The fictional account of the Mazatec curandera Maria Sabina Magdalena Garcia. So, so good. The voice of Feliciana (Maria) is beautifully poetic.

3.5 stars I really liked this, it was like listening to a dream. I'm not sure I can tell you exactly what happened, but I was captivated by the telling.

WITCHES by Brenda Lozano

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: First time.

Affiliate Link: Support local bookstores: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781646220687

Release Date: August 16th, 2022

General Genre: Mystery/Detective, Women Sleuths, Occult & Supernatural

Sub-Genre/Themes: Feminist, journalism, brujas, curanderas, small village, Muxe (genderqueer, non-binary, transgender), patriarchal society, trans hate, toxic masculinity, sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic abuse, rape, violence against women, queers

Writing Style: translated, dual POVs, one POV is a repetitive stream of consciousness-repeated words and phrases over and over again. A rustic, broken form of storytelling in the context of an interview. Zoe is interviewing Feliciana about the murder of Paloma. The other POV from Zoe, the journalist is more refined and easy to follow but doesn't connect well to the other POV. So this story is very disconnected, almost the transcript of a documentary- interviews about a subject with no narrator to connect the testimonials.

What You Need to Know: Do not expect a fluid story that starts at the beginning, Point A, and winds up at the end, Point B. Expect two disconnected POVs, stories from two different women from totally different walks of life and experiences told side by side. One of the women told her own story and also interviewed the other woman but without any connective tissue. It would have been helpful if there were names at the top of each chapter "Zoe" or "Feliciana" to alert the reader which POV they're in, but eventually, it becomes clear based on the narrating style and the names. Zoe talks about her sister Leandra a lot, and Feliciana talks about Paloma and the Language and being healers.

My Reading Experience: I'm glad I read the note from the translator first. She writes, "Witches is an exploration of the many ways that women and gender-nonconforming individuals are marginalized in our heteronormative patriarchy. It is also a celebration of the bonds they forge..."
And that's what this reading experience was about, for me, but it was tough. I'm not gonna lie.
Very tough.
First, the structure of the storytelling is a challenge.
And secondly, the subject matter is pretty devastating. These women in the village where Feliciana lives are having sex and getting married/pregnant at a very early age. They are sexually assaulted, raped, and beaten. The children too. Especially non-conforming children.
Anyone outside the traditional roles of men and women that are defined by the patriarchy.
I enjoyed the details of the Language, the Book, and the Children (mushrooms used to discern/heal)
All of that was fascinating and I'm glad I endured the difficult parts to take in the sections of cultural beauty.

Final Recommendation: Not sure I can recommend this one. It's not an easy read or very enjoyable one but it was very educational, eye-opening, and informative in terms of soaking in the cultural storytelling and making a lasting impression through that connection.

Comps: Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor (similar themes, on my TBR), Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss, Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Augustina Bazterrica, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez

This book surprised me in a delightful way. I listened to this via audiobook, and I believe this narrative style lends more to audio and gave it a more meandering, insightful feel to it. The style itself is reminiscent of an interview and especially for Feliciana's POV who is written as she is speaking, listening to her was more impactful. There was a rhythmic, circular way to Feliciana's storytelling that moved quickly and drew you in, time was circular and thus nothing was told in a first-middle-last quality but rather swayed between time, place, and the Language as she called it. This was such an amazing story, I would think about it in between listens, and I see myself thinking about it days after I finish. There is so much to touch upon, faith, belief, experiences seemingly universal for all women, the struggles and joys and relationships between women. Stunning. I also thought the translation was great and I appreciated the forward at the begining of the book discussing some of the decisions the translator made to help keep the original integrity of the story.