Fulgencio Ramirez is the son of Mexican immigrants living in a Texas border town in 1956. Fulgencio wants the full American Dream and he sets his sights on Carolina Mendelssohn, the daughter of the local pharmacist. Fulgencio decides that he too will become a pharmacist in order to give Carolina the life he wants. Fulgencio gets a job at the pharmacy and gets himself into a better school. Fulgencio and Carolina's romance flourished despite the racism that others have towards them. However, Fulgencio's jealousy and rage that seems to carry through the men in his family wrecks what they have built. Thirty years after Fulgencio and Carolina broke up, Carolina's husband dies and Fulgencio attempts to build back what they once had now that he has broken the curse that has affected his family for generations.
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez combines magical realism, historical fiction and romance to create a fairy tale-like experience. The story bounces back and forth between Fulgencio in the 1980's and the 1950's. At first, it seems like Fulgencio is unhealthily obsessed, overconfident and arrogant. While his determination in chasing the American dream is honorable, Fulgencio goes after it full force, thinking only about himself and not the consequences for those around him. However, as Fulgencio's family curse was uncovered, I understood his position better and was intrigued by the ghosts and Fulgencio's interactions with them. The most interesting parts of the story for me were the actions that Fulgencio had to take in order to break the curse and the measures he took to make it happen. While doing this, Fulgencio changed into someone with fortitude who cared about others and the impact that his actions have. One of my favorite characters throughout the process was Brother William, even when he was in spirit form. With a series of surprising twists and turns near the end, Fulgencio and Carolina's characters become complex and relatable. Overall, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is a surprising story of an immigrant experience combined with magic and romance.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez combines magical realism, historical fiction and romance to create a fairy tale-like experience. The story bounces back and forth between Fulgencio in the 1980's and the 1950's. At first, it seems like Fulgencio is unhealthily obsessed, overconfident and arrogant. While his determination in chasing the American dream is honorable, Fulgencio goes after it full force, thinking only about himself and not the consequences for those around him. However, as Fulgencio's family curse was uncovered, I understood his position better and was intrigued by the ghosts and Fulgencio's interactions with them. The most interesting parts of the story for me were the actions that Fulgencio had to take in order to break the curse and the measures he took to make it happen. While doing this, Fulgencio changed into someone with fortitude who cared about others and the impact that his actions have. One of my favorite characters throughout the process was Brother William, even when he was in spirit form. With a series of surprising twists and turns near the end, Fulgencio and Carolina's characters become complex and relatable. Overall, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is a surprising story of an immigrant experience combined with magic and romance.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
