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A review by judithdcollins
The Apartment by Ana Menéndez
4.0
Ana Menéndez's latest novel, THE APARTMENT, takes us to Miami's South Beach, Florida, to The Helena, the historic Art Deco apartment building rich in history, time, and character where we meet the many residents of Apartment 2B who have come and gone over seven decades.
Built in 1942, many people and families have come to Miami's South Beach to the Helena Apartment and called 2B home.
First, we meet a military couple from Texas: Sophie and Jack Appleton. The new bride is enamored with this glamorous town, but he's preoccupied with the war and abusive.
In 1963, an aging Cuban concert pianist Eugenio Francisco Montes Behar, grieved for a lost love and finds the man's spirit in music. He plays for a nursing home and at weddings, living here for 11 years. Eugenio contemplates his love of music after he hears about the death of a great Cuban composer.
In 1972, Sandman, a refugee in his own country, a divorced Vietnam vet with PTSD who's badly undone by an anti-war march, then saved by hatchling sea turtles. He deals with termite-eaten furniture left by previous tenants.
In 1982, Isabel, an 18 yr old Marielita disappointed in South Beach and its decay but dazzled by the older painter first as a muse, then as a lover.
In 2002, married couple Maribel Rodriguez and Ignacio Salas resided there with his girlfriend, Beatrice Dumonts—a complicated threesome created not by love or desire but by immigration law.
In 2010, a 40 yr. old Pilar, a Cuban American journalist, prepares to leave 2B apartment (now a condo) after she lost her job faced with the reality of moving back in with her parents.
Pilar rents her condo to a young man named Lenin García, another Cuban refugee, who soon dies. His fate impacts other tenants in surprising ways.
From the Cuban concert pianist, the widow of an intelligence officer raising their young daughter alone; a man waiting on a green card marriage to run its course so that he can divorce his wife and marry his lover. A Tajik building manager with a secret identity, a Vietnam vet receiving packages from his ex-wife. Each has a story, and the walls of Apartment 2B are a part of their lives.
Do the walls talk? Told in short chapters with stories of each tenant.
Each tenant has past losses, challenges, struggles, dreams, and hopes for the future. For over seventy years, it has stood tall and held the resident's secrets.
In the latter part, set in 2012, we learn of Lana, an immigrant, a mysterious woman struggling with her demons, who mourns her beloved while unaware of the apartment's tragic history.
Distraught and alone, she is watched over by a ghost, and together these two strangers brought into the community by The Helena will find a measure of comfort and purpose, gaining new insight into what we all owe one another.
Beautifully written and lyrical! I loved the South Beach Art Deco apartment and have lived in South Florida for 20-some years. I had an office in Miami for years and spent much time in South Beach as a consultant working with Art Deco historical properties and hotels as well as Palm Beach area. I was delighted to see this book.
The characters were well drawn, and the setting was a character among itself with thoughtful meditation—a mix of historical, literary fiction, magical realism, and a little mystery.
AUDIOBOOK While the author is, of course, very talented, and I listened to the audiobook narrated by Whitney Dykhouse delivering an outstanding performance—I did feel it started out very intriguing and strong. Still, mid-way to the end, it became slow and confusing. The last section was drawn out and strange and my least favorite. It may have been better to have a print or digital reading copy to follow in those areas.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the residents and history and revisiting one of my favorite spots full of history and charm.
Thanks to HighBridge Audio for a gifted ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 27, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books
Built in 1942, many people and families have come to Miami's South Beach to the Helena Apartment and called 2B home.
First, we meet a military couple from Texas: Sophie and Jack Appleton. The new bride is enamored with this glamorous town, but he's preoccupied with the war and abusive.
In 1963, an aging Cuban concert pianist Eugenio Francisco Montes Behar, grieved for a lost love and finds the man's spirit in music. He plays for a nursing home and at weddings, living here for 11 years. Eugenio contemplates his love of music after he hears about the death of a great Cuban composer.
In 1972, Sandman, a refugee in his own country, a divorced Vietnam vet with PTSD who's badly undone by an anti-war march, then saved by hatchling sea turtles. He deals with termite-eaten furniture left by previous tenants.
In 1982, Isabel, an 18 yr old Marielita disappointed in South Beach and its decay but dazzled by the older painter first as a muse, then as a lover.
In 2002, married couple Maribel Rodriguez and Ignacio Salas resided there with his girlfriend, Beatrice Dumonts—a complicated threesome created not by love or desire but by immigration law.
In 2010, a 40 yr. old Pilar, a Cuban American journalist, prepares to leave 2B apartment (now a condo) after she lost her job faced with the reality of moving back in with her parents.
Pilar rents her condo to a young man named Lenin García, another Cuban refugee, who soon dies. His fate impacts other tenants in surprising ways.
From the Cuban concert pianist, the widow of an intelligence officer raising their young daughter alone; a man waiting on a green card marriage to run its course so that he can divorce his wife and marry his lover. A Tajik building manager with a secret identity, a Vietnam vet receiving packages from his ex-wife. Each has a story, and the walls of Apartment 2B are a part of their lives.
Do the walls talk? Told in short chapters with stories of each tenant.
Each tenant has past losses, challenges, struggles, dreams, and hopes for the future. For over seventy years, it has stood tall and held the resident's secrets.
In the latter part, set in 2012, we learn of Lana, an immigrant, a mysterious woman struggling with her demons, who mourns her beloved while unaware of the apartment's tragic history.
Distraught and alone, she is watched over by a ghost, and together these two strangers brought into the community by The Helena will find a measure of comfort and purpose, gaining new insight into what we all owe one another.
Beautifully written and lyrical! I loved the South Beach Art Deco apartment and have lived in South Florida for 20-some years. I had an office in Miami for years and spent much time in South Beach as a consultant working with Art Deco historical properties and hotels as well as Palm Beach area. I was delighted to see this book.
The characters were well drawn, and the setting was a character among itself with thoughtful meditation—a mix of historical, literary fiction, magical realism, and a little mystery.
AUDIOBOOK While the author is, of course, very talented, and I listened to the audiobook narrated by Whitney Dykhouse delivering an outstanding performance—I did feel it started out very intriguing and strong. Still, mid-way to the end, it became slow and confusing. The last section was drawn out and strange and my least favorite. It may have been better to have a print or digital reading copy to follow in those areas.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the residents and history and revisiting one of my favorite spots full of history and charm.
Thanks to HighBridge Audio for a gifted ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 27, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books