Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
“Nothing, not even making love, had ever arrived me to my own body like growing another person. It was primal, physical, the sensations that became new to me. I would wake up and brush my teeth, and the moment the toothbrush touched my tongue I would begin to gag”
This entire book is a beautiful feminist reflection on the interconnectedness of sex and magic and grief.
I love the authors constant return to the body. In contrast to the magic and other worldly elements, there is always a return to the body. It’s not clear whether that’s a reminder of the body being all we are, or a reminder that we are so much more. She leaves the reader to navigate that opposition.
There were some interesting cultural notes, historical notes, and reflections on language. For example, mention, by the younger generation, of words that are difficult to translate (which always fascinates me because the lack of words in a language is a lack of need for them). I also loved the idea that a character could “feel too much in Spanish” - as though the language used changes the physical aspect of the experience.
This is a multigenerational novel that weaves through the lives of three generations in a large family, but it often reads as poetry. I’m sure a lot of it also went over my head from a cultural sense, and Spanish is used so often I stopped trying to translate it all (though it’s not necessary to understand what’s happening). Language is powerful though, and that’s a statement to the reader about the importance of the family’s culture despite having almost entirely moved to the U.S.
All in all, I really enjoyed it!
I’ve read some reviews that claim the characters are “1 sided” and I would strongly disagree.
It’s the kind of book that makes you appreciate your mom, and wonder about the women who came before you. ❤️
We all have our own Family Lore & It’s clear how much colonization (to whatever degree in your experience) has discouraged us from learning it.
Reading Journal Questions
How much do you know about the women in your family who came before you?
What are your thoughts on the idea of a living wake?
How does the novel represent sisterhood?
What impact does the use of Spanish in the novel have on you as a reader?
All of the men in the novel are supporting characters. What is the power in this? What does this represent to you?
