House of Mist And, the Shrouded Woman: Novels by Maria Luisa Bombal (Texas Pan American Series)

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking and inquisitive
Review: Although I had to read this novel for a Spanish literature class, I found myself enjoying it immensely. There are so many questions that we have about what happens after death. This novel shows you one possibility.

Ana Maria is in limbo between life and death, and although she is dead to our world, she can still hear, see and feel. As she lies on her deathbed, she has memories of her life with each of the people who come close to her bedside. Her tumultuous and unhappy life leaves her unable to die and rest peacefully until she has released her anger and sadness in this world. Through her memories and seeing those at her deathbed for the last time, she is able to die in peace and rest for all eternity.

This novel is captivating as it leads you through her life post-mortem. The narrator is sometimes Ana Maria herself and sometimes another force. At times, she even has the spirit from beyond pulling her closer to her final resting place.

The novel is not always exciting, but it definitely makes you question religion's take on what happens after death.