Mecca

Mecca by Susan Straight is a dynamic and sweeping work of contemporary fiction. The story traces the intertwined and interlocking lives of native Californians in their battle for life. Johnny Frías is a descendant of the state’s Indigenous people and Mexican settlers. He has the desert land in his blood. He works as a highway patrolman, facing racist insults and trauma of killing a man assaulting a woman as a rookie. His actions have a reaction and in this story we unravel history, race, family and the destiny of many individuals all trying to sustain themselves in this glorious harshness. A rich, intricate novels that requires close reading to carefully track the multiple characters and interweaving narratives. The landscape is beautifully captured and as a reader you find yourself transported. For fans of literary fiction with a stylish prose and a slower pace. 4 Stars ✨.