The Five Wounds (novel) explained

The Five Wounds is the debut novel by American author Kirstin Valdez Quade, published by W. W. Norton & Company on March 30, 2021.^[1] It is an expansion of Quade's short story of the same name, which was first published in The New Yorker and later collected in her debut short story collection, Night at the Fiestas (2015).^[2] The Five Holy Wounds suffered by Jesus Christ during the crucifixion is used as a metaphor in the novel.

Premise

Amadeo Padilla, a struggling alcoholic, lives with his pregnant daughter, Angel, and ailing mother, Yolanda, in Las Penas, New Mexico. He is selected to portray Jesus Christ in the town's annual play which reenacts the Passion of Jesus and is organized by the Roman Catholic lay group Los Hermanos Penitentes.

Reception

^[3] This included starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Reviewers highlighted the book's realistic portrayals of characters and communities.

Kirkus Reviews described it as "a novel built around a fierce, flawed, and loving family" anchored by "perfectly rendered characters." In their starred review, Publishers Weekly praised the "well-developed characters [who] convey palpable emotion" and called Quade's depiction of the novel's community "pitch perfect."^[7] Library Journal's verdict was that this "expertly crafted story of family and community introduces us to often needy characters for whom readers come to care deeply."

Other critics noted the humanistic elements that dignify the characters and their society with agency and potential.

Booklist commended Quade for "ably deliver[ing] a story that is nuanced and authentic without melodrama... [it's a] generous tale of characters who understand the inevitability of fate but try to forge ahead anyway in the hope of breaking free." In The New York Times, Alexandra Chang added, "Quade has created a world bristling with compassion and humanity" with characters whose challenges are "wholly realized and moving." Concluding, she affirmed "their journeys span a wide spectrum of emotion and it is impossible not to root for all three."^[8]

It was named one of the best books of the year by NPR and Publishers Weekly.^{[9] [10]}

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref
2021		—		[11]
2022		Fiction		[12]
		—		[13] [14]
	BookTube Prize	Fiction
		Lesbian Fiction
		—
		—
		—

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Five Wounds: A Novel by Kirstin Valdez Quade . December 4, 2021 . . December 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211204065652/https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393242836 . live .
2. Web site: Welch . Michael . April 8, 2021 . The Possibility of Change and Movement in "The Five Wounds" . December 4, 2021 . . December 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211204065652/https://chireviewofbooks.com/2021/04/08/the-possibility-of-change-and-movement-in-the-five-wounds/ . live .
3. Web site: Book Marks reviews of The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade . 2024-11-25 . Book Marks . en-US.
4. Web site: January 27, 2021 . The Five Wounds . November 25, 2024 . . en.
5. Web site: Valdez . Quade, Kirstin . Five Wounds . November 25, 2024 . Library Journal.
6. Web site: March 1, 2021 . The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade . November 25, 2024 . Booklist.
7. Web site: December 17, 2020 . The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade Review . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211204065650/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-3932-4283-6 . December 4, 2021 . December 4, 2021 . Publishers Weekly.
8. News: Chang . Alexandra . Alexandra Chang (writer) . May 4, 2021 . From Spain to Sydney to Small-Town New Mexico, 3 Debuts Anchored by a Strong Sense of Place . . December 4, 2021 . December 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211204065650/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/books/review/kirstin-valdez-quade-the-five-wounds-permafrost-eva-baltasar-kavita-bedford-friends-and-dark-shapes.html . live .
9. Web site: Best Books 2021: Books We Love . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210218200500/https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#year=2021&book=274 . February 18, 2021 . December 4, 2021 . NPR.
10. Web site: Best Books 2021: Publishers Weekly . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211204065651/https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2021/fiction . December 4, 2021 . December 4, 2021 . Publishers Weekly.
11. Web site: Kirstin Valdez Quade Wins The Center for Fiction 2021 First Novel Prize for The Five Wounds . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211220221030/https://centerforfiction.org/kirstin-valdez-quade-wins-the-the-center-for-fiction-2021-first-novel-prize-for-the-five-wounds/ . December 20, 2021 . December 20, 2021 . Center for Fiction.
12. Web site: 17 October 2021 . 2022 Winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603065804/https://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/carnegie-medals/2022-winners . 3 June 2023 . December 4, 2021 . American Library Association.
13. Web site: Schaub . Michael . 2022-02-28 . Finalists for Aspen Words Literary Prize Revealed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220228182258/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/finalists-for-aspen-words-literary-prize-revealed/ . 2022-02-28 . 2022-03-01 . . en.
14. Web site: Chadburn . Melissa . 2022-02-28 . Awards: New-York Historical Society Zalaznick Winner; Aspen Words Shortlist . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220228164124/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=4178 . 2022-02-28 . 2022-03-01 . Shelf Awareness.