I love Ernesto Quiñonez's writing.
Yes. There are sooo many issues with a LOT of this book. Some of it is sizeist, albeist, sexist, suffering from levels of internalized racism, and shame. Some of it is allowing itself to be fetishized and fetishizing others. Some of it is misogynistic, and some of it is just absolutely fucking insane to be honest. Truthfully speaking, and I wouldn't say this about a lot of people's writing, it doesn't make this book any less good or less readable. I really wouldn't say that about a lot of books; because I don't f with the isms above, but as it pertains to the topic of gentrification, and what it means to set fire to your own community, your own life and dreams, literally and metaphorically, Chango's Fire hits a lot of nails on the head.
This was such a rich reading experience, I feel full after reading any of Quinonez's work. I loved Bodega Dreams, that book was 5/5 read. This one's definitely a 4.5/5.
Julio is a crazy main character, he's trying to find his way, and although he's receiving spiritual guidance from his neighborhood Santero, he's still trippin. In comes his new neighbor, a bitch I can't stand from her introduction in the book, and whom he's conflicted, insulted and intrigued by all at the same time. His neighbor didn't believe that he could live in her building. Which is insane because does this white lady know that she lives in Spanish Harlem??? Do any of the blancas moving in know that they're encroaching on already occupied territory and slowly pricing the inhabitants out/treating them like shit? Do they care??
Anyway, Julio wants a better life, but how do you get a better life, when you're being paid to set fires in your community so that fat cats can eat off the insurance schemes? What happens when your tiny mistake saving a pure breed life, causes you to have to make a horrible decision and do your community, your family, and your new girl dirty? It's all inside.
Julio is deeply flawed, and very messy. I enjoyed his character very much although at times I wanted to shake tf out of him. I love the inclusion of Afro-Latino spirituality, that spoke to me, and the critiques on the tomfoolery that is machismo in the Latino community.
That Robert Moses quote at the end made my breath catch in my throat. It illustrated the ideological viewpoint and exposes the mindset behind what happened to places like El Barrio and Spanish Harlem now called "Spa-Ha" by the gentrifiers. It illustrates how poor Black and Brown neighborhoods weren't seen as places worth protecting, but as disposable spaces to be erased, which is fucked! This book reads like political history. I love that about Quiñonez, he's always getting at the core of things and he's always with the business.