Anita de Monte Laughs Last
Books | Fiction / Coming of Age
3.6
Xochitl Gonzalez
REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK • New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a mesmerizing novel about a first-generation Ivy League student who uncovers the genius work of a female artist decades after her suspicious deathA Most Anticipated Book of 2024: TIME, The Washington Post, Refinery 29, Barnes & Noble, Marie Clare, Real Simple, Entertainment Weekly, LA Daily News, LitHub, The Millions, TODAY.com, HipLatina, Book Riot, Kirkus, and more!“Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a cry for justice. Writing with urgency and rage, Gonzalez speaks up for those who have been othered and deemed unworthy, robbed of their legacy." ―The Washington Post "Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez asks some big questions, like who in art or history is remembered, who is left behind or erased and WHY. I have goosebumps just talking about this story." ―Reese Witherspoon 1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret. But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite.
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More Details:
Author
Xochitl Gonzalez
Pages
352
Publisher
Flatiron Books
Published Date
2024-03-05
ISBN
1250786215 9781250786210
Community ReviewsSee all
"This felt like it should have been a 5-star read (because of the concept), but it just wasn't for me. Xóchitl González brings another very interesting story, that exemplifies pieces of Latin culture and has a strong FL. The story for me was the best part, I didn't necessarily love every detail, but the concept was very interesting and new for me. But the downfall for me was one of the main characters, Raquel. I didn't dislike her, but it took a while for her to grow on me. My thought is that her environment made her quite annoying, being a minority at an Ivy League seemed to be her principal trait, and then it was being someone's girlfriend, and neither of those things really let us see her personality very much. In contrast, Anita de Monte's voice was so clear and vibrant - she was so easy to love as a character. This isn't an easy one to rate, and for the same reason I can't say I'd widely recommend it - instead I'd suggest reading her other book Olga Dies Dreaming first, and then consider this one. 7/10🦇"
Mare
"The audiobook version of Anita DeNonte Laughs Last is AMAZING. If you have the internal voice of a very passionate Latino woman, you could probably do it justice. There is no way I (not the slightest bit Latina) could have portrayed Anita correctly. If there are awards for audiobooks, this deserves one.
Anita DeMonte is one of 3 point of views that tell the story. Her POV is the only one told in first person. . She was forced to leave her patents in Cuba, taking the Peter Pan to America. Her heartaches for her home.
Anita is an artist whose art has a message and feelings. She becomes involved with Jack, another artist who believes art shouldn't have meaning. Despite the difference in their ideas about art, their relationship becomes serious and they eventually get married.
Jack, her husband, is another point of view. He was extremely ambitious and jealous of Anita's success. Even after a passionate argument ends with throwing her out the window, he did everything in his power to make sure her art was not known.
Raquel is student in art history 13 years after Anita's death. She is the third point of view in the story. She has learned all about Jack in her studies, but nothing about Anita.
Raquel's portion of the story mostly takes place over the summer. She was interning at RISD and dating an up and !coming artist. Jack is the subject of her thesis.
The alternate narrators and different timelines are blended seamlessly. As a reader, you understand the connection between the timelines immediately. The difference ways Anita influences Raquel are completely unexpected.
Characters are well developed. Not all are likeable, though.
Anita DeMonte Laughs Last is a memorable and important book. It reminds us that very important people have been left out of teachings and forgotten.
This story also makes a very impactful statement about women becoming what men want them to be. It shows how easy it is to lose oneself in trying to always "
Brandi Always Reading
"This really starts out slow and I had a hard time getting through the first half of the book. Once Raquel begins to see Nick’s behavior clearly and makes the discovery about Anita, the book quickly becomes fantastic. "
Heidi Oneil
"I was already a third of the way into this book when I learned it was based on a true story. I wish I had not known until I finished. I really enjoyed this book, but knowing how closely the novel mirrored some of the real life characters and events left me wondering why there was no mention of artist Ana Mendieta in the forward or acknowledgements."
Erin Harty
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