[.ca] Trace Elements of Random Tea Parties (ISBN 158005126X)

Yummy:
Rarely do I take the time to right a review for books. Most follow the same hum drum scenerios. Though this one follows the ole "grrl finds grrl" bases, the voice of the author was quirky, colorful and left me praying I didn't get to the end of the book any time soon. I'll be scanning bookstore shelves for up and coming titles from this wonderful author. Bravo Ms Lemus!

Non-Random Talent Shines:
With her debut novel, Felicia Luna Lemus treats us with a story filled with corazon and a deceptively easy style. Her protagonist, Leticia Marisol Estrella Torrez, is a young Angeleno who struggles to blend her lesbian life with that of her traditional Mexican-American family. Funny, soulful and heartbreaking, this is a fine novel that establishes that the personal is often political. I hope this is the beginning of a long writing career for Felicia Luna Lemus.

Far Too Cute:
One of the biggest mistakes made by gay authors and gay film makers is that they assume that by virtue of having gay/lesbian protagonists that their stories will somehow automatically become interesting, but alas a book containing finger down throat sentiments in the straight world will have the same messy effect on us gay folks as well. The characters are over the top cute, and dull to boot. Hanging out with these people and listening to the dull details of their thrift store chic would be the last way I'd want to spend a Sunday. Despite the supposedly risque lesbiana, the book reaks of an irritating girly girl cutesyness that I thought only existed in front of 7th grade bathroom mirrors. Even worse, Lemus still has to put in stereotypical homophobic villians. An evil skinhead apartment manager? The woman in the cake shop who won't put two girls on a cake? Yeah right. Nana, who has potential is barely in the book, and then her rantings sound like a poor imitation of the cutesy ethnica of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Nice try, but the humor falls flat. And as for "K" we can see it coming a few pages after they've met. I had high hopes for this book, but K and Leticia are no Hopey and Maggie.

A Magical Coming of Age Story:
This is a story of a Mexican-American young woman leaving her grandmother's traditional ways and becoming her own person. Even though the specifics of this novel include "coming out," and coming to terms with "dyke identity," this novel's protagonist more importantly works toward learning to be comfortable with her cultural history. The language is fluid, changing to suit the story, from lush, descriptive and tender to snappy and tough. It was a real page-turner. I can hardly wait for her next novel!