katreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
This was so beautifully written! I loved the history of this place/period, and while I found this a bit slow, I was totally invested in the end.
thatsoneforthebooks's review against another edition
5.0
✨ Review ✨ Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
I went into this a little nervous -- "multigenerational western saga" can go either way right? I'm so glad I picked it up though - this was an absolutely incredible fictional reflection on race, space, and place in Denver and in the Lost Territory (a fictional place in the US West / borderlands that the author made up to have some more leeway in her writing).
The story centers on Luz, a teenage fortune-teller (tea leaves) and laundry worker, in 1930s Denver, as well as the backstory of generations of her family making their way through the Lost Territory that Luz begins to see through her visions. This shows the messiness of race and identity in a place over generations as this Indigenous Chicano family fights to protect family, to find love, and to celebrate their ideas of home.
My specialization for my PhD was the history of the US West and so many pieces of what I love about that field came together here -- the messiness of racial identity and boundaries, the consequences of urban growth, the centrality of place, mixed with just a bit of the mythic west through Luz's ancestors.
I admit this was a little more challenging via audiobook because of the jumps between timelines, but still very doable. There were a few things about the storyline that could have been a bit clearer, but otherwise I absolutely loved this book. The way that it centered storytelling and home as a place were really beautiful and I hope you love it too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I went into this a little nervous -- "multigenerational western saga" can go either way right? I'm so glad I picked it up though - this was an absolutely incredible fictional reflection on race, space, and place in Denver and in the Lost Territory (a fictional place in the US West / borderlands that the author made up to have some more leeway in her writing).
The story centers on Luz, a teenage fortune-teller (tea leaves) and laundry worker, in 1930s Denver, as well as the backstory of generations of her family making their way through the Lost Territory that Luz begins to see through her visions. This shows the messiness of race and identity in a place over generations as this Indigenous Chicano family fights to protect family, to find love, and to celebrate their ideas of home.
My specialization for my PhD was the history of the US West and so many pieces of what I love about that field came together here -- the messiness of racial identity and boundaries, the consequences of urban growth, the centrality of place, mixed with just a bit of the mythic west through Luz's ancestors.
I admit this was a little more challenging via audiobook because of the jumps between timelines, but still very doable. There were a few things about the storyline that could have been a bit clearer, but otherwise I absolutely loved this book. The way that it centered storytelling and home as a place were really beautiful and I hope you love it too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ashleyreadsanything's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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? No
4.0
ellie31773's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.25
year23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
averielynch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
this book made me feel seen.
lyssey's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
lisalit's review against another edition
3.0
it was a good read but not earth shattering and i was lacking some attachment to the characters and story. it was an enjoyable and distracting read but that is about it for me.
rcd229's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.75
I liked the interplay of all the different character's lives and histories, but although they do all tie together, it feels a little unfinished or maybe not completely satisfying, like those binding ties or transitions are just glanced over too quickly. I wish Luz's gift had been developed and detailed more instead of just glimpses of time that don't feel like their whole stories are ever told.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism