Fiction
2020 Recorded Books
Read by Alma Cuervo
Finished on April 17, 2021
Rating: 3/5 (Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has had the rug pulled out from under her. She has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and Antonia returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves—lines from her favorite authors play in her head like a soundtrack—but now she finds that the world demands more of her than words.
Afterlife is a compact, nimble, and sharply droll novel. Set in this political moment of tribalism and distrust, it asks: What do we owe those in crisis in our families, including—maybe especially—members of our human family? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another or ourselves? And how do we stay true to those glorious souls we have lost?
While browsing through a list of audiobooks offered by Libro.fm, I came across Julia Alvarez's name, which I recognized as the author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. I haven't read that particular novel or any others by Alvarez, but this one sounded promising so I decided to give it a try. It's a slim book (only 272 pages) and the audio is not quite 6 1/2 hours in length, so it's a fairly quick read.
I enjoyed Antonia's story as she learns to live with the loss of her husband and the unpredictability of her grief during the past year. I also liked the storyline about Mario and his pregnant girlfriend Estella, who comes into Antonia's life unexpectedly. I would have preferred that this thread be the main focus of the novel and eliminate the other part, which involves Antonia's three sisters. I didn't care for the long, drawn out drama of their relationships with one another and thought the sisters were indistinguishable from each another. I grew annoyed and impatient to return to Mario and Estella's story, but kept listening, as Alma Cuervo is an excellent reader; her accent smooth and melodious.
I didn't fall in love with this book, but there are parts that I enjoyed greatly. So much so that I'm tempted to get a copy of the book at the library in order to read some of those passages a second time.
I received a complimentary copy from Libro.fm.
I borrowed the print version from the library after I read a very favorable review but, I never got to it. The older I get the less patience I have for sibling or girlfriend drama...LOL
ReplyDeleteDiane, I have less patience for that sort of thing, too!
DeleteIt's always a good sign when you feel the need to pick up a physical copy after reading on an eBook or listening to an audio book. I read her other book and remember kind of feeling the same way. That the main focus was a bit off. It's been a long time since I read the Garcia Girls so the details aren't there.
ReplyDeleteIt's gloomy here. I am trying to rouse the pup for a walk but after her bee sting yesterday she is giving me the stink eye. I will work most of the morning and then tuck in with Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan.
Ti, if you felt the same about her other book, I think I'll skip it.
DeleteI'm sorry your pup got stung by a bee! I wonder if it itches.
I started the audio of this ... but then I thought I might like the print version more ... so I stopped. But perhaps it was the sisters thread that wasn't as alluring. Thx for your review. I think I will return to it sometime.
ReplyDeleteSusan, a lot of the reviews mentioned the beautiful writing, so maybe the print version is the way to go. It's easy to miss lyrical prose while listening to an audio book while folding laundry and pulling weeds. ;)
DeleteI agree with your rating completely. It was better than okay, but I wasn't wowed by it.
ReplyDeleteDeb, if I happen upon it in the library (when we are allowed to start browsing the shelves again), I may check it out simply to skim the pages to reread the passages with literary quotes. I enjoyed that part of Antonia's story, but it got a little lost in all the drama she was dealing with.
DeleteThis is one I've been wanting to read after I attended a virtual event with a Q&A with Julia Alvarez. We'll see how it goes when I finally get to it.
ReplyDeleteIliana, what a treat to attend a virtual event with Alvarez! Let me know how you like the book, if and when you decide to read it.
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