![]() ![]() Nor is “lush” sufficient in the figurative as McLemore weaves layer after countless layer of rich nuance and emotion into her narrative, which uses the devastation and exuberance of family as the backdrop for a bewitching fairy tale.Įstrella and her four cousins-there are always five women and no sons born to each generation of the Nomeolvides family-were all raised on the stories from their mothers and their grandmothers about their family’s curse: if any of the Nomeolvides women loves too deeply, their lover will vanish. Look almost anywhere for descriptions or reviews of Wild Beauty and you will encounter the word “lush.” It’s not a word that does this book justice in the literal, for La Pradera, the novel’s main setting and home of the Nomeolvides women, is indescribably luxuriant and abundant in the flowers that each of the women draws from the earth. ![]() I’m so thrilled to talk about it as part of the importance of visibility and self-determination that National Coming Out Day recognizes. ![]() I offer the full disclosure that queer fairy tales will always capture my attention, and knowing already what McLemore can do with a little magic and some flowers, I have been excited for this YA novel since the Publisher’s Weekly Rights Report announcement last year. We talk about books that pull at us, books that swallow us, books “ of exceptional merit” (whatever that might mean). We talk about contenders (for the most part) in these individual posts. ![]()
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