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A Quinceañera Club Novel
Belinda Acosta
Grand Central / Hachette
Group
August 11, 2009 / ISBN 044654051X
Fiction/General Contemporary
Amazon
Reviewed
by Beverly J. Rowe
Ana Ruiz is suffering the ups and downs of having a teen-aged daughter.
Carmen blames her mother for her parent's separation, and sides
with her father in everything. Hurt and bitter over Esteban's departure,
she blames Ana for destroying their happy family. Mexican culture
calls for a celebration on a girl's fifteenth birthday...a quinceanera.
Carmen is not interested in celebrating at first, but then Ana's
niece, Bianca (one of the best characters in the story) convinces
Carmen that a Quinceanera might actually be fun, and that maybe
her father can be there too.
As a college administrator, Ana meets a visiting artist that perks
up her interest. He is charismatic and exciting, and seems interested
in Ana, but she is undecided on whether or not she really wants
to begin a relationship -- it is still unclear what will become
of her marriage with Esteban. Ana's brother assures her that a good
man is hard to find, especially at her age. Forgiving Esteban for
his indiscretion is not easy, but Ana doesn't want to tarnish his
image with his children.
Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz is a complicated novel with
compelling characters and a plot that delivers all you wish for
in an emotional story from a feminine Latina perspective. Carmen,
and her brother, Diego, must face some of the hard truths that come
with growing up and facing the reality of parents that no longer
wish to stay married to each other. This story gave me considerable
insight on what it is to grow up in the US Hispanic culture. It's
peppered with Spanish words and phrases, but easily understood because
of their context, even if you don't speak Spanish.
I started this book with some trepidation, but Belinda Acosta is
a very talented writer, and I became immediately drawn into the
drama of this fiery Mexican-American mother and her two teenagers.
I suffered with her as she tried to always do the right thing. I
see that she has a new book out...Sisters,
Strangers, and Starting Over (A Quinceañera Club Novel)..
it will definitely be on my reading list.
Reviewer's
Note:
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