In her book The Secrets of an Antonella, Argentinean writer Antonella Abbamundo showcases her skills as both a writer and teacher by delving into the subject of aging. This is not as easy as it sounds because it involves a personal exploration of yourself as well as your ethnicity. She tackles issues such as race and gender discrimination as well as tackling the issues surrounding family, nationality and class. However, what really stands out in this wonderfully written novel is the depth of analysis that she applies to both the personal and national level. In fact, this novel could serve as a sort of universal expository manual on matters as diverse as the human species, the importance of marriage, the value of education, career planning and even health.
In Antonella’s eyes, anyone who enjoys life should be concerned about their personal growth and development. As she herself points out, “A life lived to the fullest is one worth celebrating, because it is infinitely more beautiful and meaningful than a life spent at the margins.” In order to help us attain this ideal, she has us consider the question of whether an individual is truly fulfilled if they remain in a job that may not provide them with true material satisfaction outside the workplace. The answer, she maintains, is a resounding no.
As an example of this idea, she quotes writer Gertrude Stein: “The human being cannot make a satisfying life out of working in the office or from a distance. The real satisfaction of a person lies in linking his activity to his place of birth.” Consequently, Abbamundo suggests that pursuing one’s dreams and aspirations beyond the workplace is not only important from an economic perspective but also from a psychological stand-point. In an increasingly materialistic age, people often forget that there is more to being a human being than having a career, a social circle and material possessions. Indeed, the writer asks us to look beyond outward appearances in order to evaluate our true selves.