The Affairs of the Falcóns: A Novel - Softcover

Rivero, Melissa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062872362 ISBN 13: 9780062872364

Publisher: EccoPress, 2019

Synopsis

A Recommended Book of 2019 from:
Southern Living * Buzzfeed * The Huffington Post * Bustle * Fierce * Hip Latina * Ms. Magazine * Alma * Library Journal * The Rumpus * The Millions * Refinery29 * Electric Literature

A stunning debut novel about a young undocumented Peruvian woman fighting to keep her family afloat in New York City

Ana Falcón, along with her husband Lucho and their two young children, has fled the economic and political strife of Peru for a chance at a new life in New York City in the 1990s. Being undocumented, however, has significantly curtailed the family’s opportunities: Ana is indebted to a loan shark who calls herself Mama, and is stretched thin by unceasing shifts at her factory job. To make matters worse, Ana must also battle both criticism from Lucho’s cousin—who has made it obvious the family is not welcome to stay in her spare room for much longer—and escalating and unwanted attention from Mama’s husband.

As the pressure builds, Ana becomes increasingly desperate. While Lucho dreams of returning to Peru, Ana is deeply haunted by the demons she left behind and determined to persevere in this new country. But how many sacrifices is she willing to make before admitting defeat and returning to Peru? And what lines is she willing to cross in order to protect her family?

The Affairs of the Falcóns is a beautiful, deeply urgent novel about the lengths one woman is willing to go to build a new life, and a vivid rendering of the American immigrant experience. 

About this title

From the Back Cover

Ana and her husband, Lucho, along with their two young children, have fled the financial and political upheaval facing Peru in the twilight of the twentieth century, seeking a chance at a new life in New York City. When Lucho loses his job, his cousin proposes a tenuous offer of hospitality to the family. Despite the setback, Ana is intent on putting down roots, but she soon finds that her undocumented status significantly curtails her family’s opportunities. Ana is indebted to a loan shark who calls herself Mama, and she is stretched thin by unceasing shifts at her factory job. To make matters worse, Ana must also battle both criticism from Lucho’s cousin—who has made it obvious the family is not welcome to stay in her spare room for much longer—as well as escalating and unwanted attention from Mama’s husband. With the pressure building, Lucho dreams of returning to Peru, but Ana is deeply haunted by the demons she left behind and determined to forge a better future for her children. Soon Ana will be forced to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect her family—and how much more she can take in this new country before she admits defeat.

Deeply urgent and richly told, The Affairs of the Falcóns is the breathtaking story of one woman’s relentless pursuit of a new American dream and a remarkable portrait of the contemporary immigrant experience.

About the Author

Melissa Rivero was born in Lima, Peru, and raised in Brooklyn. Undocumented for most of her childhood, Rivero became a US citizen in her early twenties. Her writing has taken her to the VONA/Voices Workshops, Bread Loaf, and the Norman Mailer Writers Colony. In 2015, Melissa was an Emerging Writers Fellow at the Center for Fiction. She is a graduate of NYU and Brooklyn Law School, and currently works on the legal team of a startup. She still lives in Brooklyn, with her husband, two sons, and their rescue dog. 

Edition details

• Publisher: EccoPress
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 0062872362
• ISBN 13: 9780062872364
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288