Books Sparking Joy: Weep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
This beautiful novella is a bit different from my other Books Sparking Joy. As I said, it is beautiful, but there's also heartbreak and despair. Trigger warnings: abuse (not graphic), generational and religious trauma. The main character, Mercy, recounts her life in the small town of Sueño, New Mexico and growing up with her best friend, Sherry. Mercy is haunted by the spirit of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman of Mexican folklore who represents the broken spirits of the women and girls of Sueño.
The reason this story Sparks Joy for me is the uplifting narrative of how Mercy fights despair with joy. She crafts a life that she is proud of and breaks the cycles of trauma in her family and town. She details the small daily glimmers of flowers, trees, and all things that grow. Her business and home life defy the haunting spirit and allow Mercy to discover that she deserves to live a life that shines. Her steady determination and vision of an Ideal Lifestyle is inspiring.
Dr. Maria DeBlassie is a native New Mexican mestiza and award-winning writer and educator living in the Land of Enchantment. She writes and teaches about spooky stuff, romance, and all things witchy. She is forever looking for magic in her life and somehow always finding more than she thought was there. Find out more about Maria and conjuring everyday magic at mariadeblassie.com.
Weep, Woman, Weep: A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings by Maria DeBlassie; Kitchen Witch Press; ISBN: 9780578974644
