Author: Deborah Clearman
Publisher: Rain Mountain Press
Date of publication: March 2017
In nine thematically linked stories set largely in
Guatemala, Concepción and the Baby Brokers brings to life characters struggling
with universal emotions and dilemmas in a place unfamiliar to most
Americans. From the close-knit community of Todos Santos to the teeming danger
of Guatemala City, to a meat-packing plant in Michigan and the gardens of
Washington DC, Deborah Clearman shows us the human cost of international
adoption, drug trafficking, and immigration.
A Cup of Tears, the opening novella, reveals a third-world
baby farm, seen through the eyes of a desperate wet nurse, a baby broker,
and an American adoptive mother. In “The Race” a young man returns to his
native village to ride in a disastrous horse race. “English Lessons” tells
of a Guatemalan immigrant in Washington DC who learns more than English
from a public library volunteer. A teenage girl tries to trap her
professor into marriage in “Saints and Sinners.”
With searing humanity, Clearman exposes the consequences of
American exceptionalism, and the daily magic and peril that inform and
shape ordinary lives.
Concepcion and the Baby Brokers was an interesting mix of novellas that show a darker side of life in the poorer society of Guatemala. It's hard to believe that baby selling is a reality even today. I had mixed feelings about the book. I definitely felt invested in the first story about the stolen twins and the American adoptive parents. I liked how it was told through the eyes of all of the players. It helped me get a clearer picture of each person's motivation behind their actions. It was uncomfortable to read, but sucked me right in. My heart broke for everyone involved. I wish the book been expanded and focused more on that story. The ending of the novella left me wanting more and to know what happened next for everyone involved. It just felt unfinished.
Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the rest of the stories. I found myself skimming through them. That is not to say they are not worth reading. I think this book will appeal to a lot of people as it has something for everyone.
Praise
“In these vivid and often heart-wrenching stories, Deborah
Clearman illuminates Guatemalan culture at ground level, through characters
whose struggles are palpable and moving. The collection couldn’t be more
timely, or necessary.”
—Julie Salamon, Wendy and the Lost Boys
“With deep respect for Guatemalan culture, particularly its variations
in the beautiful, haunted town of Todos Santos, Deborah Clearman gives us these
lovely, captivating stories out of Guatemala. Hers is a voice worth
hearing; these are stories worth reading.”
–Mark Brazaitis, Julia & Rodrigo and The
River of Lost Voices: Stories from Guatemala
Purchase links
About Deborah Clearman
Deborah Clearman is the author of a novel Todos
Santos, from Black Lawrence Press. Her short
fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals. She is the former
Program Director for NY Writers Coalition, and she teaches creative
writing in such nontraditional venues as senior centers, public
housing projects, and the jail for women on Rikers Island. She lives in New
York City and Guatemala.
Visit www.deborahclearman.com.
Tour Stops
Monday, April 10th: A
Bookish Affair
Wednesday, April 19th: Eliot’s
Eats
Monday, April 24th: From the TBR Pile
Thursday, April 27th: Savvy Verse & Wit
Monday, May 8th: Lit and Life
Tuesday, May 9th: Bibliotica
Monday, May 15th: Bookish Way of Life
Thursday, May 18th: 5 Minutes For Books
Monday, May 22nd: Bibliophiliac
Tuesday, May 23rd: Kahakai Kitchen
2 comments:
It is so hard to imagine that things like this really happen, but sadly they do ...
Thanks for being a part of the tour.
I agree with you. I definitely felt more vested in the first story.
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