by Caroline Mackenzie
I was excited to read this book because it takes place in Trinidad which was a new setting for me. What I didn’t expect was to learn so much about South American migration in the Caribbean, offset by a commitment to comedy.
Yola Palacios and her tight-knit family have escaped the deteriorating conditions of Venezuela for hopefully greener pastures in Trinidad, even if they aren’t exactly legal citizens of their new home. Unfortunately, they learn after Aunt Celia’s death that she owed quite a bit of money to the local gangster, Ugly, who is now holding the rest of the family responsible for her debt. Ugly and his cronies are dangerous men but that doesn’t stop sparks flying between Yola and Ugly’s right-hand man, Román.
This novel has dark themes, but it is uplifted with such a delightful humour and wit. Mackenzie acknowledges in her final note that she wrote this to be a comedy as a way of making these elements more accessible and to inspire hope. Humour is the balm that helps the Palacios family endure and support one another despite the fear and pressure they can’t seem to shake.
The family dynamic is really the heartbeat of this novel. This is the kind of family that feels at home in one another’s houses, will call each other on their bs, will mercilessly tease and fiercely defend; the only secrets they manage to keep are the really monumental ones, otherwise, they are all in each other’s business. Their closeness is aided by their immigrant status and their exclusive reliance and trust in one another but it’s obvious this bond began long before they had left Venezuela. From Yola’s perspective, she may not even particularly like all of her family members (things get messy) but she loves them more than anything regardless.
“We keep our mouths shut until the only option is regret.”
One Year of Ugly, p. 15
I was peripherally aware of the political unrest, oppression, and socioeconomic crisis ongoing in Venezuela but this novel really put that conflict front and centre. I was pushed to research (and because it was me, then fall down rabbit holes) while I was reading to understand some of the references and my goodness did I learn a lot. While this story centred around family it also forces us to question how dire things would have to get to renounce our homeland. What would we risk to protect our family?
The budding romance between Yola and Román flirts with that question. They were really fun to follow as they play with the will-they-won’t-they trope because of how perilous their situation is, despite their obvious and palpable chemistry. They are both more complex characters than one would expect and even with their severely different backgrounds, share many of the same values and principles.
“‘Ah well,’ she hooted, ‘you know what they say, honey: behind every crazy bitch is a man who made her that way.’”
One Year of Ugly, p. 85
This novel was sharp, smart, funny, and nuanced. Trinidad was interesting to explore, the characters are loveable, realistic and relatable, and the story itself is an important one. This vibrant, fast-paced tale is entertaining and very well-written. My hang-up is that Mackenzie is Trinidadian but writes a Venezuelan main character. I’m not sure this is really her story to tell (though she does address this at the end of the novel) but she uses tact, sensitivity, and caution to share a message that is very clearly in support of Venezuelan migrants.
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