someone who is not religious, I didn't mind reading about religion in this book at all. I'm glad the writer was critical of most of my issues with catholism.
It's nice to read about an "older" woman, as a 24-year-old woman, I'm afraid of ageing. I don't want to get wrinkles or turn gray, because the dominant narrative is that after your thirties your life ends. It's nice to see a main character live her life and find her way, it almost felt like a coming-of-age story but then in a different phase of your life.
All the connections described in this book were beautiful. I genuinely feel like that is what life is about.
At times the main character annoyed me, she was so distant from everyone she cares about. I understand this is part of her grief, and it's also part of her character arc, but at times her son felt barely adult, with the way she was treating him.
As someone who is not religious, I didn't mind reading about religion in this book at all. I'm glad the writer was critical of most of my issues with catholism.
It's nice to read about an "older" woman, as a 24-year-old woman, I'm afraid of ageing. I don't want to get wrinkles or turn gray, because the dominant narrative is that after your thirties your life ends. It's nice to see a main character live her life and find her way, it almost felt like a coming-of-age story but then in a different phase of your life.
All the connections described in this book were beautiful. I genuinely feel like that is what life is about.
At times the main character annoyed me, she was so distant from everyone she cares about. I understand this is part of her grief, and it's also part of her character arc, but at times her son felt barely adult, with the way she was treating him.
mxjx's review
3.5
Grounded in magical realism, We Need No Wings intertwines the supernatural with profound explorations of grief, feminism, and colonialism. Set against the backdrop of a woman's unexpected levitation following her husband's death, the narrative unfolds as she embarks on a journey to Spain to delve into her saintly ancestor's legacy.
While the thematic depth captivated me, the character's oscillation between insightful commentary and occasional naivety, particularly for a seasoned university professor in her 60s, occasionally disrupted the narrative flow. Additionally, repetitive descriptors, like 'his eyes went soft,' detracted from the immersive experience. Furthermore, despite its aspirations to critique American centralism, the book at times falls into its own trap, depicting Spanish characters through a lens that feels more like an American's interpretation than genuine cultural representation. Nevertheless, the author skilfully weaves together historical intrigue and contemporary reflections, creating a thought-provoking tale that lingers in the mind after the final page.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
fatima_zafar11's review
Only if I knew Tere mentioned in description was a real Spanish nun and catholism was going to be in book I wouldn't have read it, even as a Muslim I try not read books with so called Muslim representation (I've lots of issues with Muslim characters written by authors who had spend their whole life in west) so I try to stay away from books having any kind of religion as important element in book except fantasy books where of course Gods are just made up legends created by the author.
andrea_gagne's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
This was a both a moving story of coping with loss, and a lovely look at how to find the strength to move forward in life when you feel most adrift.
Tere Sanchez spent the past year grieving after the loss of her husband, she has been on an extended leave from her job as a professor, and her son and his wife and kids have built their own life in the city -- leaving her alone and unmoored in her small town in Vermont. But one day as she is watering the peonies her late husband planted in their garden, her life suddenly changes as she begins to levitate. Turning to her family roots, she remembers that her family claims to be descended from Saint Theresa de Avila, and she decides to uproot herself and travel to Avila, Spain to try and figure out what's happening to her. Answers are not so easy to come by, though, and she must first understand herself and what holds her back before she can truly soar.
I loved Ann Dávila Cardinal's last book, The Storyteller's Death, so I was excited to pick this up. It did not disappoint! She is incredible at crafting beautiful, immersive settings in gorgeous places -- the descriptions of Avila absolutely transported me to the ancient Spanish city with its stone walls, fragrant gardens, and monasteries and churches on every corner. It truly felt like I could see every detail that the author meticulously crafted into the story.
I also think the magical realism element was handled so well. It was just the right amount of mysticism for me, and it gave the story of finding your way when you're at a major life crossroads an element of mystery and spirituality.
There were some really important discussions in this book, as well, about literature as a tool for marginalized people, about the juxtaposition between the Catholic church's rich opulence and the true meaning of living out your faith through the charity and simple living of the nuns and other devout members of the community.
I'm not 100% sure about one part of the ending, but I do think that the emotional climax of Tere's journey of self discovery was very moving.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC to read and review.
Tere Sanchez spent the past year grieving after the loss of her husband, she has been on an extended leave from her job as a professor, and her son and his wife and kids have built their own life in the city -- leaving her alone and unmoored in her small town in Vermont. But one day as she is watering the peonies her late husband planted in their garden, her life suddenly changes as she begins to levitate. Turning to her family roots, she remembers that her family claims to be descended from Saint Theresa de Avila, and she decides to uproot herself and travel to Avila, Spain to try and figure out what's happening to her. Answers are not so easy to come by, though, and she must first understand herself and what holds her back before she can truly soar.
I loved Ann Dávila Cardinal's last book, The Storyteller's Death, so I was excited to pick this up. It did not disappoint! She is incredible at crafting beautiful, immersive settings in gorgeous places -- the descriptions of Avila absolutely transported me to the ancient Spanish city with its stone walls, fragrant gardens, and monasteries and churches on every corner. It truly felt like I could see every detail that the author meticulously crafted into the story.
I also think the magical realism element was handled so well. It was just the right amount of mysticism for me, and it gave the story of finding your way when you're at a major life crossroads an element of mystery and spirituality.
There were some really important discussions in this book, as well, about literature as a tool for marginalized people, about the juxtaposition between the Catholic church's rich opulence and the true meaning of living out your faith through the charity and simple living of the nuns and other devout members of the community.
I'm not 100% sure about one part of the ending, but I do think that the emotional climax of Tere's journey of self discovery was very moving.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC to read and review.
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