Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home: Stories

by Ana Castillo

 “Ana Castillo is an American treasure. Fearless, compassionate, and flat-out brilliant—she is the writer we need as we navigate the challenges of our ever-changing world.”—Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage “Ana Castillo is de primera storyteller.”—award-winning author Julia Alvarez Literary legend Ana Castillo explores the secrets that are kept within households and the women they impact the most in this breakout collection that cements her place as a leading voice in feminist fiction. The first person in her traditional Mexican American family to graduate from high school, Katia is entering adulthood at a time of turbulent change. Across the nation young people are fighting for civil and women’s rights and protesting the Vietnam War and brutal dictatorships in South America. Like so many of her generation, Katia wants to make the world a better place, and is determined to follow her own path.  As she considers moving to California to join La Causa, Mexican American activist Cesar Chavez’s movement to improve the working conditions of migrant farmer workers, Katia receives an unexpected gift from her a plane ticket to Mexico City. Bring back your mother, he says, tell her, her children need her. And so Katia joins this cause, to get Tina back to Chicago. But it won't be easy. Katia must learn to navigate a liberated version of her mother in a new country where she is now hawking supposedly superior cleaning products, called Donna Clean Well.  Katia is but one of the voices introduced in this dazzling collection of short fiction from revered writer Ana Castillo. Spanning from Chicago to Mexico to New Mexico, the stories in Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home illuminate a chorus of people whose stories will leave you breathless.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Latino

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 16, 2023

About the author

Ana Castillo (June 15, 1953-) is a celebrated and distinguished poet, novelist, short story writer, essayist, editor, playwright, translator and independent scholar. Castillo was born and raised in Chicago. She has contributed to periodicals and on-line venues (Salon and Oxygen) and national magazines, including More and the Sunday New York Times. Castillo’s writings have been the subject of numerous scholarly investigations and publications. Among her award winning, best sellling titles: novels include So Far From God, The Guardians and Peel My Love like an Onion, among other poetry: I Ask the Impossible. Her novel, Sapogonia was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. She has been profiled and interviewed on National Public Radio and the History Channel and was a radio-essayist with NPR in Chicago. Ana Castillo is editor of La Tolteca, an arts and literary ‘zine dedicated to the advancement of a world without borders and censorship and was on the advisory board of the new American Writers Museum, which opened its door in Chicago, 2017. In 2014 Dr. Castillo held the Lund-Gil Endowed Chair at Dominican University, River Forest, IL and served on the faculty with Bread Loaf Summer Program (Middlebury College) in 2015 and 2016. She also held the first Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Endowed Chair at DePaul University, The Martin Luther King, Jr Distinguished Visiting Scholar post at M.I.T. and was the Poet-in-Residence at Westminster College in Utah in 2012, among other teaching posts throughout her extensive career. Ana Castillo holds an M.A from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D., University of Bremen, Germany in American Studies and an honorary doctorate from Colby College. She received an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation for her first novel, The Mixquiahuala Letters. Her other awards include a Carl Sandburg Award, a Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts in fiction and poetry. She was also awarded a 1998 Sor Juana Achievement Award by the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago. Dr. Castillo’s So Far From God and Loverboys are two titles on the banned book list controversy with the TUSD in Arizona. 2013 Recipient of the American Studies Association Gloria Anzaldúa Prize to an independent scholar. via www.anacastillo.net

Reviews

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ana Castillo is one of those writers I count on for engaging reading material. She has a knack for shining light on ordinary life in ways that make it bright and faceted: a combination of significant details that might not be captured by less adept writers.

The stories in Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home take place in Chicago, New Mexico, and Mexico City and contain overlapping characters. The overlap isn't enough to make this book a novel-in-stories, but it does allow opportunities to view individual people and situations from multiple perspectives. Doña Cleanwell examines the lives of Latinx families under stress—sometimes generational differences, sometimes a lack of trust within a marriage, sometimes gender tensions. These stories don't offer sweeping narrative arcs, but the small, detailed portraits they offer are fascinating, particularly when viewed in relation to one another.

If you enjoy writing about families, Latinx fiction, and/or short stories, this is a book you'll want to read—and will probably race through, as was my experience. Once I began reading I didn't put it down until I came to the final page.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really enjoyable and emotionally rewarding short story collection. I absolutely LOVE short stories, and this one is no exception. Ana Castillo is a talented writer. I will definitely read more from her in the future. I enjoyed all the stories, but my personal favorites were: "Ven", "Tango Smoke", and "The Girl in the Green Dress". The characters were full of substance and depth. Subject matter around death of a sibling, unfaithful spouses, absentee mothers, toxic teenage friendships, and ghostly encounters were some of the topics in the various stories. If you love short stories as much as I do, then I think you will enjoy this. A lot of the stories had a quirky feel which I appreciated.

[ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

!!!! this was so riveting and at times v nostalgic for me :’)) ahhh i love mexicanas and the stories that come with our unique experiences (especially when it comes to being chicana/feeling btwn america and mexico!). the final and titular story def resonated the most with me. reading about a mexican lesbian later in life- who still reflected a lot of the women in my life- living happily with a long term partner was genuinely so moving. anyways i could go on and on but yeah ana castillo you have done it again

[Dante Bravo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m humbled to even write this review. Ana Castillo’s work is seminal to the reader (and even person) that I am, so it’s a privilege to even get an eARC copy. Thank you to the publishers at HarperVia books for the opportunity to review “Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home”.

“Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home” uses different short stories to explore the power dynamics of different Mexican women and the agency they carve out for themselves. In particular, the collection of short stories zeroes in on the double-standards facing women as they grow older especially with respect to love, desire, sex, and bodily autonomy.

Without spoiling much, the two stories that left the biggest impression on me (“Ven” and the titular “Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home”) namely in the way these stories deal with two “bad” mothers and the impacts of their decisions on their children - their daughters in particular. Castillo’s writing offers empathy and insight into the often maligned “bad” mothers in each story, while never shying away from the messiness of their actions.

It’s also so refreshing to have so many stories from the perspectives of different ages of women of color that doesn’t whittle them down to their motherhood or relationship to other characters. While some stories pack a bigger punch than others (I was hoping for more from the supernatural elements of “Cuernavaca” and “The Girl in the Green Dress”) , I can’t wait to hear the conversations this book can inspire especially in Latina or Chicana feminist spaces.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be thinking of the women in these stories for a long time. Incredible writing, what a gift to have read this!

[MaryAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home
By Ana Castillo


Dedication: To every girl and woman who finds her voice and insists it be heard for the sake of those who cannot.


Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home is a feminist Latinx story collection. Castillo’s stories are finely distilled everyday portraits of women of different stages of life. In this collection, she looks at the hidden lives of women, breaking from the confines of social prescriptions, the politics of skin color and loves lost and found as well as female friendship and its growing pains. Castillo doesn’t shy away from messy characters nor the consequences of their actions. Her stories are evocative. Whether she has you feeling nostalgic for the golden age of Mexico when it was the playground of the rich and famous, or outrage and compassion for a teenager who must retrieve a “wayward” wife from Mexico City for her father; the reader is never left feeling neutral.

I highly recommend this story collection for readers who enjoyed The Consequences: Stories by Manuel Muñoz or How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz.


My sincerest thanks to @the_official_Ana_Castillo, @NetGalley and @HarperVia for the privilege of reading this digital ARC.

[Lydia Groezinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

These short stories were such a nice change of pace. Each captures life in its most authentic form to explore issues of race, gender, and identity. Rather than producing broad conclusions, Castillo’s short stories leave the reader with small insights into the intricacies of life.

My personal favorites are “Ven” and “Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home” because they both feature women navigating their identities with motherhood. I also enjoyed Castillo’s reoccurring exploration of family secrets, ghost stories, and the Mexican-American identity.

[Natalie Park · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and HarperVia for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. These inter-related stories about women show a slice of life from stories taking place in Mexico and the US, as the characters immigrate to different parts, and the secrets that families keep. Most of the stories also have a bit of the supernatural interwoven. My favorites stories are the Girl with the Green Dress and Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home. This was a solid read.

[Amanda R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Ana Castillo! These stories are super amusing. Doña Cleanwell left home but damn I hope Katia goes off to college & finds something fulfilling for herself! The eldest daughter theme is so relatable & understated yet a boldly apparent overarching thread.

[Régine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel. There were some “I get this” moments but mostly there was a “where is this going” vibe for me.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

The titular story about the Mexican American daughter of a queer mom and a machista dad being forced to navigate thorny family dynamics was very close to my heart. Te quiero ---. <3

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***

In these stories, Ana Castillo centers the experiences of Mexican (-American) women, often middle-aged, who stray a bit from the typical narrative. The titular story has a daughter on the cusp of adulthood sent to Mexico to retrieve her mother who is living a wholly different life away from her husband and children. It questions the static nature of identity as applied to these women without their consent. What would they be like without these imposed constraints? Who are they apart from the trope-y parts? How does their individuality play with the stereotypical parts and exist jointly? The stories provide opportunities to ask these questions and get some answers.

[Madalyn Woodward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been really loving short stories lately and this collection was wonderful. This collection explores the experiences of women, particularly Mexican/Mexican-American women. My favorite stories were The Girl in the Green Dress and Cuernacava; I really enjoyed the supernatural/ghostly elements of these two stories. I also really enjoyed the exploration of motherhood and "bad" mothers in Ven and Dona Cleanwell. I highly recommend this collection.

Cuernacava - 5/5
Ven - 4/5
Ada and Pablo - 3/5
Tango Smoke -3/5
The Girl in the Green Dress - 5/5
The Night at Nonna's - 4/5
Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home - 4/5

Thank you HarperVia and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Cristina Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will probably be my favorite book of the year. I could not put the book down and need to immediately join a book club because I have so many thoughts… My favorite story was “Ven.”

“… Andy had witnessed a certain pressure placed on Maggie to excel as a woman. Their mother wanted nothing to stand in the way of her daughter’s success. While their mother had been exemplary in caring for her children on her own, it was apparent she was also ridden with regret that life’s circumstances had minimized her own choices. The very idea that Maggie’s autonomous lifestyle would be compromised by having a family was unthinkable. So as to not disappoint the woman, Andy’s sister allowed herself to split like a cell into two separate identities.”

[Daniel Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

While some of the stories here were a good reads, I found that overall this book falls a bit flat. Personally, I believe there are other Chicano literature books that you can read and are way better. I agree with another reviewer that at times I found myself going "okay, where is this going?" with some of the plots. I am also tired of reading novels of characters living secret lives and cheating on their spouses which is something that Castillo I guess is not tired of? I really wanted to like this book but its really a low 3 stars for me.

[Austin Zamudio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm honestly so upset at myself for taking so long to read this collection! Fantastic! As a Chicago diva that just traveled to Mexico City for the first time, a lot of these stories just hit.

My favorites are: Ven; Ada and Pablo, and; Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home.

Every story is centered on discovery and personal growth, and it was such a treat to follow each character through a pivotal time in their lives. I also loved the queer representation sprinkled throughout. A collection with Latinas and queer folks is always going to have me hooked.

[Angie Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional collection of stories. My brain is still trying to process how they could each be turned into a full length novel, but that would be an injustice to the marvel that is each story.

I will forever be stuck on the image of a nerdy Alejandro Fernandez and just for that, I am extra grateful to have had the opportunity to read this eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to write a review of several stories at once because I liked some and not others. The writing was well done and I liked reading a variety of viewpoints and voices. What I didn't like in a few stories were the endings which left me wondering, not in a good way that kept me thinking about the stories, but in an unsatisfied way, like important information was missing that would have helped me make sense of what I had read.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t understand the low reviews, but maybe it’s not relatable to nonLatinx readers at times? I throughly enjoyed this quirky set of short stories that were sad, pensive, creepy, funny, and heart breaking as life sometimes is. This is my first time ever reading a book by Ana Castillo and I can’t wait to read more! The endings aren’t always satisfying and I like that because of her way of writing, I kept thinking of the stories long after I read them.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ana Castillo has written a wonderful collection of short stories.Each story was involving interesting kept me engaged.The author has a lyrical style of writing and I’m looking forward to reading more by her.#netgalley #harpervia

[Rosa E. Martínez Colón · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok book for me. Nothing memorable. Honestly none of the stories stayed with me after finishing the book. All through it I kept hoping it would all come together but that was not the case. Not a keeper.

[Gretchen Rosales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich, full characters in each short story. Beautiful vignettes that aptly describe Hispanic and Latinx life over different periods of time. Would have liked a more complete ending on some of the stories-a couple had an abrupt ending.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really intriguing collection centering women at odds with their families and society as a whole. Wouldn't expect anything less from Ana Castillo! I think I especially loved "Ven" and the title story.

[Tammy]

I listened to this slowly over my summer break. I thought the narrator did a great job, and the intertwined stories were fun. I think there was only one that I didn't like that much. Some ended a bit abruptly.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Vanessa Christina Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ven, Ada and Pablo, and Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home were standouts. I also appreciated Cuernavaca.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of these were pretty spooky.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded down to 3⭐️

[Deandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. I felt seen in so many of them and the way the titles tied in with the stories always felt like a treat at the end.

[Francys Herrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are too long