THE RESURRECTION OF FULGENCIO RAMIREZ

Johnny Rey Diaz narrates this novel of lost love and redemption on the border of the U.S. and Mexico. Fulgencio Ramirez, a young immigrant, falls in love with Carolina Mendelssohn, a middle-class local girl. In the 1950s their relationship does not have a happy ending--but many years later, they get a second chance. Diaz tells the story at a slow, steady pace. At times, his voice is soothing as the story vividly describes the characters and setting. While dialogue is sparse, Diaz shines when he has the opportunity to bring the characters alive. His switches between Spanish and English are seamless, as are his shifts between Spanish-accented English and un-accented English. While this is a work of fiction, Diaz's intensity makes it seem like an engaging true story. A.R.F. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2020]