The Shape of the Ruins

Starred review from July 23, 2018
Colombian novelist Vásquez (Reputations) is author, narrator, and protagonist of this clever, complex novel about political crimes, cover-ups, conspiracies, and conspiracy theories. In 2005, Vásquez meets conspiracy enthusiast Carlos Carballo at a respected Bogotá surgeon’s home. Carballo voices suspicions regarding 9/11, Princess Di, and Vásquez’s uncle. During their next encounter, Carballo reveals obsessions with assassinations, Orson Welles, and writing a novel. When the surgeon asks Vásquez to befriend Carballo in order to find out if Carballo has stolen assassination artifacts from the surgeon’s collection, Vásquez makes a guest appearance on Carballo’s talk radio program, then agrees to write the novel Carballo envisions, which will expose links between Colombian conservatives and two assassinations: presidential candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán (1948) and General Rafael Uribe Uribe (1914). As he explores suppressed evidence, vanished witnesses, and distorted reports, Vásquez is left with more questions than answers. The novel, bolstered by humor and irony, includes photos, literary references, and intimate family moments, but the most memorable passages depict the assassinations and their aftermath. Vásquez’s captivating, disquieting account of a writer’s journey through the shadowy terrain of his country’s past dynamically illustrates how violence damages survivors, lies erode society, and fiction can convey truths history omits.

Sheldon Romero does an admirable job narrating V�squez's new novel of modern Colombia and its long and labyrinthine history of political unrest, assassinations, and the inevitable conspiracies that follow. Romero's calm tone and even pitch provide an interesting contrast to the tumultuous story and help to clarify events for the listener. The story is told from the point of view of a novelist--also named Juan Gabriel V�squez--who becomes entangled with two men, one a highly respected doctor, who are both obsessed with the conspiracy culture (such as the one that sprung up after the Kennedy assassination). The story is fascinating, a treat for attentive listeners who enjoy the rich tapestry of South American literature. D.G.P. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine