5.02: The Five Wounds by Kristin Valdez Quade (With Guest Host Steph Post)

On today’s episode, Steph Post, author of Holding Smoke, returns to NovelClass to discuss Kristin Valdez Quade’s debut novel The Five Wounds.

The Five Wounds was published on March 30, 2021 by W. W. Norton & Company and is author Kristin Valdez Quade’s debut novel. Set in Las Penas, New Mexico in the late 2000s, The Five Wounds tells the story of Amadeo Padilla and his family. Amadeo, 33, unemployed, and living with his mother, has been recently inducted into a secret Catholic society within the community.  Amadeo is chosen by his great-uncle, the leader of the group, to reenact the passion of Christ during the community’s Good Friday procession. As Amadeo hopes the society and his new role will be a catalyst for a new lease on life, Angel, Amadeo’s16-year-old pregnant daughter, arrives at his door after fleeing from her mother’s home. Over the course of the next year, Amadeo, his daughter, and his mother will face a myriad of challenges and make countless sacrifices to keep their family and their faith intact.

In a remarkable debut, Kirstin Valdez Quade crafts an incredible cast of characters who, despite their best efforts, continue sabotage their own lives. Set during a difficult period for many Americans, Quade’s narrative is a testament to the resilience of family and the America spirit.

Today's episode is sponsored by Libro.fm.