The Family Izquierdo
A Novel
9 September 2022
Description
A linked short story collection that weaves together the lives of three generations of a Mexican American family bound together by love, and a curse
The tight-knit Izquierdo family is grappling with misfortunes none of them can explain. Their beloved patriarch has suffered from an emotional collapse and is dying; eldest son Gonzalo’s marriage is falling apart as he tries to care for his father; daughter Dina, beleaguered by fear that her nightmares are real, is a shut-in.
When Gonzalo digs up a strange object in the backyard of the family home, the Izquierdos take it as proof that a jealous neighbour has cursed them—could this be the reason for all their troubles? As the Izquierdos face a distressing present and an uncertain future, they are sustained by the blood that binds them and a divine presence which manifests in visions, signs, wonders and an abiding love for one another. Told in a series of soulful voices brimming with warmth and humour, Rubén Degollado’s book is a tender narrative of a family at a turning point.
Reviews
"With a delicate and perceptive understanding of humanity and the ties which bind community to history, Rubén Degollado has painted a portrait of sincere love in The Family Izquierdo. This book feels like coming home to a warm embrace, where the characters and land leap off the page and into our hearts." — Kali Fajardo-Anstine, author of Woman of Light
"In The Family Izquierdo, every story is a revelation. Rubén Degollado’s storytelling is as rigorous as it is intricate. Intimate and epic, it brims with magic and spirit. A bold, beautiful debut!" — Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
"[A] rich mosaic of voices that skillfully encapsulates the complexity of family… The novel’s mix of elements — a plot that draws on magic, language steeped in Tejano specificity, deftly rendered insight into the nature of humanity — makes for a thoroughly satisfying read." — Kawai Strong Washburn, The New York Times Book Review
Awards
Longlisted — PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, 2023
