Author: Natalia Sylvester
Format: ARC
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publish Date: June 1, 2014
Source: TLC Book Tours
What's the Story?:
From Goodreads.com"
Andres suspects his wife has left him—again. Then he learns that the unthinkable has happened: she’s been kidnapped. Too much time and too many secrets have come between Andres and Marabela, but now that she’s gone, he’ll do anything to get her back. Or will he?
As Marabela slips farther away, Andres must decide whether they still have something worth fighting for, and exactly what he’ll give up to bring her home. And unfortunately, the decision isn’t entirely up to him, or up to the private mediator who moves into the family home to negotiate with the terrorists holding Marabela. Andres struggles to maintain the illusion of control while simultaneously scrambling to collect his wife’s ransom, tending to the needs of his two young children, and reconnecting with an old friend who may hold the key to his past and his wife’s future.
Set in Lima, Peru, in a time of civil and political unrest, this evocative page-turner is a perfect marriage of domestic drama and suspense."
My Two Cents:
"Chasing the Sun" is a fascinating domestic drama set against a very scary and troubling time in the country of Peru's history. During the mid-1990s, Peru went through a time period where there was a lot of unrest and a lot of kidnappings that were incredibly frightening and truly shook up the entire population. This book looks at the story of Andres, a guy who loves his turbulent and confusing wife, Marabela, and how he copes when Marabela is kidnapped. The kidnapping really only plays the background to this story. The real story is how Andres and Marabela relate to each other and how their relationship is shaped by everything that happens to Marabela.
I was excited to read this book because I really enjoy reading about Latin America. One of my majors in college was International Relations with a focus in Latin America. Peru is especially fascinating to me so I really wanted to read this book for the historical aspect but the drama really sold me on this book. This book was incredibly intense and kept me turning the pages to figure out what was going to happen next. I thought that the author really did a good job of capturing the tension of Andres and Marabela and everything that is going on around them.
That being said, perhaps the most interesting part of the book is not the kidnapping itself. It's not even the marriage before the kidnapping, which is rife with mistrust and distance. It is what happens after the kidnapping. The author really tries to paint a picture of what might happen when someone comes back. I loved all of the detail in that part of the book!
This book has great character development and great detail! It is subtle and filled with things that you simply cannot take at face value, which I really loved!
Giveaway:
I am excited to give away a copy of this book. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!
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I don't think I've read any fiction set in 20th century Lima. I'd like to read this.
ReplyDeleteA captivating novel which would be enjoyable. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHello to a fellow DC-area blogger! This looks like a very different type of book then ones I normally read - it would be fun to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteSomething about this book that you ddn't bring up is that the story is inspired by the author's grandparents, I believe. That, along with your recommendation, makes me want to read it.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is beautiful! Sounds like a good story, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to know this book features not only an engrossing plot, but the sort of development of character, story and theme that characterizes quality literary fiction and really makes for the best kind of reading -- "things that you simply cannot take at face value" -- I'm in! Thanks for this opportunity. --Kara
ReplyDeleteThis novel sounds exciting. It's setting is different from books I usually read. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI've been watching a television show that also deals with the consequences when someone returns after a long and unplanned absence ... it is amazing the things that you don't consider in a situation like that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour. This sounds like an amazing read.
That must have been a scary time for the whole population.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I've been hearing wonderful things about this book and the premise definitely piqued my interest. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the book, and for the great giveaway! :)
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