Alone and adrift in Barcelona, an unnamed narrator is haunted by the death of her teenage brother, Diego. Diego, the little boy she helped raise in Mexico while their mother struggled to make a living in Spain. Diego, who loved Vampire Weekend and dreamed of becoming a pilot. Diego, who hated Madrid as much as she did.
Now, his ashes in hand, she must return to Mexico. Plagued by memories, she recounts their young lives leading up to tragedy in blistering detail: the acute loneliness that accompanied their emigration; the siblings' first separation, when she left for Barcelona to make her own way in the world; her activism against labor abuses, which is threatened by her tumultuous relationship with an entitled lover; and the final, heavyhearted confrontation with her brother. Caught between rage and heartbreak over the loss of Diego, she pieces together a story of alienation, but also of surprising courage and hope.
Masterfully translated by Megan McDowell, and shot through with flashes of dark humor, Eating Ashes boldly confronts both the intimate and systemic struggles faced by migrants striving to build a life worth living. Already an international sensation across Europe, this novel cements Brenda Navarro as a breathtakingly unique and vital voice in literature.
"A young Mexican woman and her brother, Diego, emigrate to Spain to be with their mother, who left Mexico to work abroad. There, the unnamed protagonist faces the challenges of work and life in a new country alongside fellow immigrants from Bolivia, Cuba, and other places. When Diego commits suicide, his sister must bring his ashes back to Mexico. After an unsuitably over-the-top start, narrator Angela Juarez settles into a solid dramatic rendition that captures the personality of the young woman, who is a bit defensive and sarcastic after facing many challenges.
A performance with distinctive characterizations anchors this story about the challenges faced by migrants."
