It Would Be Night in Caracas

Starred review from August 26, 2019
Sainz Borgo’s excellent debut is a harrowing account of one woman grieving the recent death of her mother while attempting to survive the political unrest in Caracas, Venezuela. Adelaida buries her namesake after having drained their savings buying medicine on the black market. Ana, Adelaida’s closest friend, fears the worst has befallen her missing brother, Santiago, after the Sons of the Revolution arrest him. When Adelaida’s apartment is taken over by thugs, she discovers her neighbor Aurora dead in the apartment next door. During an attempt to dispose of her body, she encounters Santiago, who appears to have joined the group that kidnapped him. Though she doesn’t fully trust him, they take shelter in Aurora’s apartment, where Adelaida finds troves of meticulously kept documents that will help her impersonate Aurora and escape Venezuela. The novel alternates scenes of present-day chaos with Adelaida’s memories of her loving mother, and Sainz Borgo infuses both sections with heartbreaking details that stay with the reader: the squeal of a pet turtle as it’s boiled to death, heirloom plates smashed with malice. She does a fantastic job of showcasing Adelaida’s personal despair within the greater agony of the country. Readers will appreciate how Sainz Borgo puts a human face on the tragedy of Venezuela’s upheaval.

Ana Osorio narrates this timely and relevant work about a young woman struggling to survive amid the political and financial chaos in Venezuela. The audiobook opens with Adelaida Falcon burying her mother. Now alone, Adelaida must find a way to live with the inhumane conditions brought by the political crisis. With her soft voice and Spanish accent, Orsorio vividly renders the misery of the Venezuelans. However, her storytelling doesn't improve the work's lackluster pacing. And, while her narration is engaging at times, her weak vocal characterizations make it difficult to discern who is speaking. Still, persevering listeners will be rewarded with increased awareness of the current state of affairs in this Latin American country. A.C. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine