Outside the Bones

I’m not a fan of reading books as I find books archaic and I also haven’t finished it yet but I had a hard time putting this book down. It was an easy read and felt natural and believable, not like college textbook readings. Lyn Di Ioria use of imagery makes it easy for readers to paint a picture in their head about the characters and the setting, even if they are not from New York. The description of the characters are real and vivid, like how Hilesca looks like “an ugly version of Betty Boop” or Chico’s “plump, tender lips” as he plays the trumpet. It gets the best during the ritual as you can almost feel that you are there.  I’m not a fan of the sexuality throughout the reading because it seems completely forced and unnecessary. The book is realistic with love and humor yet still deals with mysticism.

The book is narrated through the heroine Dona Fina. Fina is a plus-size Puerto Rican woman living in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The neighborhood knows her as a bruja or witch. She falls for her upstairs neighbor Chico, who is also a musician. Unfortunately for Fina there are other women after Chico. One named Hilesca, Chico’s long ‘dead’ daughter. Eerily enough this ‘daughter’ of his happens to know all the little details that only Chico and those around the time should know. To make matters worse another woman from Chico’s past shows up. The senator’s wife, Miss Universe, the woman Chico cheated on his wife with. At this point Fina is deseprate, even willing to go to see Tata Victor Tumba Fuego, Master of Fire. In other words he is basically the master of the magic arts. Somewhat related, during my first year of high school the principal had a similar ritual called Santeria placed on the school. Chicken blood was smeared on all the floors and walls to “get rid of the evil spirits”. Ironically enough the beginning of the school year did not start off great. You can read it here.

 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/school-rite-stuff-article-1.237499