Title: Fruit of the Drunken Tree
Author: Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Published: 2018
Call #: FIC Rojas Contreras
http://pclib.polarislibrary.com/view.aspx?author=contreras&title=fruit
Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras is a
captivating story set amid the drug wars and social instability of early 1990’s
Bogota, Colombia; inspired in part from events in the author’s own life.
I guess if I had to
describe the events taking place in this book with a single word, it might be
“chaos”. What makes it so compelling, is that it is seen through the
perspectives of two young girls, Chula a very bright and sensitive seven year
old, who lives a privileged life with her family inside a secure, gated
community and Petrona, a young teen who is the family’s maid.
The author does a great job of portraying the almost
unbelievable occurrences that sadly were all too common, and likely still are
to some degree, in Colombia during that time frame. From the drug lord Pablo
Escobar and the violence of the illegal narcotics trade to guerilla warfare, we
are given a window through the lives of the characters that enables us to see a
society unravel and ultimately impact the lives of seemingly ordinary
citizens. Be sure to read the personal note from the author which she
included at the end of the book.
Blanca
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