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It's Holy Week in the small town of Las Penas, New Mexico, and 33-year-old unemployed Amadeo Padilla has been given the part of Jesus in the Good Friday procession. He is preparing feverishly for this role when his 15-year-old daughter, Angel, shows up pregnant on his doorstep and disrupts his plans for personal redemption. With weeks to go until her due date, tough, ebullient Angel has fled her mother's house, setting her life on a startling new path.Vivid, tender, funny, and beautifully rendered, The Five Wounds spans the baby's first year as five generations of the Padilla family converge: Amadeo's mother, Yolanda, reeling from a recent discovery; Angel's mother, Marissa, whom Angel isn't speaking to; and disapproving Tive, Yolanda's uncle and keeper of the family's history. Each brings expectations that Amadeo doesn't think he can live up to.The Five Wounds is a miraculous debut novel from a writer whose stories have been hailed as legitimate masterpieces (New York Times). Kirstin Valdez Quade conjures characters that will linger long after the book's conclusion, bringing to life their struggles to parent children they may not be equipped to save.

Adorned with gleaming prose that dances across the page, "The Five Wounds: A Novel" by Kirstin Valdez Quade is a captivating tale that unfurls in the serene landscapes of Las Penas, New Mexico. This poignant narrative introduces us to Amadeo Padilla, a man wrestling with the weight of his past and the complexities of familial bonds.

Amadeo, a former Marine, returns to his hometown to navigate the tumultuous aftermath of his sister's death, a tragedy that casts a long shadow over the Padilla family. As he attempts to reconcile with his estranged father and provide solace to his grieving mother, Amadeo finds himself entangled in a web of secrets and unspoken truths that threaten to unravel the delicate equilibrium of his life.

With exquisite sensitivity and profound insight, Quade delves into the depths of human relationships, exploring the complexities of love, loss, and forgiveness. Through Amadeo's journey, she illuminates the transformative power of facing one's demons and embracing the healing balm of compassion. The Five Wounds is a poignant and evocative novel that lingers in the heart long after the final page is turned.

Quade's evocative storytelling and lyrical prose bring the characters and setting of Las Penas vividly to life. Her ability to capture the nuances of human emotion and the subtleties of familial dynamics is truly remarkable. The Five Wounds is a stunning achievement in contemporary literature, a novel that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

For those seeking a literary journey that explores the depths of human experience, "The Five Wounds" by Kirstin Valdez Quade is an essential read. Its exploration of grief, family, and the search for healing is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.