García, Cristina

Unfortunately, most of García's vignettes are only a few pages long, leaving readers no chance of getting to know the emotions or details of the characters' lives. This novel touches on complex themes such as exile, memory, and life in wartime but without much depth.

Although not entirely gripping, this story holds one's interest, especially in its portrait of El Comadante and his brother and comes to a satisfying conclusion. Recommended for fans of Garcia's Dreaming in Cuban. [See Prepub Alert, 11/26/12.]