Carnival of Memories: A Novel

Yocasta Fareri
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595456703
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (1/09)

 

“Carnival of Memories” is the story of Lyana Lagos and her memories of life, from being a young refugee fleeing the Dominican Republic in the early 1950s, to a childhood in New York City, to young adulthood in the 1960s, on up to her sixtieth birthday in 2005. Family, friends, life, death, and everything in between are the subjects of this book. Lyana begins with her family’s frightful escape from the Dominican Republic. They end up in New York City, where she and her brother and parents adjust to a new country and eventually thrive. But with the ups comes the downs. Author Yocasta Fareri covers it all through the voice of Lyana in this generation-spanning novel.

My favorite books are those that cover many generations and span lifetimes. It gives the reader a chance to really get to know a character. Fareri writes with passion and knowledge and based on her ‘Acknowledgments’ page and ‘About the Author,’ I would guess she writes from personal experience as well. She really brings Lyana to life.

The strong bond of family and friends is the main theme of this book. Lyana is a vibrant Latina woman who stands up to the traditions of her culture that she does not believe in. She becomes an avid women’s liberation advocate in the 1960s. She lives her life by her own rules. At the same time, she falls back on her family and friends when needed. They are always there for her and she for them, even when miles apart.

The themes in this book are ones that many readers can relate to. The story is riveting and memorable. “Carnival of Memories” is a very good first novel from author Yocasta Fareri.

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