Nola Face: A Latina's Life in the Big Easy

Brooke Champagne's childhood was influenced by her Ecuadorian grandmother Lala, who imposed rules on her appearance, language, and writing. Champagne's essays explore her girlhood of competing languages, ethnicities, aesthetics, politics, and class constraints, revealing her family's love, hate, whipping, praying, stealing, and spilling secrets. They believe, doubt, and reckon with their stories, becoming most human and alive in their connections to one another.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2024
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Brooke Champagne's childhood was shaped by her Ecuadorian grandmother, Lala, who had a unique blend of bruja and santa powers. Lala imposed strict guidelines on her granddaughter, emphasizing the importance of beauty, fluency in English, and a deep love for Spanish, considered the superior language of God. However, Champagne's defiance began even before these rules were uttered, as she secretly started writing and hiding the truth about her evolving identity.

The essays in this captivating collection delve into the intricate tapestry of Champagne's girlhood, navigating the complexities of competing languages, ethnicities, aesthetics, politics, and class constraints. Set against the backdrop of a vibrant New Orleans upbringing, these essays showcase the author's humorous and poignant observations of her family's struggles and triumphs. Champagne and her family members engage in a range of behaviors, from loving and hating with passion to engaging in whip-and-whipping exchanges, praying and cursing in both English and Spanish, stealing from "The Man" and giving to themselves, kissing in painful places, poking where it hurts even more, and keeping and spilling each other's secrets.

Through their experiences, Champagne and her family members grapple with belief, doubt, and the stories they tell about themselves and their origins. They explore the complexities of identity, heritage, and the search for belonging. In the process, they become more human, more alive, and most importantly, find solace and connection in their relationships with one another.

This collection offers a raw and honest portrayal of a family's journey, filled with laughter, tears, and profound insights into the human experience. Champagne's writing is witty, poignant, and relatable, drawing readers into her world and leaving them with a deeper understanding of the complexities of family, identity, and the power of connection.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820366531