What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez is a gripping debut novel that tells the story of the Ramirez family, a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island who have been scarred by the disappearance of Ruthy, their thirteen-year-old middle child, twelve years ago. The family's lives are forever changed when the oldest sister Jessica spots a woman on a raunchy reality show called Catfight, who she believes might be Ruthy. Jessica and her younger sister Nina hatch a plan to drive to where the show is filmed to search for their long-lost sister. Their mother Dolores and her best friend Irene insist on joining, and what follows is a family road trip that forces them to confront the past and look toward the future.
What sets this novel apart is the powerful portrayal of the familial bonds between women and the themes of generational violence, colonialism, race, and silence. The author's use of humor and snark provides a balance to the heaviness of the subject matter, making the story both engaging and relatable. The characters are complex and flawed, making them feel like real people, and the author's portrayal of the Ramirez family is both vivid and honest.
The novel's pacing is excellent, with the tension building up gradually as the story progresses, and the family's road trip provides a great opportunity to explore the characters and their relationships. The author's writing is powerful and raw, making the reader feel every emotion the characters experience.
Overall, What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that explores the power of family, the impact of trauma, and the search for identity. It is a must-read for fans of contemporary literary fiction and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted family drama with heart and humor. Claire Jimenez is a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Buy Now: "What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez" by Claire Jimenez at Amazon
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