Evenings at the Argentine Club

by Cecilia Gonzalez, posted on 2010-04-06 21:03:55

 

I know we are all Latinos, but aren’t we all different as far as our cultures? Well, I found out that we are not all that different.  We do use different words for certain things, but the bottom line is that we are all struggling with the two different cultures and ideals.

Victoria is a perfect example of what a lot of Latinas have to go through, as they grow up in America, but in a Latin household.  It’s difficult to find yourself when your actions are being measured by two different standards. 

Victoria is the eldest daughter of Jacqueline and Victor Torres.  She is a college dropout and is working part time in their family’s restaurant.  She is content filling her spare time helping their close-knit Argentine Club.  She has brought new traditions with an American flair. Eric is the only son of Antonio and Lucia Ortelli.  He left his family to find his own way and had not been heard of in years.  Eric shows up unexpectedly at the Argentine Club one night and the usual burst of chismes stir up within the community.  Some are upset at him, some are happy, but all of them are curious to hear what he has been doing all those years. Victoria is one of the upset ones.  She can’t believe he would just abandon his parents and return with a big smile on his handsome and well-groomed face.  She has the traditions of the Argentine people embedded into her, but she is also envious of Eric’s courage of breaking out of those traditions she has surrounded her entire life with.

A friendship develops between Victoria and Eric.  During this, they both realize what they were missing in their lives. 

I love the story, as I was able to relate to Victoria, especially when she confided that she wore a size 14!  Yet the handsome and rich Eric falls in love with her.  I got goose bumps reading how they grew into their own skins with the help of each other. Their families also struggled along with their own identities, but managed to balance their dreams and their realities.

I enjoyed this book very much and I am sure you will too!

 

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Comments from members 1 comment
I'm so looking forward to reading this book. The Che in Chennifer is there for a reason ;) Will order it before summer
- Jennifer Larancuent