So I chose Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement to read because of the description and because of where it takes place. I lived on the border of Texas and Mexico in McAllen, Texas in the United States just across the Rio Grande from Reynosa, Tamauilpas in Mexico. We lived there for two years, and it was during a time where crime was rampant and the drug cartel's were ruling the border. So this novel intrigued me just from this standpoint alone.
The plot
This novel takes place in the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico where women must fend for themselves as the men have all left to seek opportunities (of any kind) in other places. These women live in the shadow of a massive drug war; bodies often turn up on the outskirts of the village. School is a sporadic event, only being held when a volunteer comes from the city. Mothers make their daughters "ugly" by blackening their teeth, keeping their hair short and dressing them in boys clothing to protect them from the drug cartels. When the black SUV's come through, the girls hide in burrows that their mothers dug for them in the backyard. Some girls don't make it, they get stolen where they are then sold or used for personal use by the drug cartel leaders.
Ladydi, the main character in this book, lives with her mother in this mountain village. Her mother is constantly waiting for her father to return from the United States. While she waits, she drinks...often heavily. Ladydi is eventually given an opportunity to nanny in nearby Acapulco. She accepts and find her first taste of love. Unfortunately, a local murder implicates a friend and Ladydi's life is turned upside down.
My Thoughts
This book is very matter of fact. You know how sometimes you read a book and they use language in such a way that you're kind of unsure of what is actually happening? It just kind of alludes to things that are happening, but never really state anything? This book is not like those books. It is quite dark, but for some reason it never really feels that way. It's so sad, living on this desolate mountain full of women who have been left. Educational opportunity is rare; even if a volunteer comes from the city, they are so scared that they phone it in and get out of there as soon as they can. The woman all live in constant fear and poverty; but with big screen televisions and dirt floors. With burrows in their backyards and their daughters dressed as sons.
I really enjoyed this book - the writing was concise, the plot was simple to follow and the book actually had meaning. It is not just a fluff piece. Even though it's fiction, this is real. There are cartels that run Mexico and steal girls and do unspeakable things to them. People live in that fear, it is incredibly real and it reads that way. Even though it's a truly sad story with lots of despair and hopelessness I think it's a must-read.
Ladydi, the main character in this book, lives with her mother in this mountain village. Her mother is constantly waiting for her father to return from the United States. While she waits, she drinks...often heavily. Ladydi is eventually given an opportunity to nanny in nearby Acapulco. She accepts and find her first taste of love. Unfortunately, a local murder implicates a friend and Ladydi's life is turned upside down.
My Thoughts
This book is very matter of fact. You know how sometimes you read a book and they use language in such a way that you're kind of unsure of what is actually happening? It just kind of alludes to things that are happening, but never really state anything? This book is not like those books. It is quite dark, but for some reason it never really feels that way. It's so sad, living on this desolate mountain full of women who have been left. Educational opportunity is rare; even if a volunteer comes from the city, they are so scared that they phone it in and get out of there as soon as they can. The woman all live in constant fear and poverty; but with big screen televisions and dirt floors. With burrows in their backyards and their daughters dressed as sons.
I really enjoyed this book - the writing was concise, the plot was simple to follow and the book actually had meaning. It is not just a fluff piece. Even though it's fiction, this is real. There are cartels that run Mexico and steal girls and do unspeakable things to them. People live in that fear, it is incredibly real and it reads that way. Even though it's a truly sad story with lots of despair and hopelessness I think it's a must-read.
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