I bought this book just by looking at the cover! Never heard of it before. Even before I came out of the book expo I started reading the book , I really don't know why. Normally I go home , read first few paragraphs in all the books bought then choose one or go to older ones from bookshelf. I did not kept the book down for the next three days. I did not read any other books during those three days. A great political,psycho and historical thriller.
After reading this book , I searched Google for Peru's history. Then the book made sense.The style of writing and characters are something unique - may be inspired from real people . The setting - year 2000 (Officially the war was over), guerilla war between army and insurgents(Sendro Luminoso) , presidential election, tourists arriving for holy week festivities.
The bloody story unfolds through prosecutor Félix Chacaltana Saldíva from Peruvian town of Ayachuo , who is writing a almost perfect report on a death in his jurisdiction. The death is unique, the post moderm report shows that the victims arms were removed before death and the body was beyond recognition. The police department's hierarchy will not come into his help to solve the case. He started to explore the case though no one seems to know anything, irrespective of clear evidence of Sendero involvement. He writes report endorsing commander Carrion for whom "In this country there is no terrorism, by orders from the top" . As a reward for his work, he was sent to Yawarmayo , where Sendero and police wages war using native people.Felix's further inquiry threatens to destabilize the official line on terrorism.Felix also finds that whoever he talks to dies .Dead bodies piles up. Each body represents a day in Catholic Calendar. He feels guilty. As expected he founds the way through his investigation which culminates in bloody Easter.
By portraying Felix as a loner, who still talks to his mother in her decorated room and strictly follows the rules the author sets the tone for the story. Felix is not at all suitable for investigating the psycho murders. But as I read, these portrayal gave me the real horrifying effect of the murders. The author also explains the conflict of Spanish and native Indian cultures briefly.Though the book talks about the events from 1980 to 2000, the culture difference and exploitations of the natives started 500 years before.
As Felix says "We waged a just war..but sometimes I have difficulty distinguishing between us and the enemy.I begin to ask myself what exactly it is we fought against." the ordinary people of the Peru were the only sufferers. Both army and senderos terrorized the citizens. This book is a good start to know about the bloody recent history of Peru.
This book won many awards including the prestigious Premio Alfaguara de Novela award.
Click here to know more about Ayachuo Holy week celebrations
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