Abuelo: A "Memoir"
By Ryan Díaz
Who are we? Are we individuals shaped by our own sense of desire, or are we an amalgamation of our influences, ultimately shaped by the people who raise us? Pulling on this thread, Abuelo follows one boy’s relationship with his grandfather and explores what it means to live our lives in light of the people who mold us, and how their shadows loom large over every aspect of who we are.
Exploring first loves, family trauma, religious doubt, grief, and the experience of the Puerto Rican diaspora, Díaz knits a clever portrait of the relationship between grandfather and grandchild, reminding us that those we love are a mirror in which we find ourselves, looking back.
Díaz’s debut novel is a carefully crafted love letter to the people who impact us, and an in-depth reflection on the arduous task of being and becoming.