Olga Dies Dreaming is a debut novel by Xotchil Gonzalez. It is a character-driven novel with complex, well-developed characters. The book will be officially published on January 4th, but I was able to get an early release through my Book of the Month subscription.
While there are many layers to the themes, at its core, it is a story about family, relationships, culture, and the effects of American Imperialism on its territories. The novel is written in multi-perspective voices. On one side is Olga, an event organizer that plans lavish weddings for the elite, and the other perspective is told from her brother, Prieto, a New York Congressman. Family ties their stories together. There is their ever-present family, Tias, Tios, Primos, and from afar, their estranged mother, manipulating and influencing them through letters.
The first half of the novel takes you through the lives of the main characters and then takes a turn in its complexity with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico. The reader will learn about the nuances of what it means for territories like Puerto Rico to be a part of the United States. While they are citizens and serve our country in the military, they have no representation in the US government or autonomy for their own economy.
The author handles serious issues in an approachable way. This is the kind of book you will want to discuss with others. If your book club likes deep discussions, definitely check this one out.
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