Big Familia
A Novel
Distributed for Acre Books
192 pages
|
5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Review Quotes
Starred Review | Kirkus Reviews
"A quiet, thoughtful story about coming-of-age at middle age. . . . With his first novel, poet Moniz tells a story that is simultaneously timeless and quite timely. . . . Characters deal with and talk about racism and homophobia, gentrification and police brutality. These are some of the challenges they endure as they navigate universally human experiences like connection, community, birth, and death. . . . Diverse characters and a deeply likable protagonist make this a standout debut."
Library Journal
"This debut novel from Rad Dad ‘zine editor Moniz is a sweet look at a multilayered modern family and Juan’s possibilities at the precipice of his complicated life. Recommended for readers of domestic fiction with an urban/modern twist, like the works of Stephen McCauley."
Shelf Awareness
"For readers in search of a tautly streamlined, deeply resonating, contemporary family story, Big Familia by Tomas Moniz won't disappoint. . . . Without ignoring societal ills—racially charged police violence, incarceration bias, aggressive gentrification, generation gaps—Moniz creates a broadly diverse cast on the verge of transformation. Testing options, pushing past comfort zones and welcoming new bonds result in a big familia well worth getting to know."
Foreword Reviews
"Tomas Moniz’s bighearted novel Big Familia. . . . is a timely and entertaining exploration of family, sexuality, race, and community."
Book Riot
“Big Familia looks seriously at race, sexuality, class, and more, while never losing its warmth and charm.”
East Bay Express
"Moniz's first novel, Big Familia, captures the joys and uncertainties of family life in modern-day Berkeley. Published by Acre through the University of Cincinnati, it's a sharply observed exploration of empty nesting, gentrification, and intercultural intimacy. . . . Big Familia doesn't dish out big, steaming heaps of drama. Rather, it recounts the smaller moments where a few ill-chosen words can have far-reaching repercussions, such as filling out financial-aid applications with a former spouse or dealing with lacy underwear left on the bathroom floor. Juan wants to be a better parent, lover, and son, but isn't sure how. His miscalculations about romantic and familial love give the book a bittersweet undertone that mixes well with the narrative as a whole."
Oakland Magazine
“Oakland author Tomas Moniz’s new novel, Big Familia, is a big-hearted love letter to his former home just over the border: Berkeley.”
Ariel Gore
"Tomas Moniz’s ability to portray the complexity of the contemporary family in zines and short stories is legendary. And this long-awaited debut novel is everything fans have come to love in his work and more. Set in the gentrifying Bay Area, Big Familia is deeply personal and lyrical, at once exploring shame, the politic of care, and the meaning of belonging. These characters are people we know—awkward and bursting with all the hurt and love of being fully human. If you’ve never read Moniz before, you’ll be an instant fan. If you’re a longtime reader, you’ll be so happy to come home to this novel."
Michelle Cruz Gonzales
"Big Familia is about so many American families—intercultural, gay, straight, divorced but still loving each other with imperfect ferocity."
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