leasummer's review against another edition
3.0
*Please seek our own voices reviews*
3.5 stars -Wow this was a powerful book. The danger within Cuba plus the love story really kept the story moving.
There were parts that didn’t work for me, the passage of time, the children, the post fire situation, the ending.
But it was really fast paced and I was totally pulled in wanting to know what happens next.
3.5 stars -Wow this was a powerful book. The danger within Cuba plus the love story really kept the story moving.
There were parts that didn’t work for me, the passage of time, the children, the post fire situation, the ending.
But it was really fast paced and I was totally pulled in wanting to know what happens next.
njw13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
themoonphoenix's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
1947 Havana, Cuba, Havana is a popular city, it’s beautiful and glamorous, and even Hollywood stars visit it, to buy the latest in fashion and to enjoy the tropical climate, but beneath the pretty facade hides a corrupt government, ruled by the mafia.
Patricio is a Spaniard who recently arrived on the island, without money but charismatic, he has a gift for pleasing and entertaining people; Gloria is a very pretty Cuban, who has the misfortune of meeting a gangster who falls in love with her and forces her to marry him. Patricio and Gloria crossed (or collided) paths at El Encanto, a department store (that existed) where you could find everything, and it was where you went if you wanted the latest in fashion. Patricio works as the errand boy and thanks to the charisma he is climbing, they will get to know each other little by little in conversations behind the counter, because theirs is a forbidden and dangerous romance.
It is an agile story, easy to read, it has two narrators, Patricio and Gloria, who take turns in chapters over decades and in that time we see them go through everything. We see them fall in love, be happy, and jealous, be afraid, and grow up. There are multiple secondary characters, Patricio's friends and Gloria's daughter and grandma were my favorites.
They are easy to empathize with, they feel realistic and they are brave despite their circumstances (especially Gloria) they do not lose their humor. I love that Gloria is passionate about science and reads about it.
I enjoy the setting, you feel like you are in Havana, the author describes a city, full of life, glamorous and colorful, in the mornings we walk along the boardwalk and go shopping at Encanto and at night we visit bars or parties. Most of the story takes place before the revolution, in a Cuba that reminds me a little of Gatsby's New York.
Overall, love the different setting, the story feels realistic, I think I learned something new about Cuba, there are cameos by Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra; Patricio and Gloria are nice characters, and there is a little bit of everything, romance, drama, friendship, plot twist, etc.
Read it if you want:
- Historical fiction
- A different setting
- Style similar like Isabel Allende
linyarai's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tammiesven's review against another edition
1.0
I could not buy into this book for a second. Well, maybe for the first few chapters and then it just got stupid.
Spoilers:
Here is where the book lost me. Gloria's husband is a homocidal, pedophile mafioso. However, very little in Gloria's or Patricio's behavior indicates that at all. So Cesar bludgeoned someone to death in the dressing room, but hey I'm gonna come over (P) and see you (G) in the middle of the night. And G is just going to say hey come on in and come up to my daughter's room and wake her and say hi and give her a book because children always keep secrets and being upstairs with me is so cool with my husband And oh here is my husband, no problem P was just delivering shoes. Ha ha no worries. Oh and Cesar likes 14 yo girls and he tried to get busy with your daughter but like she told him off and so he just backs off and hey everything is OK now. Nothing to worry about.
There was so much more. The writing wasn't great. The character development was lacking. Patricio begins the book and a fun loving charmer and then that just disappears. I honestly can't even believe i finished this book. Sorry. I wanted to like it.
Spoilers:
Here is where the book lost me. Gloria's husband is a homocidal, pedophile mafioso. However, very little in Gloria's or Patricio's behavior indicates that at all. So Cesar bludgeoned someone to death in the dressing room, but hey I'm gonna come over (P) and see you (G) in the middle of the night. And G is just going to say hey come on in and come up to my daughter's room and wake her and say hi and give her a book because children always keep secrets and being upstairs with me is so cool with my husband And oh here is my husband, no problem P was just delivering shoes. Ha ha no worries. Oh and Cesar likes 14 yo girls and he tried to get busy with your daughter but like she told him off and so he just backs off and hey everything is OK now. Nothing to worry about.
There was so much more. The writing wasn't great. The character development was lacking. Patricio begins the book and a fun loving charmer and then that just disappears. I honestly can't even believe i finished this book. Sorry. I wanted to like it.
alsudik's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
veirago's review against another edition
5.0
Captured my heart and soul
This book was incredible. I read it in three days. The setting is so rich with detail, and the characters are incredibly relatable. Gotta go wipe the tears from my eyes.
This book was incredible. I read it in three days. The setting is so rich with detail, and the characters are incredibly relatable. Gotta go wipe the tears from my eyes.
rachelmabarca's review against another edition
5.0
Still Crying
Oh. My. Goodness. This book was phenomenal. Once I got past the first half, I couldn’t read it fast enough! (The first half was incredible, too, but had a few places to take a pause.) I have been entranced by mid-century Cuba for a good while, and this book brought it to life. Hardly at all about the Revolution, so I would call it Period Fiction, if that’s a thing. I’m most impressed by the storytelling (in a translated language!) in the voices of a male and female, written and translated by females. The story is so believable, and unpredictable. A story of love, of bravery, of fortune and misfortune. This story will never leave me.
Oh. My. Goodness. This book was phenomenal. Once I got past the first half, I couldn’t read it fast enough! (The first half was incredible, too, but had a few places to take a pause.) I have been entranced by mid-century Cuba for a good while, and this book brought it to life. Hardly at all about the Revolution, so I would call it Period Fiction, if that’s a thing. I’m most impressed by the storytelling (in a translated language!) in the voices of a male and female, written and translated by females. The story is so believable, and unpredictable. A story of love, of bravery, of fortune and misfortune. This story will never leave me.