Ruiz

A man fights to protect himself and his family in the midst of Peru’s political unrest in Winter’s historical novel.

Padre José Ruìz, a devoted priest and accomplished painter, meets Cori Ramirez in 1959; he hails from a tiny Peruvian village, she comes from wealth. The two quickly fall for one another, and despite Ruìz being torn between his passion and his priesthood, they ultimately have two children. Events conspire to split the new family apart—Ruìz’s bishop sends him to serve in another town, and a devastating earthquake triggers a landslide. The distance between Ruìz and Cori isn’t just physical; as he contemplates leaving the priesthood, Cori studies the teachings of revolutionaries, namely Peru’s Abimael Guzman. With a war impending, Cori’s anti-government stance and support of the Peruvian Communist Party, the Shining Path, may threaten their family. Ruìz struggles to prove he’s not a communist sympathizer, attempting to ensure his loved ones stay safe. Winter’s measured narrative deftly weaves fictional characters into Peru’s mid- to late 20th-century history. Ruìz and Cori’s romance is engagingly developed as the priest first denies his feelings and later allows love to drive his actions. The story may have benefitted from a deeper focus on their children, Ricardo and Skaya, who are largely relegated to the supporting cast. (The spotlight instead intermittently falls on Pablo, a “peasant” Ruìz encounters whose curious life throughout the years both parallels and diverges from Ruìz’s.) The author’s descriptive prose energizes everyday sights: “The cooking side of the room was dominated by a worktable that held every kettle and tool they needed and a kerosene stove with three burners on full throttle.” The story builds to an exceptional ending that suits the narrative’s family-centric tone.

An appealing blend of real-life political history and family drama.