Fade

by Tanya Saracho

When Lucia, a Mexican-born novelist, gets her first TV writing job, she feels a bit out of place on the white male-dominated set. Lucia quickly becomes friends with the only other Latino around, a janitor named Abel. As Abel shares his stories with Lucia, similar plots begin to find their way into the TV scripts that Lucia writes. Fade is a play about class and race within the Latinx community, as well as at large, and how status does not change who you are at your core.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fun short story but there is just something missing from it and I'm not sure what. plus I really didn't get the ending 🤔

[Nesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of the story absolutely infuriated me, but this is a damn good read. One the best short stories I’ve read so far.

[Sundria (Sundi) McCormick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This stated off kind of nice and then the end was so lackluster.

[Abraham Castillo Heins · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! I liked it, maybe its missing some things. But I just loved how well it was written and how everything flowed so naturally between the two characters. Linguistically, this play is an important achievement, not because of the languages used, but because of the use of stage directions and how they add so much layers of meaning to the characters' interpretation, development, and dialogue. It is really good and I want to re-read it and read some more Tanya Saracho plays.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great, diverse play that I think everyone should read/see. I liked the characters and the writing style. I loved the episodic nature, but I think it would be better were I to see it live instead of reading it. I think with the overlapping lines, it is easier to hear on the stage instead of on the page.

All in all, I am excited to see my local conservatory theatre do a reading of this in the coming months.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucia was too whiny for me. I skimmed most of it. The core ideas of assumptions and ethnicity are important but were either too clichéd or too dramatized. It had moments of realism but otherwise the play was slow.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A meaningful look inside the American-Mexican experience, especially for me, someone who knows nothing about it. The characters have different ways of reacting to their situation, they are at different places on the spectrum of emotional response and ever changing. Do they want to stay in the struggle, or exert a measured response, or give in to it, and which is the better choice for themselves, their families and their community? I enjoyed this story, it's unexpected ending, and the thoughtfulness that it inspired. The performances were terrific.

[H. Woodward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Who at the school district decided this was a good idea for high schoolers? Ironic? Language warnings: f$&@ -at least twice on each page. P$&@y repeatedly. A$&holes also repeatedly. Also c$@t, which offends me. I just can’t. all those words are used in English and Spanish, just in case you missed it in one language. I can’t root for either character, and since there’s only two characters, there’s no relief. Latinos squashing each other to get to the top-optics are no good on this one.

[Juan Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is (or at least can be) your worst enemy? Your best friend: because he knows everything about you, where it hurts and where to destroy you.

In this short novel two people come together because of their identity (both Mexicans living in the United States). One of them believes that he can trust the other, telling her about his intimacies. And it all ends in betrayal, as she tells her entire story to the world.

[Anilea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The system isn’t broken, it’s working just fine.
That’s the point of the play; the bitter truth of the whole drama.
It reshapes you into a clog for the endless churning machine until it spits you out; no identity, no self worth, no nothing.
Gotta pay the rent.
I loved it, simplistic yet poignant, and just perfectly equal part intense, dramatic, ironic and heartbreaking; a telenovela that deconstructed itself and then some.

[Phanesia Pharel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. I love reading stories that explore class and gender in the latinx experience. I am curious is Lucia would be cast as a white Mexican. Anywho, the story feels timely, a play that is holistically cognizant of today. Yet my only concern is how it drags and can be cheesy at the start. Halfway through the relationship really develops and feels natural. I loved the TV element.

[Dr. Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a punch to the gut. The realness of this work amazed me. The way it dealt with sexism, classism, and stereotypes was something else. It's the kind of work that doesn't leave you with any warm fuzzies at the end, but it certainly has you thinking. I was very impressed with this work, and honestly, am looking forward to teaching this text.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an eye-opening story about writing/working in the film industry as a Hispanic woman. It was interesting to hear from a different point of view- I think everyone should hear from other's sides. Sexism, cultural bias and other stereotypes were addressed. It started a bit slow, but developed into a better than expected short story. It was a bit dramatic, Lucia is a bit whiny.

[Rich Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did a great job of showing the characters. A TV writer and a janitor connect as Latinos in LA and become friends as the writer listens to what he is saying, and she shares her life as well. Great production and narrators.

[Nicole Sanborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good listen (Audible). The characters were easy to relate to and you'd want to cheer them on. There's a plot twist at the end, though, which makes one the villain in the other's story. I'm angry on their behalf!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrators were excellent! They added an extra mile of reality to an already credible scenario. I gave it four stars because of the level of profanity that prevented me from listening to it without headphones. I don't remember if that was mentioned, but I'll be checking that from now on.

[Gigi Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

You ever put off reading the ending of a thing because you know it's gonna be too painful? Yeah. Kicking myself because this was first produced in Denver and that would have been cool to see

[Angelika Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This evoked quite the emotional response in me.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much F word for me

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Audiobook review***

Narration was good, appreciated the realistic non happy ending.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to this on Audible. It was perfectly fine if a little cliché.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Katrina Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novela! I enjoyed this story and the narration was phenomenal. A side of writing we don’t get to see often enough. I did feel the ending was a bit abrupt but the message was heard.

[MELISSA VERA · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end was a little disappointing.

[Kristina Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told tale but SO. FRUSTRATING. Ugh.

*huffs*

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful short listen. Remember those who help get you to where you are. Be kind. Bring people up with you, don't leave them behind.

[Amira Bolaji · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute little short story. I was hooked in the beginning but I didn’t understand the ending at all. Felt like something was missing, feels like it ended right at the climax which was weird.

[Jessica Markulik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audible audiobook. The narration is what made this 5 ⭐.

[Veronica M C · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a quick and easy read. It made me more aware of class in the Latinx community. Lots of foul language. But it's not the kind of drama I usually enjoy.