What do You think about Memory Mambo (1996)?
I love Obejas' writing particularly because her novels and short stories struggle with issues of identity. This book took me by surprise though with a few graphically violent passages. It definitely took me out of my protected bubble and made me realize that others' lives can be ridden with violence and contempt. I think it hit home even more because it's set in Chicago and I know the neighborhoods and places it referenced. She always brings up good questions about life, love and one's sense of self that keep me wanting to read more of her work.
—Amc
The book is this process of revelations - peeling away the accepted notions and social niceties to reveal the good (and the very, very bad) in people. The prose is approachable, without sacrificing any richness or complexity. The story settles into a rhythm that draws one along, making the reader a listener and forcing them to navigate a path through the place from which what compels us to do what we do comes from. A worthy, heart-wrenching and thought provoking read. Also, if anyone knows where this Tìa Celia or someone like her might be, please invite me over for dinner. I will be a complimentary and entertaining guest.
—Jenean Gilmer
This book had me intrigued from the beginning. The main character Juani keeps her own personal matters to herself but is always there for her family. It’s one of the first books I’ve read that’s able to express a characters love for her family and also her own solitude within it. She walks the fine line between being true to herself but also withholding her natural instincts to touch her lover when she’s around; because that wouldn’t be expressing love but rather forcing her “lifestyle” on them. But wait until you read about her family’s choices! It’s a sad line but also not the only thing she deals with. The story also delves into her struggle as a Cuban exile, her family’s craziness, and the confusing task of finding your “place” in society. She ponders about what she wants to do after two significant incidents I can't tell you about because they're considered spoilers. Here’s a line that broke my heart because I can relate to it when it comes to some relatives, “Because he can think of nothing worse than having to look me in the eye and make a decision about whether to accept or reject me, my father creates an illusion of normalcy about the emptiness of our interaction, our meaningless chats.”
—Ana
