Cautiva (Captive)

October 9, 2009
Rojas was taken prisoner by the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in 2002 along with Ingrid Betancourt, whose campaign for the presidency of Colombia she managed. Held in the jungle for six years before being freed, Rojas has an amazing story to tell. Though Betancourt was and is the international celebrity among FARC kidnap victims, Rojas's case aroused special interest in Latin America because she became pregnant while in captivity and gave birth-in the jungle, at nearly 40 years of age-to her first child, a baby boy from whom she was separated before his first birthday. They were not reunited until Rojas's release in 2008's Operation Emmanuel, named for the boy and organized by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Cautiva does not put to rest the speculation surrounding the father of Emmanuel or the circumstances of Rojas's pregnancy; she writes simply that she will discuss those matters with her son when the time is right. Nevertheless, Rojas does share a great many of the experiences and emotions she had as a prisoner and a mother, including the eventual chill in her relationship with Betancourt. She implicitly contrasts her own unflappably positive attitude, which she credits to her religious faith, with that of the more easily discouraged Betancourt, whose unflattering portrayal is perhaps the book's most surprising revelation. Indeed, Rojas attributes their capture itself to rash decisions made by her erstwhile friend, coupled with her own loyalty to the woman and to the campaign. A surprisingly easy read; recommended for libraries and bookstores.-Bruce Jensen, Rohrbach Lib., Kutztown, PA

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