(Reviewed by JD Jung)
It’s the 1960s and we follow two women into a bar who just want a diversion from the hardships of everyday life. From there, Shades draws us in and takes hold of us through the entire eighteen interwoven stories. We learn the raw truth about girlfriends, lovers, family and just trying to get by in urban Detroit.
Each story focuses on a character, most of whom have some relationship to one of these two women. Some are their grown children in subsequent decades. Each story could be a stand-alone, but instead the format enables us to get to know the characters better and try to grasp their fears, heartaches and losses.
Many make decisions based on being victims of manipulation, betrayal and/or the realization that they just have to settle in life. That is not to say that I always understood their choices and actions, but I still felt for them.
Author Esperanza M. Cintrón was able to tap into the condition of growing up poor, exposing human vulnerabilities often masked as arrogance. She also incorporated the culture of the time, like the popular soul music and smoked-filled bars which placed me right back to the 1960s and early 70’s. Though I have never been to Detroit, I felt that she captured the essence of urban life.
I did have a problem keeping track of all the characters which was imperative in understanding these stories that are so interconnected. So early on I kept a sort of family tree that helped me keep them straight when a new character reappeared or was initially introduced.
While many readers may not be able to identify with the characters in Shade, there are universal feelings that we can relate to. For the rest, at least you will feel empathy for many of them.
