A review by dc_guevara
Exodus 20:3, by Freydís Moon
5.0
"What are you doing to me?"
"Seeing you."
The author has managed to create a work so atmospheric, wonderous and gorgeous that they have elevated the craft for the rest of us. One of the words that I continuously thought of as I read this book and as I thought on how to describe it, I always came back to baroque. This is referencing the style of art, literature and Architecture that flourished in Europe in the early 17th century-- but a lesser known fact is that the art style prevailed in the countries colonized by said European countries, which is where the perfect blend of Catholicism and latinidad co-exist.
EXODUS 20:3 tells the story of Diego López, a man struggling with monetary issues who lands in a job through the Ancient latinx tradition of "I-know-somebody-who-knows-somebody" to get a job in order to do his community service. There he meets the mysterious and handsome Ariel Azevedo, who seems to harbor a secret of his own.
This book joins ST Gibson's A DOWRY OF BLOOD in the category of religious imagery being beautifully blended with sensual eroticism.
This novelette is a masterclass in character building, atmosphere and reveal all perfectly wrapped in a bite-sized read. Diego feels as real as any of my many primos in the latinx community and his life experiences and his unique perspective bring a sense of gravitas to the narrative that helps keep it grounded, even as spectacular and holy events occur. The reveal of Ariel's true form is nothing short of magnificent, described in such precise and poetic detail that one would think that it would be the description of a delicate piece of art.
Something that gripped me, personally, was the way Moon went about describing the inherent question that we all must face when faced with angels: Is there a God? "There's a being beyond us […] We're conduits of worship." Explains the ever gentle and grand Ariel as he explains to Diego as he questions the complexities that come with being raised catholic in Latinx households especially. I have a tenuous relationship with religion and all things holy regarding it's violent history and rich spirituality and this books helps me re-contextualize it all and be one step closer to what I believe in my heart of hearts will be a spiritual exploration. The journey is long, but I have Freydís Moon's work to thank for being closer to a main goal.
The use of blending the erotic with the holy was ingenious! It molds spectacularly well with how the language can be both all-consuming and sensory, Moon deciding to depict sexual acts as a way to worship and a way to be one step closer to the divine is simply poetry in motion.
EXODUS 20:3 also deals with topics that I do not feel qualified to talk about because they are not my story to tell (trans issues, immigration issues, etc) but Moon crafts a world and characters that you want to see succeed and persevere. As a reader, you also believe that someone out there, doesn't matter who, is out there looking out for you.
"Seeing you."
The author has managed to create a work so atmospheric, wonderous and gorgeous that they have elevated the craft for the rest of us. One of the words that I continuously thought of as I read this book and as I thought on how to describe it, I always came back to baroque. This is referencing the style of art, literature and Architecture that flourished in Europe in the early 17th century-- but a lesser known fact is that the art style prevailed in the countries colonized by said European countries, which is where the perfect blend of Catholicism and latinidad co-exist.
EXODUS 20:3 tells the story of Diego López, a man struggling with monetary issues who lands in a job through the Ancient latinx tradition of "I-know-somebody-who-knows-somebody" to get a job in order to do his community service. There he meets the mysterious and handsome Ariel Azevedo, who seems to harbor a secret of his own.
This book joins ST Gibson's A DOWRY OF BLOOD in the category of religious imagery being beautifully blended with sensual eroticism.
This novelette is a masterclass in character building, atmosphere and reveal all perfectly wrapped in a bite-sized read. Diego feels as real as any of my many primos in the latinx community and his life experiences and his unique perspective bring a sense of gravitas to the narrative that helps keep it grounded, even as spectacular and holy events occur. The reveal of Ariel's true form is nothing short of magnificent, described in such precise and poetic detail that one would think that it would be the description of a delicate piece of art.
Something that gripped me, personally, was the way Moon went about describing the inherent question that we all must face when faced with angels: Is there a God? "There's a being beyond us […] We're conduits of worship." Explains the ever gentle and grand Ariel as he explains to Diego as he questions the complexities that come with being raised catholic in Latinx households especially. I have a tenuous relationship with religion and all things holy regarding it's violent history and rich spirituality and this books helps me re-contextualize it all and be one step closer to what I believe in my heart of hearts will be a spiritual exploration. The journey is long, but I have Freydís Moon's work to thank for being closer to a main goal.
The use of blending the erotic with the holy was ingenious! It molds spectacularly well with how the language can be both all-consuming and sensory, Moon deciding to depict sexual acts as a way to worship and a way to be one step closer to the divine is simply poetry in motion.
EXODUS 20:3 also deals with topics that I do not feel qualified to talk about because they are not my story to tell (trans issues, immigration issues, etc) but Moon crafts a world and characters that you want to see succeed and persevere. As a reader, you also believe that someone out there, doesn't matter who, is out there looking out for you.