This week, we’re diving into Candelaria by Melissa Lozada-Oliva, a debut novel that blends family curses, magical realism, and Latina identity into a multigenerational saga that’s both intimate and apocalyptic.
Recording on Guatemalan Independence Day and the start of Hispanic Heritage Month made the timing even more meaningful. Lozada-Oliva’s lyrical storytelling connects family history, Mayan mythology, and the realities of immigration in a way that feels both raw and magical.
Disclaimer: this book touches on topics that are considered taboo and does get graphic.
In this episode, we’ll cover:
👩👧👧Candelaria's family across three generations and how their lives intertwine with loss, love, and survival
🌎 How Mayan mythology and the 1976 Guatemalan earthquake shape the novel’s magical realism
📚 Why representation matters and what it means to see Guatemalan voices in contemporary fiction
💛 My Shelf Therapy Takeaway: We get to choose which parts of our family’s story we carry forward and which cycles we’re ready to break
✨ Let’s connect!
Have you read Candelaria? Do magical realism elements work for you? What family stories have shaped your own identity? Share your thoughts with me on Instagram @thebookishcure.
🎧 Thanks for listening to The Bookish Cure. Until next Monday, happy reading, and remember: your story matters.