Review of Like My Mother Before Me
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Wajida Begum
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Review of Like My Mother Before Me
[Following is a volunteer review of "Like My Mother Before Me" by Naley Gonzalez.]
"Like My Mother Before Me" is an engaging story that masterfully marries supernatural elements with raw, emotional trials of a young girl on her journey of coming to terms with her unique heritage and powers. The story follows Alize, a character whose depth and resilience are vividly rendered by Gonzale’s empathetic writing. Now staying with her caring father and brother Ezra, Alize's life will take this eerie turn when she sees a skeletal figure in her father's room, supposed to be her late mother. This chilling moment propels Alize towards an arena where lines between the living and the dead dilute, exposing her power of communicating with the spirits.
Naley Gonzale's prose is crisp and evocative, creating a dense atmospheric setting that sucks the reader into Alize's unsettling yet fascinating world. Naley paces the exposition well through each chapter, peeling back layers of family secrets and lore surrounding Alize's newfound power. The unfolding of the relationship of Alize with her godmother Zoraida provides a comforting note for the generally eerie tale, whereby readers are able to gain supernatural grounding due to the warmth of love in the family setting.
One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is its exploration of grief and memory. As Alize is drawn ever nearer to the spectral figure, she delves into her very own haunted past and that of her family, resulting in an emotional, gut-wrenching story of loss, legacy, and finding oneself. The themes are handled with the level of sensitivity enough to respect their seriousness but still give the reader the level of escapism that comes with the territory in supernatural fiction.
The editing of "Like My Mother Before Me" is indeed exceptional. The book is free from any grammatical errors, and the plot flows so evidently and seamlessly clear, making it a really interesting read. He uses clear and precise language that enhances the reader's full immersion into the emotional and supernatural dimensions of the story. The character development of this novel—and a special mention it does require—is to be for the protagonist, Alize. Everything that one cannot help but feel connected to and be, in true words, unbreakably resilient. The whole journey from the lost and confused little girl to someone who accepts and integrates her supernatural power in order to find a connection with her ancestry is extremely well nuanced and authentic.
From her brother Ezra to the godmother Zoraida, all these side characters are well developed, giving even greater depth to the story and supporting Alize's world. In doing so, questions of whether or not the skeletal figure is really her mother or something else continue to arise to a certain degree of suspense to the reader.
Gonzale masterfully builds this suspense throughout the entirety of the novel and comes to such a satisfying conclusion that every question should be answered, however he leaves it somehow just enough to support future works. Masterfully blending the intrigue of the supernatural with emotional depth, "Like My Mother Before Me" epitomizes the best synopsis that may be given for this story by Naley Gonzale. This, of course, is a tale that catches the heart with its poignant exploration of family and identity, and it clutches at the mind with an unsurpassed effort in mystery and the supernatural. I would rate this book with five out of five stars for perfect execution and ensuring that readers get an unforgettable journey. There is actually nothing to dislike about this perfectly interwoven narrative, letting it almost stand head and shoulders above its supernatural and emotional brethren of the written word.
******
Like My Mother Before Me
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
"Like My Mother Before Me" is an engaging story that masterfully marries supernatural elements with raw, emotional trials of a young girl on her journey of coming to terms with her unique heritage and powers. The story follows Alize, a character whose depth and resilience are vividly rendered by Gonzale’s empathetic writing. Now staying with her caring father and brother Ezra, Alize's life will take this eerie turn when she sees a skeletal figure in her father's room, supposed to be her late mother. This chilling moment propels Alize towards an arena where lines between the living and the dead dilute, exposing her power of communicating with the spirits.
Naley Gonzale's prose is crisp and evocative, creating a dense atmospheric setting that sucks the reader into Alize's unsettling yet fascinating world. Naley paces the exposition well through each chapter, peeling back layers of family secrets and lore surrounding Alize's newfound power. The unfolding of the relationship of Alize with her godmother Zoraida provides a comforting note for the generally eerie tale, whereby readers are able to gain supernatural grounding due to the warmth of love in the family setting.
One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is its exploration of grief and memory. As Alize is drawn ever nearer to the spectral figure, she delves into her very own haunted past and that of her family, resulting in an emotional, gut-wrenching story of loss, legacy, and finding oneself. The themes are handled with the level of sensitivity enough to respect their seriousness but still give the reader the level of escapism that comes with the territory in supernatural fiction.
The editing of "Like My Mother Before Me" is indeed exceptional. The book is free from any grammatical errors, and the plot flows so evidently and seamlessly clear, making it a really interesting read. He uses clear and precise language that enhances the reader's full immersion into the emotional and supernatural dimensions of the story. The character development of this novel—and a special mention it does require—is to be for the protagonist, Alize. Everything that one cannot help but feel connected to and be, in true words, unbreakably resilient. The whole journey from the lost and confused little girl to someone who accepts and integrates her supernatural power in order to find a connection with her ancestry is extremely well nuanced and authentic.
From her brother Ezra to the godmother Zoraida, all these side characters are well developed, giving even greater depth to the story and supporting Alize's world. In doing so, questions of whether or not the skeletal figure is really her mother or something else continue to arise to a certain degree of suspense to the reader.
Gonzale masterfully builds this suspense throughout the entirety of the novel and comes to such a satisfying conclusion that every question should be answered, however he leaves it somehow just enough to support future works. Masterfully blending the intrigue of the supernatural with emotional depth, "Like My Mother Before Me" epitomizes the best synopsis that may be given for this story by Naley Gonzale. This, of course, is a tale that catches the heart with its poignant exploration of family and identity, and it clutches at the mind with an unsurpassed effort in mystery and the supernatural. I would rate this book with five out of five stars for perfect execution and ensuring that readers get an unforgettable journey. There is actually nothing to dislike about this perfectly interwoven narrative, letting it almost stand head and shoulders above its supernatural and emotional brethren of the written word.
******
Like My Mother Before Me
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Sojourner To Stoner by Gordon Schwerzmann
