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A review by constantreader471
The Mortifications by Derek Palacio
4.0
This was a very dense book, and I took a long time to read it(14 days), sometimes reading only 10 pages in a day. The book starts with a Cuban refugee, Soledad Encarnacion, and her two children Isabel and Ulises, living in Connecticut. They left Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boatlift. Soledad's husband and father of her 2 children, Uxbal, remained in Cuba and wanted her to leave Isabel with him. He considers himself a rebel against Castro's regime and hides in the hills near their home of Buey Arriba.
This book is filled with images and religious mysticism. Isabel volunteers at a hospital and talks to dying patients. She believes that she helps them spiritually. She becomes known as "the Death Torch." She decides to become a nun, taking vows of chastity, silence, poverty and obedience.
But all 3, Soledad, Isabel and Ulises are drawn back to Cuba.
One Quote: "...offspring sometimes become conduits for want,another means of engaging a reluctant, distant partner."
I rate it 3.5(rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars. Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for sending me this book.
This book is filled with images and religious mysticism. Isabel volunteers at a hospital and talks to dying patients. She believes that she helps them spiritually. She becomes known as "the Death Torch." She decides to become a nun, taking vows of chastity, silence, poverty and obedience.
But all 3, Soledad, Isabel and Ulises are drawn back to Cuba.
One Quote: "...offspring sometimes become conduits for want,another means of engaging a reluctant, distant partner."
I rate it 3.5(rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars. Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for sending me this book.