Perla

Perla
by Carolina De Robertis
Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. 235 pgs. Fiction

While Perla was growing up in Buenos Aires during the years after the end of Argentina’s Dirty War, she knew that her father’s career in the military put him on the wrong side of history. But, she always loved and defended him until the day an uninvited guest appears in her home and causes her to question everything she thought she knew about her past.

If you are not familiar with recent Argentine history or the magical realism common in Spanish literature, you might be a bit more confused than I was when I read this book. The focus of the book is on the characters and the lessons they learn about themselves, their families, and their country, rather than telling a straightforward story for those who know nothing about the subject already. But, the writing is beautiful and the story, though a bit meandering, is compelling and definitely worth a read.

JC