Perla
Carolina De Robertis
Knopf
March 27,2012
256 pages
Amazon|BN
provided by publisher
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5/5 Books
Perla Correa grew up a privileged only child in Buenos Aires with a polished yet aloof mother and a straight-laced Naval officer father, whose profession she learned early not to disclose in a country still reeling from the abuses perpetrated by the deposed military dictatorship. Although Perla understands that her parents were on the wrong side of the conflict, her love for her Papá is unconditional. But when she is startled by an uninvited visitor, she begins a journey that will force her to confront the unease she has long suppressed, and make a wrenching decision about who she is, and will become.
About The Author:
Carolina De Robertis is the author of Perla and The Invisible Mountain, which was an international bestseller translated into fifteen languages, the recipient of Italy’s Rhegium Julii Prize, and a Best Book of 2009 according to the San Francisco Chronicle, O, The Oprah Magazine, and BookList. Her writings and literary translations have appeared in Zoetrope: Allstory, Granta, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and elsewhere. She is the translator of Alejandro Zambra’s Bonsai, which was just made into a film, and Roberto Ampuero’s internationally bestselling The Neruda Case, which will be published for the first time in English in July 2012. De Robertis has been awarded a 2012 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
De Robertis grew up in a Uruguayan family that immigrated to England, Switzerland, and California. Prior to completing her first book, she worked in women’s rights organizations for ten years, on issues ranging from rape to immigration. She lives in Oakland, California, where she is currently elbow-deep in writing her third novel, which explores migration, sexual frontiers, and the tango’s Old Guard in early twentieth century South America.
Connect With The Author:
Website|Twitter|Facebook
My Review:
Carolina De Robertis has created a fantastic drama of finding oneself, and life during a terrible time. I chose to review this book because of Perla’s father…..he was a Navy man, and so was my father, so I love reading books that involve the Navy, for it brings me back to my childhood.
Born in 1981, two years before the “Dirty War” ended, I never really knew of or heard about the Dirty War before now. But, that did not stop me from falling in love with this story. Perla’s father was a Navy Officer, one she is learning was involved in the “disappearance” of many people. A man that was responsible for killing so many civilians and ruining families.
When this book started out, I was honestly not sure what to expect, for Perla has found a man in her living room and he’s dripping wet, as if he just came out of the water. He’s not just any many though. He’s a ghost and one that will change her life forever. When this man appears, Perla begins digging deeper into the events of the Dirty War and the disappearances. What she finds is not at all what she was expecting. What she finds is something more life changing than anything could ever be.
I definitely recommend this book with the highest of 5 Books. It’s worthy of so much more, but that’s the highest I can rate it. I fell in love with the entirety of this story, from Perla to her Naval Officer father (yes, though he was involved with murder, he was a big defining aspect of the story…..). This story gripped me so thoroughly, and held me til the last page, that by the end, I was heartbroken. I didn’t want to let Perla go, and I wanted to hang on to the author’s writing for just a little bit longer. A perfect combination of truth, suspense, forgiveness and finding oneself, this book is absolutely mind-blowing! I can tell you that this a book that will be forever on my bookshelf to turn to again and again. Well done, Ms. De Robertis, and I can’t wait for another fantastically written novel from you!
Click here to follow all stops on the tour.
How did you decide to become a writer? Did you always know you wanted to be one or did you sit down one day and the words pour out?
Thanks for the great review, Molly! I’m definitely adding Perla to my TBR list!
Dear Angie – if your questions are directed toward me, as I think they are: yes, I’d always dreamed of being a writer, and have always been a passionate reader. That said, the words sometimes poured out and sometimes had to be chased down. Sometimes the way to inspiration is by sitting down and writing your way toward it. Thanks so much for your comments and for keeping Perla in mind!
I love the historical and cultural aspects of the novel. It sounds fascinating! Thanks for the giveaway!
Perla sounds like a very interesting book to read. I remember watching a movie with Glenn Close that focused on civil unrest during roughly the same time period in Chile and it was very touching. I’m definitely adding this book to my wish list. Thanks for the giveaway!
Dear Maria – yes, there are many impactful and startling stories from that period, especially since Argentina’s neighbors (Chile, Uruguay, Brazil) unfortunately experienced dictatorships as as well. Thanks so much for your interest in the book, and if you ever do read it, feel free to be in touch with your thoughts!
Sounds like a wonderful great read. Thanks for the heads up Molly!!
I’m not too familiar about the Dirty War either but it sounds like an interesting period.
Na, I know what you mean – I personally love reading novels that open historical periods to me with an intimacy I can’t otherwise experience. Thanks for your interest!
I love books with historical themes, and love learning something new in the process I don’t know much about this war but it looks like an interesting read 🙂
Rebecca, so glad it looks interesting to you! If you do reach for it one day, I hope it fulfills that interest in historical themes, and that you’ll feel free to be in touch with your reading experience. Regardless, best wishes for happy reading…
Wow, I love reading rave reviews like this – they get me so excited to pick up new and amazing reads!
I’m thrilled to see how much you enjoyed this one. Thanks for being on the tour.
This book sounds like one I would really enjoy. I have read one book that touched over the “dirty war” a bit. Thanks for the give!
Dear Teddy – so glad it sounds that way. And that you’ve read something about the Dirty War before – it’s such a startling piece of history. Warm wishes to you.
Dear Molly – what can I say? I’m humbled by the generosity and passion of your review (and I’m sorry it took me a few days to chime in here; it was due to a snafu on my part). I’m so honored to know that the book moved you the way it did. And that’s also fascinating that you were drawn to the book as a Navy daughter yourself; I imagine that you may have had some unique insights into Perla’s experience, from that perspective. And it’s wonderful to know that you were gripped until the very end. I am honored.
To you, and to all the readers of this blog, my love and warmest wishes for a joyous summer…may it simply burst with wonderful books!
Hi Molly,
I just did the first three entries, not realizing that my husband Bill was logged into Facebook and therefore that’s who Rafflecopter thought I was. Could you delete those? I alredy enterd yesterday with my Facebook Account, I really just cam3e back today to see if there was a daily entry. Sorry for the confusion!
No worries! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Thanks for posting the great review. “Perla” is definitely on the TBR list. Good luck Carlolina.
I have never heard of the Dirty War, but this book sounds like a wonderful read. I would love to learn more about it.
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