Costalegre
Costalegre Island, Mexico, 1937. Young Lara awaits the arrival of a ship from Europe filled with her mother’s art collection and more artist refugees. With WWII looming over them and her father and brother far away in continental Europe, Lara finds herself trapped. Living with her mother, a wealthy patron of the arts, and a diverse group of adults grappling with their artistic demons, she is the lone child in a sprawling estate with no tutor, friends, or even a door to her bedroom. When she meets the artist Jack Klinger, a contemporary of the wild painters and writers staying at her home, she sees her situation through a new set of eyes and finds herself longing for understanding and a chance to enjoy her childhood. Grown wise too early, she’ll never see it.
Maum’s humorous and conversational look at life through Lara’s eyes is an engaging window into the development of this young artist. There is a dream-like sensation to the writing, a thoroughly enjoyable and fast read that flies through multiple events through the self-aware eyes of this young woman in just a short number of pages. While readers wanting closure to Lara’s concerns will find no conclusions, Costalegre offers an immersive experience into a truly unique and bittersweet childhood.
