Flor Marte can predict the exact day when a person will die, so when she arranges a “living wake” for herself, her family assumes the worst. Over three days Flor, her three sisters, and two younger cousins will all delve into the stories of their family. As the timeline goes from the rich past of this complex family to the present, different recollections of the events are revealed from each person’s perspective.
Some of the great things about this book are that it’s a multigenerational tale, it’s rich in Latin American history, explores the bonds of female familial relationships , and has an element of magic. Also, just to be completely honest, Elizabeth Acevedo has an undeniable way with prose! That said, I sadly didn’t get drawn into this book as much as I have her others. I found it to be a very slow build, and while I felt a degree of emotional connection in some areas, I just didn’t feel fully engaged with this book.
I received a copy of Family Lore from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
