54 pages • 1 hour read
Xóchitl GonzálezAnita de Monte Laughs Last
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González is a part-campus novel and homage to artist Ana Mendieta. It revolves around Anita de Monte, an artist facing eurocentrism and toxic masculinity in the 1980s art world, and Raquel Toro, a Latinx art history student in 1998, who is writing her thesis on Anita’s husband, Jack Martin. Themes of racism, misogyny, and anti-Latinx prejudices are explored, paralleling González’s own life experiences. The novel contains murder, domestic violence, abuse, misogyny, racism, and eating disorders.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González offers a vibrant exploration of resilience and artistic expression, with engaging prose and rich character depth. Critics commend its cultural authenticity and emotional nuance. However, some find the pacing uneven and the plot occasionally predictable. Overall, it's a compelling read with minor flaws.
Who Should Read Anita de Monte Laughs Last?
A reader who enjoys satire, social commentary, and cultural identity exploration, akin to The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz or The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, would find Anita de Monte's journey in Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González compelling.