Anita de Monte Laughs Last

Who gets to leave a legacy?

1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn't. By 1998 Anita's name has been all but forgotten--certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret.

But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita's story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.

Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite.

These book club questions were prepared by Bookclubs staff.

Book club questions for Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

The book draws inspiration from the real-life death of artist Ana Mendieta. How did knowing this impact your reading experience? Did it make Anita's story feel more real or heighten the tragedy?

Discuss the parallels between Anita's experiences in the 1980s art world and Raquel's in the late 1990s. What had changed and what remained frustratingly stagnant?

Both Anita and Raquel become infatuated with manipulative male artists. What insights does the book offer into the power dynamics and abuse that can exist in romantic relationships, especially given differences in gender and background?

How does the book explore the racism, sexism and cultural biases ingrained in the elite art world dominated by wealthy white men?

Anita's work and legacy are suppressed after her death. What commentary is the book making about how women artists, especially women of color, are treated and remembered?

Unpack the character of Jack Martin (based on Carl Andre). Is he portrayed as an outright villain or is his character more nuanced? How does the book grapple with culpability?

What role does economic privilege and class play in determining whose art is valued and celebrated? How do these forces impact Anita and Raquel differently?

Discuss Belinda Kim as a mentor figure to Raquel. How does her feminist, anti-racist curatorial approach differ from the patriarchal art establishment?

Raquel feels caught between her working-class Brooklyn upbringing and the elite culture of Brown University. How does this "culture shock" shape her identity and perspectives?

The book employs some magical realist elements like Anita's ghostly afterlife. Did you find these narrative techniques effective or too divergent from the realism of the main plot?

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