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The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez
In the 1950s, tensions remain high in the border town of La Frontera. Penny loafers and sneakers clash with boots and huaraches. Bowling shirts and leather jackets compete with guayaberas. Convertibles fend with motorcycles. Yet amidst the discord, young love blooms at first sight between Fulgencio Ramirez, the son of impoverished immigrants, and Carolina Mendelssohn, the local pharmacist's daughter. But as they'll soon find out, their bonds will be undone by a force more powerful than they could have known.
Thirty years after their first fateful encounter, Fulgencio Ramirez, RPh, is conducting his daily ritual of reading the local obituaries in his cramped pharmacy office. After nearly a quarter of a century of waiting, Fulgencio sees the news he's been hoping for: his nemesis, the husband of Carolina Mendelssohn, has died.
A work of magical realism, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez weaves together the past and present as Fulgencio strives to succeed in America, break a mystical family curse, and win back Carolina's love after their doomed youthful romance. Through enchanting language and meditations about the porous nature of borders--cultural, geographic, and otherworldly--The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez offers a vision of how the past has divided us, and how the future could unite us.
Thirty years after their first fateful encounter, Fulgencio Ramirez, RPh, is conducting his daily ritual of reading the local obituaries in his cramped pharmacy office. After nearly a quarter of a century of waiting, Fulgencio sees the news he's been hoping for: his nemesis, the husband of Carolina Mendelssohn, has died.
A work of magical realism, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez weaves together the past and present as Fulgencio strives to succeed in America, break a mystical family curse, and win back Carolina's love after their doomed youthful romance. Through enchanting language and meditations about the porous nature of borders--cultural, geographic, and otherworldly--The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez offers a vision of how the past has divided us, and how the future could unite us.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2020
About the author
Rudy Ruiz
7 books97 followersRudy Ruiz is an award-winning author of literary fiction. A native of the US-Mexico border, Ruiz writes from the heart about Latino culture, the bilingual/bicultural experience, immigration and acculturation issues. His fiction debut, Seven for the Revolution, won four International Latino Book Awards, including First Place for Best Popular Fiction and The Mariposa Award for Best First Book. He also received the Gulf Coast Prize in Fiction in 2017. His short stories have appeared in Notre Dame Review, The Ninth Letter, Gulf Coast and New Texas. His novel, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, was released in 2020 by Blackstone Publishing and won two Gold Medals at the International Latino Book Awards, including the Rudolfo Anaya Best Latino-Focused Fiction Book and Best Audio Book. His most recent novel, Valley of Shadows, was released by Blackstone in September 2022. It was named one of the Top Horror Novels of 2022 by LitHub's CrimeReads and was selected by the Texas Institute of Letters as winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction. Rudy Ruiz earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Harvard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 11, 2020
"A work of magical realism, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez weaves together the past and present as Fulgencio strives to succeed in America, break a mystical family curse, and win back Carolina’s love after their doomed youthful romance."
What a delightful story! The author weaves an interesting, emotional and visual story. I enjoyed the vivid imagery and characterizations which brought to life the world of Fulgencio Ramirez set in la Frontera as he pursues the love of his life, loses her, and is reunited after decades.
The story begins in 1986 when Fulgencio reads the obituaries and finds his arch-enemy Miguel, who married his sweetheart, has died: "His hands quivered as the paper slipped from his fingers, floating like a parachute towards his feet. No picture. No excuses. No glory. Just twenty-two letters sitting on the floor of the funereal drugstore. His glasses cracked when they fell on the tile."
We return to 1956 when Fulgencio and Caroline meet: "....they both stood up straight, and his hazel eyes met her golden irises, her full lips parted like the Red Sea for Moses, and the words that fell from her grace caressed him like countless feathers over bare skin."
The rest of the novel is the quest to win Caroline's love again and the mystery of Fulgencio's 'maldición (curse). When the characters meet again: "The shared knowledge-about la maldición as well as Miguel's conspiracy-cleared the lingering fog of suspicion and confusion which had long tormented them both, enabling them to cut a path through the overgrown weeds of their love's trajectory, toward a closer understanding."
The use of bilingual terms was smooth and added to the imagery but the italics are a distraction (a matter of style). An error that needs correction is the term 'mini-skirts' in the second chapter. I don't believe this was the fashion on the Frontera in the 1950s.
This well-paced story of romance, mystery, and magical realism is a great read. The author writes so well I will seek out his other works.
What a delightful story! The author weaves an interesting, emotional and visual story. I enjoyed the vivid imagery and characterizations which brought to life the world of Fulgencio Ramirez set in la Frontera as he pursues the love of his life, loses her, and is reunited after decades.
The story begins in 1986 when Fulgencio reads the obituaries and finds his arch-enemy Miguel, who married his sweetheart, has died: "His hands quivered as the paper slipped from his fingers, floating like a parachute towards his feet. No picture. No excuses. No glory. Just twenty-two letters sitting on the floor of the funereal drugstore. His glasses cracked when they fell on the tile."
We return to 1956 when Fulgencio and Caroline meet: "....they both stood up straight, and his hazel eyes met her golden irises, her full lips parted like the Red Sea for Moses, and the words that fell from her grace caressed him like countless feathers over bare skin."
The rest of the novel is the quest to win Caroline's love again and the mystery of Fulgencio's 'maldición (curse). When the characters meet again: "The shared knowledge-about la maldición as well as Miguel's conspiracy-cleared the lingering fog of suspicion and confusion which had long tormented them both, enabling them to cut a path through the overgrown weeds of their love's trajectory, toward a closer understanding."
The use of bilingual terms was smooth and added to the imagery but the italics are a distraction (a matter of style). An error that needs correction is the term 'mini-skirts' in the second chapter. I don't believe this was the fashion on the Frontera in the 1950s.
This well-paced story of romance, mystery, and magical realism is a great read. The author writes so well I will seek out his other works.
November 2, 2021
DNFing this at 79% because I'm just so bored 🙈 I can't convince myself to go on any further.
September 19, 2020
Loved it!!
Here's why:
Mexican culture + magical realism + slow burn, star-crossed love story + no clichés
I know how infuriating it is when any Mexican/Latin American writer is straight away compared to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I won't do that But the beginning of the novel reminded me straight away with Love in the Time of Cholera because at the very beginning Fulgencio (I love that name), a son of mexican immigrants, is scanning the obituaries in the newspaper wishing to see the man who married the woman he loved dead (There are other spoilers to confirm my impression but I'm not going to share those). And when Fulgencio realizes that the source of all his sorrows is a "maldición" or a curse that has befallen his family long ago and made love impossible to sustain. Then we are whisked on an adventure with Fulgencio and some amiable ghosts to lift the curse.
But Ruiz is a talent of his own.. He spins the magic throughout the story in a firm way without any conveniences masquerading as part of that magic. The story holds firm and is quite enjoyable throughout.
The audiobook, however, has one great flaw. It was too slow. I started playing it at 1.25x the speed half way through. While galley audiobooks are played solely on the NetGalley app, the app still wants for much though to facilitate the listening experience. And although I liked the narrator, Johnny Rey Diaz, and despite the fact that the narrative parts are supposed to be neutral to allow the characterization to come to life, it was flat at times. It came to life only on the tongues of characters.
I'm very curious about what Rudy Ruiz might write next. I'm hoping to see a Mexican/Latin American story outside the canon of migrancy.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Blackstone Audiobooks for this experience.
Here's why:
Mexican culture + magical realism + slow burn, star-crossed love story + no clichés
I know how infuriating it is when any Mexican/Latin American writer is straight away compared to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I won't do that But the beginning of the novel reminded me straight away with Love in the Time of Cholera because at the very beginning Fulgencio (I love that name), a son of mexican immigrants, is scanning the obituaries in the newspaper wishing to see the man who married the woman he loved dead (There are other spoilers to confirm my impression but I'm not going to share those). And when Fulgencio realizes that the source of all his sorrows is a "maldición" or a curse that has befallen his family long ago and made love impossible to sustain. Then we are whisked on an adventure with Fulgencio and some amiable ghosts to lift the curse.
But Ruiz is a talent of his own.. He spins the magic throughout the story in a firm way without any conveniences masquerading as part of that magic. The story holds firm and is quite enjoyable throughout.
The audiobook, however, has one great flaw. It was too slow. I started playing it at 1.25x the speed half way through. While galley audiobooks are played solely on the NetGalley app, the app still wants for much though to facilitate the listening experience. And although I liked the narrator, Johnny Rey Diaz, and despite the fact that the narrative parts are supposed to be neutral to allow the characterization to come to life, it was flat at times. It came to life only on the tongues of characters.
I'm very curious about what Rudy Ruiz might write next. I'm hoping to see a Mexican/Latin American story outside the canon of migrancy.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Blackstone Audiobooks for this experience.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 22, 2020DNF 40%
While I don't mind reading about creepy characters or characters who exhibit disturbing behaviour, I'm not a fan of narratives that try to present these kind of characters as 'heroes'. When we first meet our protagonist Fulgencio Ramirez, we are told that he was 'wronged', and because of this he was unable to marry his sweetheart (who married his 'nemesis' instead). We jump back to thirty years prior, when Fulgencio first sees Carolina Mendelssohn. He sees her and that's it, he decides that they are meant to be and will eventually get married. In order to get closer to her he asks her father, a pharmacist, to offer him a job. He begins working out so he can have a 'body' that will catch Carolina's attention...which fair enough, self-improvement is good...but, the thing is that he loves Carolina because she's beautiful. That's the reason he thinks HE is the one for her. Like, wtf? He likes her 'golden' hair, her 'fair' skin, her 'angelic' face. After some time goes by, she seems interested in him only because he helps her with her Spanish homework (and also because she finds him 'exotic'...which, yikes). His behaviour is stalker-y and cocky, not a great combination. And yet, his feelings are made to seem 'pure', their love 'fated'. There is this scene in which she falls from a ladder or something and he catches her in his 'strong' arms as Carolina is just like a 'feather' (insert headache-inducing eye-roll here).
You can dismiss me as a snowflake all you like but this is the kind of novel I would be more forgiving of if it had been written in the 80s. But it wasn't.
While I don't mind reading about creepy characters or characters who exhibit disturbing behaviour, I'm not a fan of narratives that try to present these kind of characters as 'heroes'. When we first meet our protagonist Fulgencio Ramirez, we are told that he was 'wronged', and because of this he was unable to marry his sweetheart (who married his 'nemesis' instead). We jump back to thirty years prior, when Fulgencio first sees Carolina Mendelssohn. He sees her and that's it, he decides that they are meant to be and will eventually get married. In order to get closer to her he asks her father, a pharmacist, to offer him a job. He begins working out so he can have a 'body' that will catch Carolina's attention...which fair enough, self-improvement is good...but, the thing is that he loves Carolina because she's beautiful. That's the reason he thinks HE is the one for her. Like, wtf? He likes her 'golden' hair, her 'fair' skin, her 'angelic' face. After some time goes by, she seems interested in him only because he helps her with her Spanish homework (and also because she finds him 'exotic'...which, yikes). His behaviour is stalker-y and cocky, not a great combination. And yet, his feelings are made to seem 'pure', their love 'fated'. There is this scene in which she falls from a ladder or something and he catches her in his 'strong' arms as Carolina is just like a 'feather' (insert headache-inducing eye-roll here).
You can dismiss me as a snowflake all you like but this is the kind of novel I would be more forgiving of if it had been written in the 80s. But it wasn't.
August 6, 2020
This book is amazing, bilingual and has everything you could want from a story; love, action, mystery and great characters. The magical realism in the book is woven in so well it's very easy to believe and adds a little something extra to the story. The constant crossing between Mexico and the US is poetic in so many way and there are comparisons between the two cultures dotted throughout. I loved the characters Fulgencio and Carolina. I loved that Fulgencio took responsibility for his actions, despite the curse that he could have easily blamed his actions on. Carolina also is a strong character, who constantly stands up for herself and will speak out. Their journey is nothing short of epic.
This book is fantastic! I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an epic story of love and loss that spans decades.
This book is fantastic! I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an epic story of love and loss that spans decades.
October 7, 2020
4.5 stars
Finally, a book from 2020 to add to the canon of Chicano literature!
This is a love story, a Mexican love story. It is the tale of a man who is so in love with a woman that he waits his whole life to be with her, he creates a place for her in his heart and does not fill it with anything or anyone else until he can have the woman of his dreams. It sounds so cliche (a Mexican love story with a big ol' Corazon on the cover) but the tropes work here because they are crafted so masterfully: Ruiz builds his characters (and builds and builds and builds...at times it feels like we are actually watching the character drink milk and grow taller inch by inch). But the lyricism is why you'll read this book a second and third time, so no need to knock it.
I took off a star because I felt that the ending was rushed--this book had "multi-generational family saga" written all over it! and yet it was not because the Fully's previous and subsequent generations were more Cliff Notes and less Dickens. We ended up with very little about Fulgencio's parents, and additionally little about his progeny. The chapters in the middle spanned page after page of very little plot development while the chapters at the end were solely plot-driven (she graduated, moved, got a job, done). Did the author need an extension on his contract? I'm feeling sincere loss here.
Nevertheless, this book about la frontera is more than a book about the immigrant experience, more than about love in a time of border towns. This is a book of lyrical writing and character development that will make your heart flutter and help you hold fast to your belief that love will, indeed, save the day.
Recommended.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC*
Finally, a book from 2020 to add to the canon of Chicano literature!
This is a love story, a Mexican love story. It is the tale of a man who is so in love with a woman that he waits his whole life to be with her, he creates a place for her in his heart and does not fill it with anything or anyone else until he can have the woman of his dreams. It sounds so cliche (a Mexican love story with a big ol' Corazon on the cover) but the tropes work here because they are crafted so masterfully: Ruiz builds his characters (and builds and builds and builds...at times it feels like we are actually watching the character drink milk and grow taller inch by inch). But the lyricism is why you'll read this book a second and third time, so no need to knock it.
I took off a star because I felt that the ending was rushed--this book had "multi-generational family saga" written all over it! and yet it was not because the Fully's previous and subsequent generations were more Cliff Notes and less Dickens. We ended up with very little about Fulgencio's parents, and additionally little about his progeny. The chapters in the middle spanned page after page of very little plot development while the chapters at the end were solely plot-driven (she graduated, moved, got a job, done). Did the author need an extension on his contract? I'm feeling sincere loss here.
Nevertheless, this book about la frontera is more than a book about the immigrant experience, more than about love in a time of border towns. This is a book of lyrical writing and character development that will make your heart flutter and help you hold fast to your belief that love will, indeed, save the day.
Recommended.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC*
December 30, 2020
The magical realism in this book makes it an incredibly rich meal to read, like a continuous dessert. The way in which the spirits help Fulgencio in his quest for love, his determination to overcome the familial curse, and his redemption touched me. I would love to read about the further adventures of his and Carolina’s daughter Paloma!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2021
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It was a very different story than what I am used to reading. I think what sticks with me most after finishing this story, is understanding the title after completing it. Sometimes when I read a book, and think about what the title means, it doesn't always make sense. This one totally fit, and made me think about certain parts of the story more deeply than when I initially started reading. 4.5 stars
September 27, 2020
I really loved this book. I listened to it on audio courtesy of NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing in exchange of an honest review.
We meet Fulgencio and Carolina. The story is told between the past and present as we see glimpses of Fulgencio’s life and Carolina’s life. It’s a romance story that is both heartbreaking and sweet and trying. As Fulgencio and Carolina navigate their young love in the 50s while battling adversity, racial issues, status differences, cultural differences, and a “curse” on Fulgencio’s family. This is a story full of magic, love and trials.
I loved how there were such great details and imagery that I felt I was in the story with them. Fulgencio is driven to be better than where he’s from, be successful, and give Carolina everything she deserves. But how much will his family curse control his life and decisions?
I like how Carolina and Fulgencio experience trials that are realistic. Their love feels so intense and that’s what makes the story heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. The only part I found a little confusing was the scene where Fulgencio is bringing the land back together and there is a lot of fighting and so many characters involved. The whole scene moved so quickly and was full of so many moving parts. I kind of got lost. However it did not take away from the story at all.
One of my favorite books of 2020 and makes my top ten list of all time. Now I just need to go get me a physical copy!
We meet Fulgencio and Carolina. The story is told between the past and present as we see glimpses of Fulgencio’s life and Carolina’s life. It’s a romance story that is both heartbreaking and sweet and trying. As Fulgencio and Carolina navigate their young love in the 50s while battling adversity, racial issues, status differences, cultural differences, and a “curse” on Fulgencio’s family. This is a story full of magic, love and trials.
I loved how there were such great details and imagery that I felt I was in the story with them. Fulgencio is driven to be better than where he’s from, be successful, and give Carolina everything she deserves. But how much will his family curse control his life and decisions?
I like how Carolina and Fulgencio experience trials that are realistic. Their love feels so intense and that’s what makes the story heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. The only part I found a little confusing was the scene where Fulgencio is bringing the land back together and there is a lot of fighting and so many characters involved. The whole scene moved so quickly and was full of so many moving parts. I kind of got lost. However it did not take away from the story at all.
One of my favorite books of 2020 and makes my top ten list of all time. Now I just need to go get me a physical copy!
September 28, 2022
First things first: This book certainly had some flaws and reads like the author is newer to writing novels. However, it's also only the second novel I've ever read that really felt like it was reflective of my experience and overall it was quite a wonderful read.
The comparisons to Garcia Marquez are inevitable any time a Latino author is working with magical realism, but that's not quite the kind of story Ruiz is trying to tell. He's telling a story of love, regret, and redemption and offers a brightly colored reflection of the ways our choices affect us over the course of our lives.
I would have appreciated better Spanish to English translations in text and I'm not sure how I feel about having different narrators for the English and Spanish audiobooks. I think the book would have benefited from one more editing pass as well. Overall, though, I enjoyed the story Ruiz told and absolutely loved his characters. The thesis of his novel provided a lot of food for thought and great discussion fodder for my book club. Flaws and all, I'd highly recommend this book and I think it'll be the best book I read this year.
The comparisons to Garcia Marquez are inevitable any time a Latino author is working with magical realism, but that's not quite the kind of story Ruiz is trying to tell. He's telling a story of love, regret, and redemption and offers a brightly colored reflection of the ways our choices affect us over the course of our lives.
I would have appreciated better Spanish to English translations in text and I'm not sure how I feel about having different narrators for the English and Spanish audiobooks. I think the book would have benefited from one more editing pass as well. Overall, though, I enjoyed the story Ruiz told and absolutely loved his characters. The thesis of his novel provided a lot of food for thought and great discussion fodder for my book club. Flaws and all, I'd highly recommend this book and I think it'll be the best book I read this year.
December 28, 2020
Really loved this book! Ton of magical realism and loved the imagination in this book!
September 12, 2022
I was very excited for this book and it really disappointed me :( the novel’s premise and form is very reminiscent of Love in the Time of Cholera but …. not nearly as good. I love magical realism when it’s employed effectively, but the magic elements in this book felt really out-of-place to me, and ultimately this book didn’t give me much to think about (and I do love a thinker).
October 16, 2020
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free ALC and ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Fulgencio Ramirez falls in love the moment he sees Carolina Mendelssohn, daughter of the local pharmacist. They live in La Frontera during the 1950's, and Fulgencio is sure Carolina will be his. Until, she isn't. They are pulled apart by forces beyond their control, and Carolina marries someone else. Fulgencio becomes a pharmacist, conducting a daily ritual of poring over the local obituaries in the newspaper. One day, decades later, while engaging in his macabre ritual, Fulgencio's heart soars with happiness. Carolina's husband has died, and Fulgencio's second chance has arrived at last! Of course, to capture the heart of the one you love after so many years and such recent tragedy is no easy feat, especially when there is a darkness from the past that has shadowed Fulgencio's every footstep from the moment of his birth, tripping him up and denying him every lasting happiness. It is time for Fulgencio to correct the wrongs of the past, to win Carolina's heart, and to find the love that has always been denied to him.
What a layered and interesting book that spans generations and approaches love, rage, mistakes, and second chances in such an interesting light! Fulgencio is a tragic character, unable to make his relationships last, and that is because of a tragedy that occurred long before he was born! Carolina is the sad victim of Fulgencio's malaise, in that she cared deeply for him, but what plagued him also kept them apart for decades. I listened to the audiobook for this story, and while I enjoyed hearing about the 1950's and Fulgencio's budding feelings for Carolina, the narrator's delivery definitely lacked emotional punch, and I would have preferred a bit more oomph in emotional and tense moments. The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is an engrossing story about lost love, second chances, and breaking free of negative behaviors and emotions to find peace, and while its characters are flawed, their hearts are in the right place.
Fulgencio Ramirez falls in love the moment he sees Carolina Mendelssohn, daughter of the local pharmacist. They live in La Frontera during the 1950's, and Fulgencio is sure Carolina will be his. Until, she isn't. They are pulled apart by forces beyond their control, and Carolina marries someone else. Fulgencio becomes a pharmacist, conducting a daily ritual of poring over the local obituaries in the newspaper. One day, decades later, while engaging in his macabre ritual, Fulgencio's heart soars with happiness. Carolina's husband has died, and Fulgencio's second chance has arrived at last! Of course, to capture the heart of the one you love after so many years and such recent tragedy is no easy feat, especially when there is a darkness from the past that has shadowed Fulgencio's every footstep from the moment of his birth, tripping him up and denying him every lasting happiness. It is time for Fulgencio to correct the wrongs of the past, to win Carolina's heart, and to find the love that has always been denied to him.
What a layered and interesting book that spans generations and approaches love, rage, mistakes, and second chances in such an interesting light! Fulgencio is a tragic character, unable to make his relationships last, and that is because of a tragedy that occurred long before he was born! Carolina is the sad victim of Fulgencio's malaise, in that she cared deeply for him, but what plagued him also kept them apart for decades. I listened to the audiobook for this story, and while I enjoyed hearing about the 1950's and Fulgencio's budding feelings for Carolina, the narrator's delivery definitely lacked emotional punch, and I would have preferred a bit more oomph in emotional and tense moments. The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is an engrossing story about lost love, second chances, and breaking free of negative behaviors and emotions to find peace, and while its characters are flawed, their hearts are in the right place.
December 27, 2021
Fulgencio Ramirez is the son of Mexican immigrants living in a Texas border town in 1956. Fulgencio wants the full American Dream and he sets his sights on Carolina Mendelssohn, the daughter of the local pharmacist. Fulgencio decides that he too will become a pharmacist in order to give Carolina the life he wants. Fulgencio gets a job at the pharmacy and gets himself into a better school. Fulgencio and Carolina's romance flourished despite the racism that others have towards them. However, Fulgencio's jealousy and rage that seems to carry through the men in his family wrecks what they have built. Thirty years after Fulgencio and Carolina broke up, Carolina's husband dies and Fulgencio attempts to build back what they once had now that he has broken the curse that has affected his family for generations.
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez combines magical realism, historical fiction and romance to create a fairy tale-like experience. The story bounces back and forth between Fulgencio in the 1980's and the 1950's. At first, it seems like Fulgencio is unhealthily obsessed, overconfident and arrogant. While his determination in chasing the American dream is honorable, Fulgencio goes after it full force, thinking only about himself and not the consequences for those around him. However, as Fulgencio's family curse was uncovered, I understood his position better and was intrigued by the ghosts and Fulgencio's interactions with them. The most interesting parts of the story for me were the actions that Fulgencio had to take in order to break the curse and the measures he took to make it happen. While doing this, Fulgencio changed into someone with fortitude who cared about others and the impact that his actions have. One of my favorite characters throughout the process was Brother William, even when he was in spirit form. With a series of surprising twists and turns near the end, Fulgencio and Carolina's characters become complex and relatable. Overall, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is a surprising story of an immigrant experience combined with magic and romance.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez combines magical realism, historical fiction and romance to create a fairy tale-like experience. The story bounces back and forth between Fulgencio in the 1980's and the 1950's. At first, it seems like Fulgencio is unhealthily obsessed, overconfident and arrogant. While his determination in chasing the American dream is honorable, Fulgencio goes after it full force, thinking only about himself and not the consequences for those around him. However, as Fulgencio's family curse was uncovered, I understood his position better and was intrigued by the ghosts and Fulgencio's interactions with them. The most interesting parts of the story for me were the actions that Fulgencio had to take in order to break the curse and the measures he took to make it happen. While doing this, Fulgencio changed into someone with fortitude who cared about others and the impact that his actions have. One of my favorite characters throughout the process was Brother William, even when he was in spirit form. With a series of surprising twists and turns near the end, Fulgencio and Carolina's characters become complex and relatable. Overall, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is a surprising story of an immigrant experience combined with magic and romance.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
February 19, 2022
TITLE: The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez: A Novel
AUTHOR: Rudy Ruiz
PUB DATE: 09.21.2020
REVIEW:
Class
Curses
Coming-of_Age
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is a beautiful Latinx story about love, immigration, race, and a family’s curse in a magical tale of contemporary and historical fiction.
The story was told in two timelines about Fulgencio and Carolina. Though their love was I’ll-fated in this star crossed love story, I loved the author’s ability to weave a story so vivid and delightful, with a very exquisite use of prose. I loved Fulgencio’s persistence to gain back Carolina many, many years later, which were my favorite parts of the novel.
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez was a wonderfully paced magical story that captured my imagination and heart. Do give this book a read - it was simply riveting!
AUTHOR: Rudy Ruiz
PUB DATE: 09.21.2020
REVIEW:
Class
Curses
Coming-of_Age
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is a beautiful Latinx story about love, immigration, race, and a family’s curse in a magical tale of contemporary and historical fiction.
The story was told in two timelines about Fulgencio and Carolina. Though their love was I’ll-fated in this star crossed love story, I loved the author’s ability to weave a story so vivid and delightful, with a very exquisite use of prose. I loved Fulgencio’s persistence to gain back Carolina many, many years later, which were my favorite parts of the novel.
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez was a wonderfully paced magical story that captured my imagination and heart. Do give this book a read - it was simply riveting!
January 12, 2022
3.5 stars rounded down
I struggle to review this book because I am torn on how I feel. While listening to the book I often felt a little bored. It is a slow-moving story and I found myself a bit confused at times listening to the audio of who was alive and who was dead. I also found myself very frustrated with Fulgencio frequently throughout the book, while I understand this feeling was intended and necessary for the full story it was one of those character issues that did not sit as well with me.
In retrospect I think that the story told was interesting. One of curses and true love, legends and folklore. It is the story of Mexican American's living on the border, the haves vs the have nots and creating a better life for yourself. I think for me maybe it was an expectation issue of what the story would be and how the magical realism would come into play.
The audio narration is another thing that I found I both really enjoyed and got frustrated with at times. I think the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life but when it wasn't the characters speaking and it was more like the lyrics of the songs Fulgencio sings (in both Spanish and English) it felt a little stilted but I feel that is just the nature of trying to bring pages like that to life in audio form.
I struggle to review this book because I am torn on how I feel. While listening to the book I often felt a little bored. It is a slow-moving story and I found myself a bit confused at times listening to the audio of who was alive and who was dead. I also found myself very frustrated with Fulgencio frequently throughout the book, while I understand this feeling was intended and necessary for the full story it was one of those character issues that did not sit as well with me.
In retrospect I think that the story told was interesting. One of curses and true love, legends and folklore. It is the story of Mexican American's living on the border, the haves vs the have nots and creating a better life for yourself. I think for me maybe it was an expectation issue of what the story would be and how the magical realism would come into play.
The audio narration is another thing that I found I both really enjoyed and got frustrated with at times. I think the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life but when it wasn't the characters speaking and it was more like the lyrics of the songs Fulgencio sings (in both Spanish and English) it felt a little stilted but I feel that is just the nature of trying to bring pages like that to life in audio form.
May 12, 2022
Fulgencio Ramirez is a broken man. The great love of his life, Carolina Mendelssohn, married another man more than twenty years ago. This tale of magical realism flashes back to the 1950s when Fulgencio first laid eyes on Carolina in the Texas border town of La Frontera to see how love was won against all odds and lost to a curse spanning generations. When Carolina’s husband’s name appears in the local obituaries, Fulgencio is fully prepared to do whatever it takes to win her back.
The fantastical nature of this story is reminiscent of a tall tale with a modern twist. Rudy Ruiz pulls you into the narrative with such skill that the magical elements don’t seem unlikely. There are ghosts and curses, superpowers and fantasies interwoven with racism and other realities of living in a small Texas border town.
I enjoyed the elaborate plot with its imaginative elements. It’s one of the most unusual love stories I’ve ever read. There was action, introspection, and a great quest to right a wrong. As a Texan, I appreciated how it highlighted the racial tensions experienced on the Texas border and beyond.
Read this one for a unique love story with magical elements that will consistently surprise you with outlandish plot twists.
The fantastical nature of this story is reminiscent of a tall tale with a modern twist. Rudy Ruiz pulls you into the narrative with such skill that the magical elements don’t seem unlikely. There are ghosts and curses, superpowers and fantasies interwoven with racism and other realities of living in a small Texas border town.
I enjoyed the elaborate plot with its imaginative elements. It’s one of the most unusual love stories I’ve ever read. There was action, introspection, and a great quest to right a wrong. As a Texan, I appreciated how it highlighted the racial tensions experienced on the Texas border and beyond.
Read this one for a unique love story with magical elements that will consistently surprise you with outlandish plot twists.
October 5, 2020
Many thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Jumping between teenage life in a 1950s U.S. border town and the late 198os, our narrative circles around the life of Fulgencio Ramirez, the son of Mexican immigrants, who has spent his life balancing his Mexican roots with his drive to capture the American dream. When we meet Fulgencio, he is partaking in his daily ritual of checking the obituaries to see if his rival, the man who married his high school sweetheart, Carolina Mendelssohn, has died.
Can we just take a minute to appreciate that petty game? Wow.
On this particular day, his efforts are rewarded. He sees the news that he has been waiting for. In the next brash moment, Fulgencio is writing to Carolina and begging for an audience to see her again. To make right what was set wrong so very long ago.
From there the story begins to unfold flashing back to reveal the budding romance between Fulgencio and Carolina, Fulgencio's relationship with his family - including the solitare playing ghost of his grandfather, and his drive and dedication to his education with the goal of building a comfortable life for Carolina. Fungencio, or "Fully" as he is called by Carolina, face cultural differences and the lingering stares from members of their community because of their racial and economic differences. Fulgencio is also controlling, hot-headed, and possessive of Carolina in such a way that makes him feel not like himself and this puts added strain on their relationship. To top it all off, Fulgencio hears words rattling around in his head that he cannot understand that make him act in this brutish way. Ultimately, through a series of miscommunications and misread situations, Fulgencio and Carolina part ways in heartbreak.
As Fulgencio comes more into himself, finishes his studies as a pharmacist and learns more about his heritage, he begins to comprehend Nahuatl and finally the words in his head make sense. What he learns is that his erratic behavior can be attributed to a family curse, and it is one that he must break. By the time Fulgencio learns of the death of Carolina's husband, he has already been working his way down a path of redemption for quite some time to - yet again - gain her favor.
This is an odd story and not just because of the elements of magical realism that lace the narrative. It is odd because it seems in equal parts to excuse and condemn toxic masculine behavior and machismo. The "curse" serving as a scapegoat to explain Fulgencio's irrational teenage outbursts. Consequently, does breaking the curse somehow serve as a metaphor of Fulgencio severing his roots and becoming something new - both American and Mexican? Or is it a blunt correction of the negative aspects of his family history? That by fully understanding his past (include the language of his ancestors) only then can he evolve?
One thing I did enjoy about this book is that it is semi-bilingual. The "borderlands" imagery of this story is repeated not only in the setting, but in the very language of the piece. It flows seamlessly and truly enriches the reading experience. Brilliantly done on the part of the author.
However, I struggled with this book mostly because I did not find any of the characters realistic or even likable. For example, the narratives set in the 1950s felt like I was watching an after school special filled with melodrama and stilted speeches. The character's reacted to situations in too predicable a manner which led to a reluctant arc for character development. This especially hurt the story when we think about Fulgencio's growth and achievement before and after breaking the curse. Despite his flaws, Fulgencio can still be viewed as a sympathetic character, but maybe not a memorable one.
Jumping between teenage life in a 1950s U.S. border town and the late 198os, our narrative circles around the life of Fulgencio Ramirez, the son of Mexican immigrants, who has spent his life balancing his Mexican roots with his drive to capture the American dream. When we meet Fulgencio, he is partaking in his daily ritual of checking the obituaries to see if his rival, the man who married his high school sweetheart, Carolina Mendelssohn, has died.
Can we just take a minute to appreciate that petty game? Wow.
On this particular day, his efforts are rewarded. He sees the news that he has been waiting for. In the next brash moment, Fulgencio is writing to Carolina and begging for an audience to see her again. To make right what was set wrong so very long ago.
From there the story begins to unfold flashing back to reveal the budding romance between Fulgencio and Carolina, Fulgencio's relationship with his family - including the solitare playing ghost of his grandfather, and his drive and dedication to his education with the goal of building a comfortable life for Carolina. Fungencio, or "Fully" as he is called by Carolina, face cultural differences and the lingering stares from members of their community because of their racial and economic differences. Fulgencio is also controlling, hot-headed, and possessive of Carolina in such a way that makes him feel not like himself and this puts added strain on their relationship. To top it all off, Fulgencio hears words rattling around in his head that he cannot understand that make him act in this brutish way. Ultimately, through a series of miscommunications and misread situations, Fulgencio and Carolina part ways in heartbreak.
As Fulgencio comes more into himself, finishes his studies as a pharmacist and learns more about his heritage, he begins to comprehend Nahuatl and finally the words in his head make sense. What he learns is that his erratic behavior can be attributed to a family curse, and it is one that he must break. By the time Fulgencio learns of the death of Carolina's husband, he has already been working his way down a path of redemption for quite some time to - yet again - gain her favor.
This is an odd story and not just because of the elements of magical realism that lace the narrative. It is odd because it seems in equal parts to excuse and condemn toxic masculine behavior and machismo. The "curse" serving as a scapegoat to explain Fulgencio's irrational teenage outbursts. Consequently, does breaking the curse somehow serve as a metaphor of Fulgencio severing his roots and becoming something new - both American and Mexican? Or is it a blunt correction of the negative aspects of his family history? That by fully understanding his past (include the language of his ancestors) only then can he evolve?
One thing I did enjoy about this book is that it is semi-bilingual. The "borderlands" imagery of this story is repeated not only in the setting, but in the very language of the piece. It flows seamlessly and truly enriches the reading experience. Brilliantly done on the part of the author.
However, I struggled with this book mostly because I did not find any of the characters realistic or even likable. For example, the narratives set in the 1950s felt like I was watching an after school special filled with melodrama and stilted speeches. The character's reacted to situations in too predicable a manner which led to a reluctant arc for character development. This especially hurt the story when we think about Fulgencio's growth and achievement before and after breaking the curse. Despite his flaws, Fulgencio can still be viewed as a sympathetic character, but maybe not a memorable one.
December 18, 2021
This story was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I did end up enjoying it more than I had expected!
I think the thing about this book that I didn't vibe so much with was the miscommunication trope. That's something that generally annoys me in books, and it was hard for me to continue as the characters simply let their lives fall apart without so much as talking to one another about their issues. Later on in the book, there is a reason explained for this, but it still decreased my overall enjoyment.
I really did love the Hispanic diversity and the way that Mexican culture was shown in the book. Not only did it show the beauty of Mexico, but it showed the struggles of poverty and inter-racial relationships. The way these things were showcased really raw and emotional and really just showed pure humanity.
If you enjoy second-chance romances with stories that span through time and history, this might just be the book for you!
I think the thing about this book that I didn't vibe so much with was the miscommunication trope. That's something that generally annoys me in books, and it was hard for me to continue as the characters simply let their lives fall apart without so much as talking to one another about their issues. Later on in the book, there is a reason explained for this, but it still decreased my overall enjoyment.
I really did love the Hispanic diversity and the way that Mexican culture was shown in the book. Not only did it show the beauty of Mexico, but it showed the struggles of poverty and inter-racial relationships. The way these things were showcased really raw and emotional and really just showed pure humanity.
If you enjoy second-chance romances with stories that span through time and history, this might just be the book for you!
April 25, 2022
This book was wonderfully written, if a bit too detailed. The translations of each line of the songs was difficult to follow, especially on audio. The story was beautifully tragic, but had a lovely happy-ever-after. Although the characters at times made me want to pull my hair out in frustration, they recognized their mistakes and learned from them.
The timeline was also a bit challenging to follow, since it changes from past to present quickly and often without many clues. Overall, I'm glad I listened to this book. Anyone who enjoys stories with a touch of magic, tragedy, and lots of love, would probably find this book satisfying.
The timeline was also a bit challenging to follow, since it changes from past to present quickly and often without many clues. Overall, I'm glad I listened to this book. Anyone who enjoys stories with a touch of magic, tragedy, and lots of love, would probably find this book satisfying.
March 5, 2021
"The end is only the beginning." A beautiful quote from this book. I struggled in the beginning with the spanish incorporated throughout the english. I am not bilingual. I read the first chapter a couple of times thinking I missed something. (Haha I did not.)
Fortunately, I persevered. The Mexican/Spanish history and culture is new to me. I wanted a"press here" button to hear Fulgencio sing. And, I wanted pictures. Well done Mr. Ruiz. I loved your descriptions.
Beautifully written:. No swearing, no explicit sex.
Fortunately, I persevered. The Mexican/Spanish history and culture is new to me. I wanted a"press here" button to hear Fulgencio sing. And, I wanted pictures. Well done Mr. Ruiz. I loved your descriptions.
Beautifully written:. No swearing, no explicit sex.
October 25, 2020
Lo he redondeado a 4 estrellas, pero en realidad es un poco menos.
En general me ha gustado mucho, sobre todo el ambiente de la frontera. El personaje de Fulgencio para, al principio detestarlo, y luego que te guste mucho. Y lo consigue ciertamente.
No es un secreto que me gusta mucho el realismo mágico, pero aquí se le fue un poco la mano. No es que haya muchos hechos de realismo mágico, sino que el que hay lo lleva al extremo.
Leeré el próximo trabajo de Rudy Ruiz.
En general me ha gustado mucho, sobre todo el ambiente de la frontera. El personaje de Fulgencio para, al principio detestarlo, y luego que te guste mucho. Y lo consigue ciertamente.
No es un secreto que me gusta mucho el realismo mágico, pero aquí se le fue un poco la mano. No es que haya muchos hechos de realismo mágico, sino que el que hay lo lleva al extremo.
Leeré el próximo trabajo de Rudy Ruiz.
August 25, 2021
The language in this book, on a sentence by sentence level, is incredible, and gives the whole a beautiful narrative voice. That voice swept me on past any bumpy spots that might otherwise have bugged me (there were a couple of those, but sweep sweep sweep on past). The magical realism in the book also really worked for me.
CN:
CN:
September 30, 2020
This refers to the audio version:
The narrator sounded like he was bored. There was not an iota of passion or emotion in his voice. My musings on how long the grass was getting was more interesting than listening to this book.
The narrator sounded like he was bored. There was not an iota of passion or emotion in his voice. My musings on how long the grass was getting was more interesting than listening to this book.
December 16, 2020
Ruiz’s novel about a star-crossed romance can be captivating with its lush and lovely prose. Alternating between the past and the present, each chapter is singularly constructed with a meticulous and, indeed, exquisite attention to every detail. What becomes laborious is the plod of the pacing and the degree to which the believability of events and characterizations stretched a little too far to keep me invested. The perfection Ruiz achieves with his prose is commendable, but his use of adjectives sometimes came off as excessive and predictable. From the outset, I also detected the lives of Fulgencio and Carolina to have the quality of feeling too much like automatons in a game, rather than their hardships and struggles depicting real people. The magical realism throughout the novel allows Ruiz the space and range he needs to present the spectacular, the peculiar, and the inexplicable, but the magic began to feel contrived and no longer became cool and fun to believe in. Ruiz’s writing skills are impressive, and even though The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez did not resonate completely with me, I’ll be interested in his next project.
May 11, 2021
Listened to the audiobook
Content warning: child abuse, cartel violence, discrimination, hate crimes, alcoholism, physical violence, vehicular manslaughter
Fulgencio Ramirez is a renowned pharmacist in the border town of La Frontera. He scans the newspaper, waiting for news of a death. When it comes, we’re launched into the epic tale of his and Carolina Mendelssohn star-crossed romance, starting in the 50’s and onward. There’s tragedy, heartbreak, the dead not being truly gone, serenades with mariachi bands, roses blooming in winter, and the pursuit of the American dream. This book was a delight through all the twists and turns.
Bittersweet, deeply romantic, the dead are never truly gone in this work of magical realism. In fact, death might just be the beginning.
Where to even begin with this novel? It starts with one of my favorite set-ups: This dude totally needs/needed to die and let me tell you why. It’s a long journey until the reader finds out why the twenty-two lettered man needed to go. But what a journey it was.
Fulgencio is a deeply flawed man. I’d even go far to say he’s an idiot. There’s a fascinated aspect to his story, however, in the form of La Maldición, a family curse. But Ruiz never lets Fulgencio off the hook. The young boy turned man has full agency over his actions. This extends to his growth as well. As his relationship with the curse evolves, he still needs to work on himself. Magic won’t make things spontaneously better, but sometimes hope can give one that extra push.
The word “resurrection” in the story plays an important role in the narrative as well, in very literal ways. I loved Fulgencio’s cohort of dead compadres. He’s never really alone and has an entire support system of people both living and dead to support him. The lines between past and present are blurry as heck, and Ruiz makes it work so well.
A gripping journey from start to finish that also takes into the political tumult of its various decades.
Content warning: child abuse, cartel violence, discrimination, hate crimes, alcoholism, physical violence, vehicular manslaughter
Fulgencio Ramirez is a renowned pharmacist in the border town of La Frontera. He scans the newspaper, waiting for news of a death. When it comes, we’re launched into the epic tale of his and Carolina Mendelssohn star-crossed romance, starting in the 50’s and onward. There’s tragedy, heartbreak, the dead not being truly gone, serenades with mariachi bands, roses blooming in winter, and the pursuit of the American dream. This book was a delight through all the twists and turns.
Bittersweet, deeply romantic, the dead are never truly gone in this work of magical realism. In fact, death might just be the beginning.
Where to even begin with this novel? It starts with one of my favorite set-ups: This dude totally needs/needed to die and let me tell you why. It’s a long journey until the reader finds out why the twenty-two lettered man needed to go. But what a journey it was.
Fulgencio is a deeply flawed man. I’d even go far to say he’s an idiot. There’s a fascinated aspect to his story, however, in the form of La Maldición, a family curse. But Ruiz never lets Fulgencio off the hook. The young boy turned man has full agency over his actions. This extends to his growth as well. As his relationship with the curse evolves, he still needs to work on himself. Magic won’t make things spontaneously better, but sometimes hope can give one that extra push.
The word “resurrection” in the story plays an important role in the narrative as well, in very literal ways. I loved Fulgencio’s cohort of dead compadres. He’s never really alone and has an entire support system of people both living and dead to support him. The lines between past and present are blurry as heck, and Ruiz makes it work so well.
A gripping journey from start to finish that also takes into the political tumult of its various decades.
May 14, 2023
I picked this book up after enjoying Ruiz’s “Valley of Shadows.” Hoo, boy. It’s almost like two different authors wrote these novels. If I’d read this one first, I don’t think I’d have picked up “Valley.”
Excusing violent, degrading machismo as the result of a curse (made by a female ancestor, natch). Half-hearted deployment of magical realism. Overwritten prose. Too many song lyrics standing in for narrative. Physically perfect star-crossed lovers. Everything going right or going wrong in the most unrealistic yet (for this novel) predictable ways. Stilted dialogue. Random moments smashed together for Fulgencio’s trajectory—this creates an arc that’s wholly unearned. The only reason this gets two stars and not a place on my “So Terribly Bad” shelf is because of my soft spot for “Valley.” ETA: I later realized it also didn't infuriate me like STB books tend to—just exasperated me.
Disappointed, party of me.
Excusing violent, degrading machismo as the result of a curse (made by a female ancestor, natch). Half-hearted deployment of magical realism. Overwritten prose. Too many song lyrics standing in for narrative. Physically perfect star-crossed lovers. Everything going right or going wrong in the most unrealistic yet (for this novel) predictable ways. Stilted dialogue. Random moments smashed together for Fulgencio’s trajectory—this creates an arc that’s wholly unearned. The only reason this gets two stars and not a place on my “So Terribly Bad” shelf is because of my soft spot for “Valley.” ETA: I later realized it also didn't infuriate me like STB books tend to—just exasperated me.
Disappointed, party of me.
November 7, 2020
This was a book unlike any other I've read. It weaved magic and ghosts into an otherwise realistic portrayal of the life of a man who longs for his lost love, and embarks on a quest to win her back after many years of separation.
While the story jumps from one time period to another very frequently - a literary technique I know some people despise - I found it didn't take me too long to reorient myself each time it jumped.
I am not a fan of magic systems that sit completely outside of the realm of reality, so I enjoyed the way Mexican folklore gently permeated the story. At its core, this is a biographical account of a man grappling with his demons. It touches on themes of racism, assimilation, loss, religion and ageing and it did so with a gentle, poetic delivery.
I struggled a bit with the length of this book. I felt numerous times the story could have ended and I would have been satisfied with having read a quirky and tenderly written book, but it just.. kept.. going..
I enjoyed watching the characters develop on their journey, but they felt a bit folksy and one-dimensional at times. I kept waiting for Carolina to show some personality and independence but she came across as a weak passenger with no control of her own life and I had difficulty relating to her. On the other hand, Fulgencio - a haunted character with a remarkable gift - was far easier to read about.
The narrator, Johnny Rey Diaz, lent his wonderful accent to this audiobook. I felt like his tone was a bit flat for the story and I would have liked a bit more energy in the delivery, but his pronunciation was perfect.
All in all this was a colourful and interesting bookPerfect for anyone wanting to escape into a heady, enchanting world of young love, revenge, curses and journeys of redemption.
While the story jumps from one time period to another very frequently - a literary technique I know some people despise - I found it didn't take me too long to reorient myself each time it jumped.
I am not a fan of magic systems that sit completely outside of the realm of reality, so I enjoyed the way Mexican folklore gently permeated the story. At its core, this is a biographical account of a man grappling with his demons. It touches on themes of racism, assimilation, loss, religion and ageing and it did so with a gentle, poetic delivery.
I struggled a bit with the length of this book. I felt numerous times the story could have ended and I would have been satisfied with having read a quirky and tenderly written book, but it just.. kept.. going..
I enjoyed watching the characters develop on their journey, but they felt a bit folksy and one-dimensional at times. I kept waiting for Carolina to show some personality and independence but she came across as a weak passenger with no control of her own life and I had difficulty relating to her. On the other hand, Fulgencio - a haunted character with a remarkable gift - was far easier to read about.
The narrator, Johnny Rey Diaz, lent his wonderful accent to this audiobook. I felt like his tone was a bit flat for the story and I would have liked a bit more energy in the delivery, but his pronunciation was perfect.
All in all this was a colourful and interesting bookPerfect for anyone wanting to escape into a heady, enchanting world of young love, revenge, curses and journeys of redemption.
April 2, 2020
So Fulgencio starts to live again the day that the husband of the woman he loves dies. Yes, the story comes with magical realism. It is well written but I didn’t like the main character, Fulgencio, fully, because... well, because I didn’t.
So the story goes back to show how the couple met and the stupidity that separated them. Yes, it was something so stupid that I figured it out as soon as they broke up, and I was just further upset when I confirmed it later on. I mean... come on!
There are ghost that talk to Fulgencio which reminded me of Isabel Allende’s La casa de los espíritus<\i>. And the love story (about second chances) reminded me of Love in the time of cholera<\i> but with a younger couple.
There is also some type of curse that Fulgencio needs to brake.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
So the story goes back to show how the couple met and the stupidity that separated them. Yes, it was something so stupid that I figured it out as soon as they broke up, and I was just further upset when I confirmed it later on. I mean... come on!
There are ghost that talk to Fulgencio which reminded me of Isabel Allende’s La casa de los espíritus<\i>. And the love story (about second chances) reminded me of Love in the time of cholera<\i> but with a younger couple.
There is also some type of curse that Fulgencio needs to brake.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
March 13, 2021
Somewhere or other, I read about this book and felt interested enough to request it from the local library. I have a LOT of books on my TBR list, so I have a rule that if I have lost interest by page 25, I will cut my losses and move on to the next book. Well, I made it to page 9.
The story begins with a depressed pharmacist brooding over the obituaries every day, waiting for his high school sweetheart's husband to die so he can pursue her. Honestly, what a loser. I don't have any sympathy for someone who sat around for 20 years waiting to start his life until someone ELSE's life changed direction.
I'm sure Fulgencio goes on to have adventures as he seeks out his long lost "love", but he'll have to have them without my attention. I'm already 50 pages into the next book on my list, and it's a GOOD story. This is going back to the library.
The story begins with a depressed pharmacist brooding over the obituaries every day, waiting for his high school sweetheart's husband to die so he can pursue her. Honestly, what a loser. I don't have any sympathy for someone who sat around for 20 years waiting to start his life until someone ELSE's life changed direction.
I'm sure Fulgencio goes on to have adventures as he seeks out his long lost "love", but he'll have to have them without my attention. I'm already 50 pages into the next book on my list, and it's a GOOD story. This is going back to the library.
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