Super Short Summary

By the Light of My Father's Smile by Alice Walker tells the story of sisters Susannah and Magdalena, daughters of African-American anthropologists studying the Mundo tribe in Mexico, who confront their estrangement from their father and their own sexuality. Set against the backdrop of a father’s afterlife blessings derived from local folklore, the novel weaves between past and present, leading to familial reconciliation and the sisters' empowerment. The book addresses themes of sexual awakening, domestic violence, and familial estrangement.