Perpetual West

Perpetual West by Meshan Maren

379 Pages

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Release Date: January 25, 2023

Fiction (Adult), Literary Fiction, Multicultural, Mexico, Adoption, LGBTQIA+, Bisexual, Anorexia

The book begins with Alex and Elana leaving their home in West Virginia heading to Texas and then Mexico. Alex was adopted and wants to find his roots. This is where the story is based – along the border. Although the characters cross the physical border from the United States into Mexico, there is also a crossing of the mental/emotional border.

At times reading this book, I wondered where it was going. There are other characters that could have stories of their own to find out why and how they became the people in the book.

Vivi – the artist

Simon – the addict

Mateo – the wrestler

Neto – the owner/younger brother

Noreen – the overbearing mother

The story had a steady pace for the most part and slow in others. The characters are somewhat developed, and it is written in the third person point of view from different perspectives.  It is a dark story of loss, loneliness, and abandonment. All the characters are looking for something. As I read on, I realized, the story is about finding your truth. I would classify this book in the same category as Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic.