Review of Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz, by Belinda Acosta

October 17, 2:00 PMLatino Books ExaminerMayra Calvani

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Though Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz revolves around a quinceanera, this is really a novel for adults. It tells the story of Ana Ruiz, an educated woman and mother of two children whose marriage is crumbling down.

The story begins short after Ana has asked her husband Esteban to leave the house and is trying to keep her two teenaged children from getting hurt. Her son, already in his late teens, is matured about the situation and although he doesn't fully understand the origin behind his parents' problems, he's supportive of Ana. Her 14-year old daughter, Carmen, is another matter. She blames everything on Ana and takes advantage of every opportunity to punish her mother for her beloved father's absence. Though the reader clearly suspects the reason for Esteban's leaving, Carmen doesn't learn it until much later in the book, as Ana is intent on protecting her and refuses to tell her the truth.

In order to lift the dark cloud among her children and get closer to Carmen, Ana decides to throw her a quinceanera ball. Carmen is secretly pleased, though she will act otherwise in front of Ana. As the novel evolves,and the preparations for the ball are painstakingly organized, Ana questions her roles as mother and wife and the pressure that comes with being an educated working woman. She wants to forgive Esteban and bring her family back together. But at what cost? That of her own identity and self love?

The best part of this novel is Ana Ruiz. She comes across as a genuine woman with a mixture of vulnerability and inner strength. The issues that affect her life are ones that many women readers will identify with. The author also did a good job with the minor characters, although I'd have liked to see Carmen in a more sympathetic light.

One aspect of the story that didn't ring true for me was Ana's refusal to tell Carmen the truth about her father in spite of the girl's rude and disrespectful behavior toward her. It felt more like a plot device than a natural development in the story. Another element which for me was negative was the repetitive use of Spanglish in the prose and dialogue. At times, it was more than distracting; it was annoying. I think the prose would have read a lot smoother without all the Spanish thrown into the mix. I'm sorry to say that although the writing was good for the most part, these two elements ruined the reading experience for me.

All in all, this is an interesting read. I also like the fact that there are quinceanera novels out there geared toward older readers and not only toward young adults.