The Last Karankawas

The Last Karankawas is a collection of loosely-linked short stories, all set in Texas, most in Galveston. The characters are both longtime Texas residents (if you recognize the Galveston status, BOI, then this is probably a book you will like), some claiming a Karankawa heritage, and recent immigrants. There are old characters and young. Many of the characters are bilingual: some Spanish-speaking and some Tagalog. The characters look back at their pasts and reflect upon the present day of the story, September of 2008, with Hurricane Ike in the Gulf of Mexico.

I enjoyed hearing all the details of this story—UTMB, Bishop's Palace, Broadway Street, the oleanders, live oaks, and more—some of which I was listening to while I was driving past UTMB, past Bishop's Palace, on Broadway Street, seeing oleanders and the newly-planted live oaks to replace those Ike's deluge of salty water killed. I am disappointed I haven't heard more about this book. It's beautifully written.

It was recommended to me by my writing teacher, a Galveston resident, and I thank her for the recommendation.

The Last Karankawas by Kimberly Garza is a beautiful novel of literary fiction. The book description from the publisher describes it best: “Welcome to Galveston, Texas. Population 50,241. A popular tourist destination and major shipping port, Galveston attracts millions of visitors each year. Yet of those who come to drink by the beach, few stray from the boulevards to Fish Village, the neighborhood home to individuals who for generations have powered the island. Carly Castillo has only ever known Fish Village. Her grandmother claims that they descend from the Karankawas, an extinct indigenous Texan tribe, thereby tethering them to Galveston. But as Carly ages, she begins to imagine a life elsewhere, undefined by her family's history. Moving through these characters' lives and those of the extraordinary individuals who circle them, Kimberly Garza's The Last Karankawas weaves together a multitude of voices to present a lyrical, emotionally charged portrait of everyday survival. The result is an unforgettable exploration of familial inheritance, human resilience, and the histories we assign to ourselves, reminding us that the deepest bonds are forged not by blood, but by fire.”

This debut novel examines the ties between the Filipino and Mexican communities of Galveston, Texas as the imminent arrival of Hurricane Ike in 2008 looms large. Carly dreams of a better life far away from the stranglehold of Galveston, the only place she's ever known, even though that stranglehold feels sometimes like a loving embrace. Her grandmother Magdalena proudly claims to be a descendent of the great Karankawa tribe, but her claims are dubious at best even though her influence over Carly is profound. The chorus of Filipino church members who scrutinize Carly casts a large net, one that is difficult for her to break free from. Garza weaves an exquisite tapestry of the communities of Galveston, one made of brightly colored threads of the different cultures, but when examined as a whole is beautifully rendered.

As Magdalena states of her love of Galveston about halfway through the novel, “To love this place is to love its bad parts también. The brown water, the heat, the zancudos. The storms.”

It's clear that Garza loves Galveston too—the good and the bad. An excellent debut novel!

I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it. I would give this book 5 stars.