THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Juan Preciado’s dying mother pleads with her son to locate his father and make him pay for what he did to them.  Juan promises he will do this and upon her death, travels to Comala, his parent's hometown, to find his father, Pedro Paramo.  However, when Juan arrives in Comala, he finds the town is dead, and he also discovers his father, has long been dead as well.

Juan learns details of who his father was through the dead souls in Comala and in Media Luna, the surrounding area, which Pedro Paramo held under his thumb through threat, theft and murder.

The story pivots to Pedro Parama, a mean and selfish man, who loved only Susana. Susana, Parama’s childhood sweetheart, loved only her deceased husband, even after Parama forced her into marriage.

After Susana’s death, the church bells toll for days which attracks visitors.  The traveling circus arrives and people begin to enjoy life.  For this infraction, Parama destroys the town.

 

The characters follow their dreams in search of happiness but find only despair.