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A review by kelly_inthe419
Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
3.0
I read the Woman of Light during Hispanic American Heritage Month and although the writing and timeline transitions seemed a bit uneven, I learned a lot about a community and time period I really knew nothing about. I would round this up to 3.5 stars.
Woman of Light opens in the late 1800s with the birth of a baby boy, Pidre, who is abandoned in a Moses-like passage and is rescued and raised by the Sleepy Prophet of the tiny pueblo, Pardona. As timelines shift, we follow the journey through generations of an Indigenous Hispanic family. The primary focus, however, is Luz and her urban life in the Denver of the 1930s, and it seemed to be more about Luz's coming of age in a time where prejudice against Hispanic and Indigenous cultures abounded. But these were the people - as happens in many cultures across time - who kept the upper class afloat with their skilled work, farming assistance and sewing and mending.
As tea leaf reader who inherited mystical traits from her grandmother, Luz is torn between wanting to help her family and to be and do more with her life. Luz lives with her brother and their aunt Maria Josie, a remarkably strong woman who recognizes and is unafraid to confront the harsh realities of life. When her brother is attacked by an angry group of white men, he flees to California, leaving Luz heartbroken. The treatment of Hispanic and Indigenous families of the time in Denver, was appalling although it probably shouldn't be surprising. I was surprised at the strong presence of the Ku Klux Klan and like fanatical groups. It must have been terrifying to be non-white and see the hordes of white clad men and women coming down the street!
I admired Luz's quest for a better life, but I also felt like she made several questionable decisions. Understanding she's young, her taste in men seemed reckless especially if her goal was to find a man who will protect her from other men. Although Pidre is ostensibly the patriarch of the family, strong women seem to be the backbone of this family. I felt Luz could have been a stronger character having descended from strong women like her aunt and grandmother.
I read this on audiobook and felt the narration could have been better as well. It just seemed flat at times for such an emotional and dramatic story. Thank you to Libro.FM and Penguin Random House Audio for my complimentary copy.
Woman of Light opens in the late 1800s with the birth of a baby boy, Pidre, who is abandoned in a Moses-like passage and is rescued and raised by the Sleepy Prophet of the tiny pueblo, Pardona. As timelines shift, we follow the journey through generations of an Indigenous Hispanic family. The primary focus, however, is Luz and her urban life in the Denver of the 1930s, and it seemed to be more about Luz's coming of age in a time where prejudice against Hispanic and Indigenous cultures abounded. But these were the people - as happens in many cultures across time - who kept the upper class afloat with their skilled work, farming assistance and sewing and mending.
As tea leaf reader who inherited mystical traits from her grandmother, Luz is torn between wanting to help her family and to be and do more with her life. Luz lives with her brother and their aunt Maria Josie, a remarkably strong woman who recognizes and is unafraid to confront the harsh realities of life. When her brother is attacked by an angry group of white men, he flees to California, leaving Luz heartbroken. The treatment of Hispanic and Indigenous families of the time in Denver, was appalling although it probably shouldn't be surprising. I was surprised at the strong presence of the Ku Klux Klan and like fanatical groups. It must have been terrifying to be non-white and see the hordes of white clad men and women coming down the street!
I admired Luz's quest for a better life, but I also felt like she made several questionable decisions. Understanding she's young, her taste in men seemed reckless especially if her goal was to find a man who will protect her from other men. Although Pidre is ostensibly the patriarch of the family, strong women seem to be the backbone of this family. I felt Luz could have been a stronger character having descended from strong women like her aunt and grandmother.
I read this on audiobook and felt the narration could have been better as well. It just seemed flat at times for such an emotional and dramatic story. Thank you to Libro.FM and Penguin Random House Audio for my complimentary copy.