It’s officially spring—we made it y’all. Today, I’m bringing you a review of a magical book that moved me to tears.
I’m also divulging my latest writing updates for the spooky novel I’ve been working on, as well as a fated story of the muse stopping by for a visit. Keep reading to see what I mean!
A Book That Broke My Heart and Put It Back Together Again: Itzá by Rios de la Luz
Marisol lives in a desert border town. Her family is made of magic, and she can feel it in the stories her abuelas tell her—they’re water witches, after all.
As she grieves these powerful women in her life, she must also contend with the horrific deeds of her mother’s partner, who she refers to as the Fake Father.
Readers follow Marisol as she endures and overcomes truly dire circumstances, and we’re given a glimpse into what it means to rewrite your narrative. It’s a story of trauma, triumph, and hope. Despite all of the cruelty, Marisol sets out to live a beautiful, self actualized life.
I don’t mean it lightly when I say that this is one of the most heartbreaking, stunning, and transformative reading experiences I’ve ever had. Rios de la Luz’s prose is practically poetry, and her command of the art of storytelling left me in awe. As the novel shifted from Marisol’s child, teenage, and adult perspectives, I felt like I was witnessing an actual life being lived and explored—scars and all.
This is the kind of book that I had to put down, pause, and take a deep breath for several times as I read it. To sit with the devastation, to take in the tenderness, and to relish in the beauty.
“Marisol found a crumpled piece of paper on Abuelita’s grave. She opened it, read it, and fell into the mud. She clawed at her thighs and her belly. She rubbed her cheeks and her nose, she palmed at her head and then pulled at her hair. She kissed her muddy knees and let out a cry. Abuelita sent her a message. This body is yours, it will always be yours.”
If you read last week’s newsletter, then you know that I discovered Rios de la Luz through her TikTok videos. In one of them, she explained that she wrote Itzá as a spell. I thought it was a fascinating, clever concept. Now I know what she meant. Pick up a copy for yourself, and you’re bound to be under Itzá’s spell, too.
I pre-ordered her latest novella, Daughter of Rot, which comes out in September, and I can’t wait to read more of her work. She’s an author to watch, that’s for sure.
Note: Please keep the following trigger warnings in mind if you read this book: CSA, SA, trauma, violence, body horror.
Thanks for reading along! Viewing this newsletter online or had it forwarded to you? Subscribe to get a fresh edition in your inbox every Wednesday.
Writing a Novel in 90 Days: 44,000+ Words Later
@theweirdgirledit Over halfway through writing a novel in 90 days…your girl is tired! After hitting a few consecutive slumps, I’m finally emerging from the... See more
Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint. Some days feel like a slog, others feel like discovering a secret treasure that’s been long buried. It really does depend on the day, and any writer who says otherwise is probably lying or trying to sell you something (or a mix of both).
Regardless of how debilitating some days can be, it still feels like something I need to do. After having squashed my own creative aspirations for years, I’m bursting to tell this story to anyone who will listen, and I’ve learned so much about myself and my writing habits since I took on the challenge. For example, treats can go a long way in getting me to write. And lots of caffeine.
I’m now officially over the halfway mark of the 90 day challenge, and at the time of writing this, I’ve hit a little over 44,400 words. It’s satisfying to think I’ve come this far…part of me didn’t know if I had it in me. It’s also daunting, because I have about 30 days left to write the remainder of the rough draft. When all is said and done, that’ll be another 40,000 words that I need to conjure up between now and April 26th.
If there’s one thing about me, I’m motivated by a deadline. Will it be a mad dash to the finish line, or will the muse come to visit me more often going forward? I guess we’ll see. Speaking of muses…
A Visit From the Muse
A photo of the movie poster that was hung above the booth we were seated in
I had a major epiphany a little over a week ago. If you’ve been following along, then you may know that the novel I’m writing is spooky and involves ghosts—both dead and alive ones. My novel is set in Los Angeles, and the Old Hollywood era plays a substantial role in terms of both aesthetics and plot.
When I initially began planning out the story, I looked to Old Hollywood films for inspiration when it came to character names, dialogue choices, and overall vibes. Recently, I randomly thought I should look back into A Streetcar Named Desire, and ended up in a research frenzy. Going down this rabbit hole at the moment I did felt like fate. It gave me a sense of clarity around where my novel could go next, and a series of “if you know, you know” moments that I could incorporate.
A few days after that, I went to dinner with my husband and his parents at Smokehouse, a restaurant steeped in Hollywood lore. Lo and behold, we were seated at a table with a gigantic poster of A Streetcar Named Desire directly above us. I hadn’t even realized it until it was pointed out to me. I looked up in awe, what were the odds? I chalked it up to my muse coming to pay me a visit again. A confirmation of sorts.
I finally got around to watching the film for the first time this week. There’s so much to unpack, and maybe I’ll eventually write a full analysis about it here. For now, here’s an iconic scene starring the hunky Marlon Brando as Stanley.
Since the muse visited, I’ve been doing daily deep dives into the work of Tennessee Williams, who wrote the original play and the screenplay for the film. I’m absolutely fascinated by him, and have had a blast discovering endearing details about his legacy and personality. I find him utterly charming and so badly wish I could sit down for a conversation with him.
I don’t want to be presumptuous, but I have a feeling he would’ve resonated with the weird girl ethos. I’ll leave you with this quote of his:
“I suppose I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge upon hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person. But these seemingly fragile people are the strong people really.”
Weird Girl of the Week: Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver’s poems never cease to make me feel relaxed. The world can be a scary place, but her work reminds us to slow down and have compassion for ourselves.
I recently came across an excerpt from one of her poems via tumblr (yes I’m still active on there) and was reminded of how gentle and special her writing is. It was especially fitting given that it’s now officially spring!
Mary Oliver, from “Such Singing in the Wild Branches” (via tumblr)
I highly recommend you also check out her poems “Wild geese” and “The Summer Day.” If you do read them, come back and tell me how you feel.
I can almost guarantee you’ll feel better than you did beforehand.
That’s it for today. Want more weird?
Say less. Give me a follow over on Instagram and TikTok!
The Weird Girl Edit is a weekly newsletter written by Maya Rector, and it gets published every Wednesday. View past editions here. If you haven’t already, subscribe for the latest wacky musings in literature, media, and pop culture each week!