Bielessann Ahmad, ba160@uakron.edu
WARNING: This book contains light sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.
(NO SPOILERS)
Mexican Gothic is a novel written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, published on June 30, 2020. As the title suggests, the book has gloomy, delphic themes as the plot takes the reader through a mysterious alluring adventure of female lead Noémi.
Mexican Gothic takes place in 1950’s Mexico City. Noémi’s adventure starts when she receives an unsettling plea for help in the mail from her cousin, Catalina, in El Triunfo. She ends up paying her a visit in a rundown english-style mansion, and is met with her cousin's stickler in-laws, The Doyles. Noémi is a frivolous young lady and automatically stands out from the Doyle mansion and its inhabitants. While the family seems strict, conservative and traditional, the drab home of the Doyles is just a coverup. Their mansion lies on a retired silver mine, they moved from England to El Trifuno to take advantage of the booming silver business, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
I would rate this book a solid ⅘ starts. I am someone who prefers textbooks and non-fiction, but Mexican Gothic really got my attention. Books are naturally bound to have slow-moving parts, but with this book the only slow pacing was the building suspense. Silvia-Moreno Garcia really is knowledgeable when it comes to setting the scene and describing characters. Her literary flair is the cherry on top to her excellent imagery. Her creative and enticing plot kept me coming back for more and anticipating the next time I'd sit down to read. When I choose to read a book for fun, more often than not it feels like a chore. But with Mexican Gothic, I enjoyed every turn of the page. Take my rating and recommendation into consideration, and enjoy Mexican Gothic.
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