I found so much beauty in Deeper Than the Ocean, a generational saga that touches upon the complexities of woman- and motherhood across Spain, Cuba, and the United States. Our protagonists, each from different decades, face oppressive traditions, regimes and trauma, but also find moments of meaning and happiness. Mirta Ojito writes brilliantly as she floats between perspectives and timelines, and the story is engaging as we uncover century-old secrets and mystery of our main characters’s great-grandmother.
Ojito describes the sea, islands and trees with such expressive care and love, and her descriptions of foods and smells (especially cafe con leche) is almost visceral. This novel is a powerful testament to grief and life that keeps persevering. Knowing Ojito’s personal connections to this story made the stakes feel higher, and the pain all that much heartbreaking.
As we also learn that the story about the Valbanera ship was true, Ojito brings the readers into this tragedy with pure empathy. The almost-forgotten events of the Valbanera is a cautionary tale that needs to be highlighted in history and not erased.
Posted on goodreads