First published 2011
Francisco Goldman sits with his grief after losing his wife Aura Estrada. He turns to writing as a way to preserve what remains of their life together. Goldman traces Aura's path from her childhood through her academic success in Mexico. He recalls the early days of their relationship and the moments that defined their bond as a couple. The book becomes both a tribute to Aura and an exploration of how love persists after death. Goldman examines his memories with the precision of a novelist and the urgency of a widower. He reconstructs conversations, revisits shared experiences, and attempts to capture the essence of a woman who shaped his world. This act of remembrance becomes his way of keeping Aura present, transforming personal loss into lasting testimony.
Genres: literary-fiction, grief, contemporary, biography-memoir, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief, personal-loss, tribute
Setting: Mexico
Period: 21st-century
432 pages · Paperback · Christian Bourgois éditeur
Content warnings: death