Part Two finds them as immigrants in Montreal. Isolated by language and a strange culture, confused by governmental bureaucracies, Marta and Gonzalo are exploited by other latino immigrants with whom language is the only common ground. Their marriage crumbles, and Marta scrambles to support herself and her daughter, Maria. A conversation with a stranger she meets in the park marks a turning point in her fortunes, and, as the book ends, we wonder what really happens to Marta.

      Henighan's depiction of village life in Ecuador and Montreal, seen through the eyes of an immigrant who speaks neither French nor English, is strong and credible. Language - French, English, Spanish - is both a barrier and an open portal to acceptance and identity. Language confuses, as well. Throughout the novel, short intercalary chapters fast-forward us into the present, offering vignettes of Marta's life. It takes some time before the reader fits then into the context of the rest of the story, although many questions about Marta and Maria remain unanswered. Still, despite this small weakness, The Places Where Names Vanish offers a rare perspective on the latino experience in canada, and does so in a unique voice.

Recommended.