I needed to take time to start writing this review: this is a book which tears down your soulful and privy you of words, so it took me a while to find the right ones. “Sor Juana, My Beloved”, as the title says, is about the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a fascinating and powerful personality of Mexican literature. Brilliant religious, poet and author, she was able to resist from the pressures the society of Nueva España (and not only) imposed on women – whose only destiny was to become a wife and a mother or a concubine – leaving a mark on the cultural world of Northern America, by sailing through the religious and political powers, starting relations with bishops, archbishops and vicereines (she even started a love relationship with one of them, Maria Luisa).
I didn’t know much her, I want to be honest, but she fascinated me a lot and I saw a little of myself in thus young woman who wanted to know everything and dedicate her life to study and writing. Thanks ti the splendid work of the author and biographer, MaryAnn Shank, I could sail through the memories of this 17th Century proto-feminist and (perhaps) lesbian nun, getting to know the details of her difficult life. Shank made a incredible work of research, writing a biography that’s also am intense and moving novel. The writing style is fluid and yet poetic, colourful, as it is Mexico (the descriptions of La Ciudad de México and Panoayan reminded me of Frida Kahlo’s painting), taking inspiration from Sor Juana’s literary works and and around them creating the book of her life. Touching and absolutely delicate, tender was the love story between Juana Inés and vicereine of Italian origin Maria Luisa, which made me remember of “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”.
“Sor Juana, My Beloved” is a gorgeous book every woman and girl should read.

This uses the 17th century element perfectly and was glad I got to read this book. It had that charm that I was expecting and enjoyed the overall story being told. I really enjoyed the mystery element in this and was engaged with what was happening. MaryAnn Shank wrote this well and left me wanting more.