“Lima Nights” by Marie Arana Reviewed by Pamela Lear

I have now read three of Marie Arana’s books, and can thus truly call myself a fan of her work.  I first became aware of her when one of my book groups read her novel, Cellophane, a fascinating story abut a paper factory set in the Amazon jungles of Peru. Then I heard her on the Washington Post’s “Book World” podcasts as the publication’s editor.  I devoured her memoir, American Chica, about growing up both Peruvian and American — a delightful book, full of superb stories with a tone of childish fascination that is heartwarming. And now, I read her most recent novel, Lima Nights, for this review.

Marie Arana’s has a magical way with words; she finds lilting turns of phrase that truly draw a picture for the reader. Her writing is very mature and well-done. In all of her works, I found her fanciful descriptions to be most charming, as when she describes her own grandmother as “… a black-haired diva, a bantam hen on four-inch heels.”  Historical backgrounds primarily focus on Peruvian history, the class struggles and political strife that the country has endured.

Lima Nights is the story of Carlos Bluhm, a German Peruvian who is a member of an established family and community in Lima that has been there for many years.  At the age of 45, he enters into an affair with a 15-year old indigenous girl named Maria who comes from an impoverished part of  town. His wife and children abandon him to his mistress, and he manages to maintain her as a significant part of his life for 20 years, until everything finally falls apart. How the love affair unweaves incorporates friendships, sacrifices and ultimately a bit of voodoo combined with the magical realist that is so popular in Latin American fiction.

Lima Nights is a fast and easy read, yet it carries a lot of insight and meaning. I literally couldn’t put it down once I started it.

Read Pamela Lear’s posts about Fifty Shades of Grey author, E.L. James, here, and World Book Night here, and her reviews of Fannie’s Last Supper here and The Queen’s Lover here.

This post originally appeared on my former blog, StyleSubstanceSoul.