Magical Realism for Non-Believers: A Memoir of Finding Family

A young woman from Minnesota travels to Colombia to find her Colombian father she has never known, exploring the complexities of family and identity. She learns that family is where you find it and what you make of it, and that sometimes, despite all the pieces you find, fitting together a family history can be difficult.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2021
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

A young woman from Minnesota embarks on a profound journey to uncover the Colombian father she has never known, delving into the intricate complexities of family and identity. Fueled by a burning curiosity, Anika Fajardo sets out to understand the allure of her father's homeland and the profound impact it had on him. In 1995, she boarded a plane and flew to Colombia, eager to discover a birthplace unfamiliar to her and a father who remained a stranger.

As she cautiously enters her father's world, Fajardo embarks on a transformative path that leads her to unearth unexpected secrets about her family and herself. The story unfolds against the backdrop of Colombia and the American Midwest, tracing her journey back to the 1970s, when her parents' marriage began to unravel.

Through her experiences, Fajardo explores the complexities of love, heartache, and parenthood, navigating the shifting terrain of memory and truth. She faces physical and metaphysical challenges, from perilous mountain roads in Colombia to the loss of loved ones and the birth of her own child. However, the most formidable obstacles she confronts are the complexities of understanding her place within her family and in the world.

The story is vividly portrayed, filled with emotional depth and heartfelt storytelling. Fajardo's journey is powerfully compelling, as it seamlessly bridges time and place, depicting self-transformation and the profound impact of family. She comes to realize that family is not confined by blood or geography, but is a creation of the individuals who make it up.

In the end, Fajardo's story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love to heal wounds. It reminds us that family is not always perfect, but it is a source of strength, support, and belonging. It is a journey that requires courage, perseverance, and an open heart, and one that ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

Weight: 242g
Dimension: 201 x 126 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517912758