#ReadAroundTheWorld. #Mexico

This is a magical realism, dual timeline story by Peruvian author Natalia Sylvester, about immigration, adoption and family secrets. The story shifts between 2012 with newly-weds Isabel and Martin in Texas; and 1981 with his parents Omar and Elda making the arduous journey across the Mexican border. The story begins on Martin and Isabel’s wedding day, which falls on dia de los muertos (the Day of the Dead), when Martin’s father Omar appears and speaks to them. Every anniversary he reappears and contacts Isabel, wanting her assistance to mend the fractures in his family, and gain their forgiveness. The past story of what broke the family apart gradually unfolds. Martin’s teenage cousin Eduardo also unexpectedly arrives, and the couple welcome him into their home and try to help him adjust to the massive cultural shift. Eduardo is deeply scarred by what he has been through and continues to suffer the marginalisation and racism put upon immigrants.

This book has an important message about the way immigrants are often treated and the hardships inherent in their journey. On the other hand I did not find Martin and Isabel’s relationship very relatable, and found the yearly ghost meeting not particularly engaging or well fleshed out. Isabel seemed somewhat fixated on the fact that Martin had not shared parts of his childhood with her rather than being conscious of what was happening immediately around them, like major family illness and loss. I used whispersync to move between the kindle version and the excellent audio-narration by Frankie Corzo. For me this was a 3.5 star read. ( )

Everyone Knows You Go Home was beautifully written and moving. It is a family saga in the magical realism genre examining the secrets we keep. Along the way, it also looks at the struggles of undocumented immigrants, what they go through to get to the United States, and why they do it. ( )

2.5 stars. ( )

Powerful story about illegal immigrants living in south Texas, mostly from the perspective of the dead husband-father-grandfather who shows up once a year on the Day of the Dead. The descriptions of life in 1980’s Texas are 100% accurate, and I felt like I know exactly where she’s describing places in McAllen even though I’ve been there a handful of times. That accuracy makes her depiction of the characters’ life and fear frighteningly real. If you truly want to understand the lives of “illegals,” this is the book to read. The narrator spoke a bit too slowly for me though, and lacked emotion in places I would have expected it. Strong recommendation. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2019/04/201944-everyone-knows-you-go-home.html ( )