Prayers for the Stolen isn't the kind of book I would normally gravitate towards. But I am so happy I did. It follows the story of a young girl living in rural Mexico, whose life is anything but normal. I don't want to give too much away, but her story is fascinating. I know very little about the city and rural politics of Mexico. But this story gave me an insight into the struggles that exist just across our borders. Ladydi, our heroine, lives in a small town where next to no men live and the women live in constant danger. Her town is constantly under siege from chemical bombings, and raids by drug cartels. This isn't exactly a happy story, but there is beauty in it. It's amazing how these families have managed to survive for so long in such a difficult environment, and how they have almost evolved to survive in such a climate.
This novel is beautifully written and thought provoking. Jennifer Clement brings the reader into a world of danger and she shows you the the beauty that you can find among scorpions, alcoholics and murder. Above all else, this is story about the lengths that family will take to protect one another and the things anyone will do to survive.
Book courtesy of Blogging for Books
