Sabrina & Corina

A lot of people are talking about this book for very good reasons. I enjoyed it especially as I've lived in Colorado most of the last 25 years or so, and it's always fun to read something set where you live. Fajardo-Anstine covers a lot of areas from East Colfax to the Sangre de Christos. What struck me most about her writing is that each story feels autobiographical, probably because most of the stories are in first person. However, a story can be written in first person and still not feel real. These all feel deeply real, like the only way to write about them would be from the heart of experience. Obviously, no one woman could live all the different lives in this story, but you can tell that Fajardo-Anstine is a good listener, able to capture such a huge diversity of voices in a single collection.

I say I've lived in CO most of my life and recognize a lot of the settings here, but this is a side of CO that is usually hidden from my suburban white self. It explores Denver's past and present and in particular the ways women of color are impacted in these familiar neighborhoods, for better and worse. It's a beautiful collection, a fast read, and highly deserving the accolades being heaped on it. If you, like me, are needing a bit more literary short fiction in your life, try this one.