Birthday Parties in Heaven: Thoughts on Love, Life, Grief, and Other Matters of the Heart

by Ana Veciana-Suarez

With The Chin Kiss King, her critically lauded debut novel, Ana Veciana-Suarez joined the ranks of Julia Alvarez and Cristina Garcia, authors who have defined the Latina experience in contemporary fiction. In Birthday Parties in Heaven, Veciana-Suarez's first collection of essays, the acclaimed writer and mother of five offers seventeen wise and generous-hearted takes on subjects as diverse as: living in exile; the untimely death of her first husband; being a single mother; interfaith marriage; and the bond between sisters. She also offers reflections, by turns humorous and meaningful, on beisbol; motorcycles; the special terrors of swimsuit season; and the sweetness of love the second time around. In these eloquent and moving essays, Veciana-Suarez proves why she is one of America's most popular columnists.

Genres: Memoir

177 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Ana Veciana-Suarez is the author of the historical novel, DULCINEA (May 2023/Blackstone Publishing). She’s also written the young adult novel, Flight to Freedom (Scholastic) and a collection of essays, Birthday Parties in Heaven: Thoughts on Life, Love, Grief, and Other Matters of the Heart. (Plume) A previous book, The Chin Kiss King: A Novel (FSG) was nominated for the prestigious IMPAC Award, an international competition in Dublin. Two nonfiction books about the Hispanic media were published by The Media Institute, a think tank in Washington D.C.
As a syndicated columnist for The Miami Herald, her commentary ran in many newspapers and websites until 2024. Her essays have been included in several anthologies, and have appeared in Readers Digest, Oprah, Woman’s Day, The Washington Post Magazine, Parenting, and Latina magazine.
In 2019, she was awarded the Cintas Fellowship for Creative Writing. She has also received an Individual Artist Fellowship Award from the state of Florida for fiction writing.
She lives with her husband in Miami, where she eats two Dove dark chocolates every morning before she writes. Now that her children are grown and out of the house, she admits they taught her immeasurable patience and humility.

Reviews

[Gina McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet book of short stories, but for some reason it took me forever to finish!! It was like that relationship that’s good on paper but just doesn’t have you giddy....I was just not that into it!!

But lots of endearing moments, bits of advice on mothering, grief, relationships. I especially liked the story about the couple mixing their Catholic and Jewish faiths. Also the stories regarding parenting...
This paragraph really touched me, From an “open letter to my son”
“Soon we’ll know how well I’ve taught you-and how much you have learned. It’s a strange thing, this growing up. Knowing it has to happen doesn’t lighten the heaviness—or excitement—in my heart. I don’t know whether to cry or clap.” That double feeling of terror and elated at the same time is how I feel as a parent every day!! Well written.

Maybe it’s the season, but for some reason it’s just on for me. But give it a try!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author tells her story of leaving Cuba, growing up in America, falling in love, losing that love, and finding a new one. It's a quick read, 6 short stories, but a nice pick-me-up if you're feeling a little low. I particularly enjoyed the description of trying on bathing suits in a dressing room.

[Kimberly]

Didn't finish it. Not bad, just not at a good point in my life to read it. Will try again as it isn't the book. It is me.

[Nancy Cocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It really touched me.