Adriana Páramo
Publisher: CavanKerry Press
After reading the book My Mother’s Funeral, I expected a memoir detailing much to do about a funeral, but to my surprise it took me on a different path. It lead me to discover the life of a woman named Carmen who lived in Colombia. Carmen is the author’s mother. The book provided much details about Carmen’s hopes and dreams and how she managed her space on this earth. The story took me into the life of the author, her childhood experiences and memories, as well as into the life of her family (especially her mother), and finally the actual funeral. It remarkably captured the relationship between a daughter and a mom.
In telling the story and how this death impacts her, Adriana Páramo incorporates and weaves in political scenes and discusses the various classes that structure Colombian society. The author gives us insight into her mother’s world and how this woman strived throughout her life to be in the “right” class of Colombian society. An understood struggle that plays within all societies and human experiences around the globe. And this is what makes the book even more interesting. It feels as if you are getting a cultural lesson to a far away country – an added benefit.
She begins by showing the reader her relationship with her mother using a kitchen scene where they are eating a mango, and then the author takes you on another journey where she departs to the United States. She wonderfully shows the relationship of mother and daughter by interweaving chapters between her childhood memories, the life of her mother, the journey to the funeral, and then the actual funeral and all that goes with that experience.
Adriana bravely lays out her childhood experiences and her mother’s love for her father in spite of the fact that he abandoned the family early on and was rarely seen throughout their lives. The author refers to her father only as Mr. B, which is understandable, yet gives the reader insight into the feelings towards a father that is pretty much nonexistent.
In my opinion, many memoirs are usually written for a healing therapeutic reason. This, I would presume, fits right into this category. Not that this is a bad thing, because with these type of books, the author has to reach down into his or her heart and soul in order to tell the story with meticulousness. In this case, the author did not disappoint. It wasn’t a book that made you cry, but rather tugged slowly at your heart as you walked through the experience of having lost a parent – in this case a mother. It beautifully captured the inner thinking of thoughts that go through a person’s mind in a time of bereavement.
The writing is not complicated and that is what makes this story good. Also, the story is full of surprises that it will leave you wanting to get to the next chapter, and yet disappointed that it has ended. The author does a splendid job of incorporating laughter and humor at the perfect times with the perfect scenes.
It is definitely a book for adults as it touches on some language that may be a little bit “racy” for a young adult reader. It is unquestionably one to read this year. The topic is absolutely solemn by its nature, but don’t let that deter you, because the story that unfolds is wonderful. A must read.
Source: Book was provided by author for review. It was reviewed by Corina Martinez Chaudhry.
