While acknowledging that this is an extremely well written novel, I have to admit that I found Fonseca difficult to enjoy.
The claustrophobic atmosphere, quite deliberately created by Jessica Francis Kane, and the sense of melancholy pervading the whole book, coupled with the knowledge that Penelope Fitzgerald's visit to Mexico was ultimately doomed to fail made this a novel to admire but not wish to read again.
While fictional, the book deals with a real person ,Penelope Fitzgerald, and a real event in that complicated writer's life. It is always tricky to fictionalise , but in this case, I feel this comes off well in Fonseca.
A literary and well crafted novel, cleverly using letters to fill in some of the narrative this is a story many will find fascinating.
The descriptions of Mexico are vivid, and the cast of characters fascinating, including Edward Hopper, the painter. The book, in my opinion, is a little reminiscent of Hopper's paintings, which often seem to convey a sense of loneliness and isolation despite their sense of colour.
So, to sum up, I acknowledge the author's ability, and the book's merit, but cannot say I enjoyed it for myself.
NetGalley and Penguin supplied an e arc a d this is my honest review.

Fonseca, a work of historical fiction, fills a gap in the life of writer Penelope Fitzgerald. A vague and unexpected invitation from long-lost wealthy relatives to Fitzgerald's son, Valpy, brings the English mother and son to Fonseca, Mexico. Immediately immersed into a social contest for fortune and favor of the heiresses, they adjust to life away from everything familiar.

Valpy spends his days apart from his mother, and on the outside, seems to adapt to life away from home quickly. Penelope, on the other hand, remains wary of others and their motivations.

Jessica Francis Kane sends her readers to Mexico in the early 1950s, painting the main house and the characters within with vivid description. It's easy to see the color and texture of Fonseca's food, plants, architecture, and animals.

Anyone interested in artists, writers, and travel in the mid-1900s will enjoy this well-researched and imaginative novel with a strong female lead.

Thank you to Penguin Press for the ARC.

#Fonseca #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Press for this ARC.

Fonseca is an ambitious and imaginative novel that reimagines a pivotal journey in the life of Penelope Fitzgerald, but, unfortunately, I really struggled to get through it. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters and couldn't become invested in their financial plight. The pacing is a little uneven, with certain sections feeling overly detailed or slow. However, despite this, it is an admirable exploration of resilience and ambition.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Press for the ebook. A wonderful novel about the author Penelope Fitzgerald, set in a small town in Mexico in 1952, when she and her husband were running a struggling literary magazine back home. Penelope has come with her young son, Valpy, two see if two older women, with a slight connection to Penelope, might want to give her son part of their fortune. She makes the difficult trip from England, only to find that there are several other people vying for this money. There’s even the appearance of Edward Hopper and his wife staying nearby. A fun tale of saints and vipers who orbit this small world.

I loved this novel. The author perfectly captures Mexico in the 1950's. The story is about the writer Penelope Fitzgerald"s trip to Mexico with her six year old son Valpy. In deep financial trouble she hopes to receive a legacy from two old women who are without an heir and curiously invite Fitzgerald to Fonseca Mexico. The trip is a desperate act, pregnant, she leaves behind her three year old daughter and alcoholic husband.
There is a cast of interesting characters, some with an eye on the legacy others are workers and members of the community. The artist Edward Hooper and his wife Jo have a cameo.
The characters are wonderful and the structure is interesting with letters written by Fitzgerald's children punctuating the engaging story.
Highly recommended!

What a gift of a book. I came to it with no foreknowledge and it took me a while to realize that it was based on the life of not just any but THE Fitzgerald. All the more impressive. Kane’s wit and gentle insights are delightful enough, but then there’s the extrapolation of a lived existence, the problems and pleasures. Plus the voice of Fitzgerald’s own children. A treasure trove, delivered with grace and insight. Bravo