This is the first time I'm reading a book by this author after seeing some good reviews of it on Goodreads. It's a novella of about 100 pages and so I thought, why not read it and get to know more about this author. Within three hours, I was done reading and had a new perspective on human nature.
Rosarita is a haunting and reflective story. It focuses on Bonita, a young Indian woman who travels to Mexico to learn Spanish. Sitting on a bench in a park and enjoying the beauty around her, a lavishly dressed older woman, Vicky, approaches her. She says Bonita is a spitting image of her mother, Rosarita, who came to Mexico some years ago to learn arts.
Bonita is reluctant at first, doubting the authenticity of Vicky's tale. She has no recollections of her mother painting or travelling to Mexico. Curious, she decides to follow Vicky whom she nicknames ‘The Stranger’ and ‘The Trickster’ on a tour of Mexico to visit places her mother had lived. On this journey, she struggles to understand who her mother is and why she made certain choices. Even more, she questions whether Vicky's tales are reliable or a figment of her imagination.
Genres: Fiction, Classics
Publication: July 2024
Pages: 112
My Review And Rating
In this finely written novella, this author attempts to bridge the gap between two people of opposing worlds through the lens of arts, culture, history and memories. The book is short yet covers much more than many 500-page novels.
The plot is compelling and straightforward—a daughter seeks to truly understand her mother. The storytelling is unique, told in the second person which makes it seem like the conscience of the characters speaking. Every action of the characters, especially the lead, is weighed on the scale of sensibility and what the society expects.
I like that this novella delves deep into the philosophy of human pursuit and desires, understanding the line between fantasy and reality; and if a person can truly know another. The lead character, Bonita, seeks to differentiate between the version of her mother sold to her by The Stranger, and the woman who birthed her. It's like knowing two different personalities, so the question arises—which one of them is the real one? This leads Bonita into philosophical evaluation of her upbringing, family and culture.
I can't decide if I like Bonita but she's a character who doesn't do much beyond observing people and her surroundings in Mexico, and comparing them through flashbacks to her life in India. Though she's determined not to live a domesticated life like her mother, she's kind of laid-back, preferring to travel and learn languages. She doesn't show much interest in anything else unlike her mother who pursues art in Mexico contrary to what her family expected of her.
I like Anita Desei’s writing style. Written in second person, her story is lyrical; every scene captured in rich, vivid details such that it feels like I'm present in Jardín or San Miguel. She explores the gap that can exist between parents and children. A child's image of a parent can differ from how others see that same person. People make choices and pursue desires that may surprise their children.
This novella gives an insight into a part of human nature, reminding us that no one is ever exactly who we think they are.
Rating this novella, I will give it 3.8 stars out of 5. The writing style is unique and the story pulled me in. The author's love for her culture is beautiful, seen and felt in every page. I'd say it's a book worth reading.
All images above are from my E-library
Header images compiled in Canva.
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