A review by sergek94
Each Of Us A Desert by Mark Oshiro

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 

Xochital is the storyteller of her village, more specifically known as the Cuentista. She has received this role, which is quite the heavy burden to bare, at the age of 8, and she had to be the shoulder of every single person in her community leans on, giving her their deepest and darkest stories, that can oftentimes be traumatizing to hear.Fortunately, Xochital is able to release these secrets to the sun god her community worships, pleasing him and securing his favour towards her people while forgetting everything she was told in the process. However, all this changes one day when Xochital decides to keep these stories and not release them to the sun god, after being told a story that had dangerous consequences and decides to try and prevent them from happening, but ultimately fails to do so. After this incident, Xochital becomes hellbent on finding a way to get rid of her powers, thus releasing the heavy burden that is too much for her to bare, and embarks on a journey into the depths of the desert, looking to find a way to give her powers to someone else.

This is a very quiet and reflective tale. The conflict present in this novel is quite internal, dealing with Xochital's struggles regarding her abilities, and the importance of the stories she is keeping inside her in shaping her identity and defining who she is as a person.A central theme present here is the question of who she truly is without these stories. It's a journey of self-discovery while navigating through an unforgivable scorching desert environment.The overarching theme of this work seems to be the importance of interconnection in our communities. Each story Xochital takes from others and makes a part of her own is a figurative comparison to the very same aspect of reality we live through, since every interaction we have with others marks us in one way or another. If we separate ourselves from the social fabric we find ourselves to be a part of, and try to look deep inside ourselves to see who we are in isolation from that fabric, it would be quite the struggle. Humans mold each other through their interactions, and society is an interdependent ecosystem that is more than the sum of its parts.Xochital's introspective journey in this novel takes her on the path of making this discovery, since at some point, she realizes that when losing the stories she has kept inside of her, she would ultimately be losing a part of herself, and go back to the perpetual state of confusion she was constantly in after each story-releasing ritual.Xochital's relationship with Emilia, her travel partner, is another layer of connection we explore in this story, though their romantic relationship is not as straightforward and as plot-consuming for this to be seen as a romance novel.

The setting and atmosphere are beautifully crafted here, and I was able to visualize the hot orange atmosphere of the desert, and the heat of the searing sun blistering my skin. Despite not much happening plot-wise, this character-driven journey was a gripping read and Mark Oshiro is a talented author. I recommend taking your time reading this book, trying to immerse yourself into the world without rushing through it.I read it relatively fast and couldn't completely appreciate the slow narrative tempo, though I do hope to reread it someday and fully soak in the story.

Thank you to Maria and Sulla for buddy reading this with me!


 “We stretch ourselves: to fit within the roles we are given. To make ourselves look better to those around us. To convince one another that we are good people in a world so vacant. Each of us a desert.”