The Mambo Kings Beautiful Maria of My Soul Book Review

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Aug 15, 2010 Siria rated it did non like it

God, this was dreadful. The only way this book could have been more a straight male fantasy is if it had been narrated by a penis—and believe me, there enough descriptions of improbably huge penises in Cute María of my Soul that such a narrative device wouldn't have been an enormous stretch. The protagonist, María, is a human'south bland idea of a beautiful woman; I never believed in her as a existent person. Her not bad dearest affair with Nestor seems to be based mostly on the fact that they're both goo God, this was dreadful. The only way this book could accept been more than a directly male fantasy is if information technology had been narrated past a penis—and believe me, at that place plenty descriptions of improbably huge penises in Beautiful María of my Soul that such a narrative device wouldn't have been an enormous stretch. The protagonist, María, is a man'south banal idea of a cute woman; I never believed in her as a real person. Her keen love affair with Nestor seems to exist based mostly on the fact that they're both good looking and he has an enormous penis—and this sexist pap carries on for 300 pages.

The prose is also pretty terrible. Hijuelos seems to call back that peppering his prose with italicised words in Castilian every other sentence is a good alternative to really creating atmosphere and texture. Some words are not translatable into English language, truthful, but Hijuelos delights in things similar having his characters say "Muy bien. Very expert," when they are ostensibly speaking Spanish all the time.

The final harbinger was the ending, in which the author inserts himself equally a character (polite and small and self-effacing!) who helps to tie up the last few strands of the narrative. It read as obnoxious. Really, really not recommended.

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Apr 09, 2012 Harold rated it it was amazing

Bravo Hijuelos!! I flat out LOVED this volume! For the outset fourth dimension in a long time finishing a volume left me sorry information technology was over. What am I going to read side by side that will go downwardly that smoothly?

The book is the story of the beautiful honey interest from The Mambo Kings Sing Songs Of Love. It that book she was a peripheral but important character in that she was the inspiration for a hitting vocal, the championship of which is Beautiful Maria Of My Soul, written by Nestor Castillo, one of two brothers who are the focus

Bravo Hijuelos!! I apartment out LOVED this book! For the first time in a long fourth dimension finishing a volume left me sorry it was over. What am I going to read next that will become down that smoothly?

The book is the story of the beautiful love interest from The Mambo Kings Sing Songs Of Love. Information technology that volume she was a peripheral just important character in that she was the inspiration for a hit song, the title of which is Beautiful Maria Of My Soul, written by Nestor Castillo, ane of two brothers who are the focus of Mambo Kings. She is a beauty of mythical quality and the volume indeed has a mythical air almost it. She, for example, is rarely, maybe never, referred to equally Maria, she is e'er Beautiful Maria in the narrative.

Beautiful Maria Of My Soul starts with Maria leaving the small village in Cuban countryside where she was born and going to Havana, and as mundane every bit that sounds, I was hooked from the first sentence. The book is the story of a long journey that as a reader nosotros can take with her. Hijuelos is a very practiced and clever author. He mingles real events and personalities (even himself!) into the story and creates a novel that takes on life. The one criticism that a lot of readers seem to take is the somewhat graphic sex scenes. They didn't bother me at all and Hijuelos, speaking every bit himself in the novel and referring to this affair says they are "...presented with a redeeming romantic touch." I concord.

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Mar 07, 2010 Tara Chevrestt rated information technology actually liked it

Halfway thru the reading of this novel, I had to drop it and run to the computer and open itunes where I proceeded to heed to The Mambo Kings for what may have been the first time in my life. My interest was picqued. I didn't buy this book to larn nigh the Mambo Kings. I got it cause the discipline matter appealed to me. Maria, a Cuban woman so beautiful, she inspired a hit song...

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed reading nearly the beginnings of the Mambo Kings, about dear struck Nestor and arr

Halfway thru the reading of this novel, I had to drop it and run to the computer and open itunes where I proceeded to listen to The Mambo Kings for what may have been the first time in my life. My interest was picqued. I didn't buy this book to learn about the Mambo Kings. I got it crusade the subject field matter appealed to me. Maria, a Cuban woman so cute, she inspired a hit song...

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed reading about the beginnings of the Mambo Kings, about love struck Nestor and arrogant, flashy Cesar Castillo. However, this novel is about Maria who inspired the song, Beautiful Maria of My Soul and her life before, during, and later on The Mambo Kings. Information technology'south a story about a country girl who is dealt many bad hands every bit her family unit seems to drib expressionless around her, a naive daughter who flees to the nightlife of Havana, a woman then beautiful she can go no respite from the greedy easily and minds of lusty men, and a love story that lives on forever thru the lines of a vocal.

The beloved story is lamentable. Maria turns away poor Nestor and his muscial dreams for an immediate life of luxury and wealth. If she had only had a little faith... Every bit Nestor becomes successful in America, Maria decides to make one last try at rekindling their romance. Annihilation could happen..

I was quite enthralled with this. There were times I liked and sympathized with Maria and there were times I hated her and cried for Nestor. It would be a five star read except for one thing. WAY too much sex, masturbation, and dramatization of Nestor's "pinga." I get it, information technology's huge, no need to mention it 25 times.

Still, once I got past the sexual practice stuff, the story was neat. I plan on reading more past this author.

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Jan 17, 2010 Laura rated information technology it was ok

This is historical fiction and a sequel to The Mambo Kings, telling the story of the Maria behind the Castillo's bolero "Beautiful Maria of My Soul". The problem for me was, I didn't care. Possibly by design, Maria is a cold character - cute, at showtime naive, and but, well, non a character I related to at all. Her choices, her life, her issues, null made me really intendance about her.

Perhaps if I'd read The Mambo Kings I'd feel differently but since I didn't read it...

ARC provided past publish

This is historical fiction and a sequel to The Mambo Kings, telling the story of the Maria behind the Castillo'south bolero "Beautiful Maria of My Soul". The problem for me was, I didn't care. Perchance by design, Maria is a cold character - beautiful, at commencement naive, and just, well, not a character I related to at all. Her choices, her life, her problems, nil made me really care about her.

Perhaps if I'd read The Mambo Kings I'd experience differently only since I didn't read it...

ARC provided by publisher.

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Oct 03, 2010 Abbey rated information technology did not like it

I stopped reading this volume. I stopped reading it because the author described, in well-nigh every scene, the main character'south vagina. I'one thousand all for vaginas, y'all see, but sometimes at that place can be too much... vagina.
Vagina, vagina, vagina.
See what I mean? I stopped reading this book. I stopped reading information technology because the author described, in well-nigh every scene, the main grapheme's vagina. I'm all for vaginas, you lot see, simply sometimes there can be too much... vagina.
Vagina, vagina, vagina.
See what I mean? ...more

Jul 29, 2010 Linda rated it did not similar it

Author is fixated with the sexual human activity and corruption of women; it got very tiring.

Mar 01, 2012 Florinda rated information technology it was ok

I read Oscar Hijuelos'' award-winning novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Honey nearly twenty years ago, when it was first published, and never gave much idea to its having a sequel. Merely when I learned that it had one - told from the perspective of the woman who inspired the fictional Castillo brothers' best-known song, "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" - I remembered enough almost the original novel to be interested.

Maria is a woman who seems to exist primarily nether the male gaze; her most remarkable

I read Oscar Hijuelos'' accolade-winning novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love near twenty years ago, when information technology was first published, and never gave much idea to its having a sequel. But when I learned that it had one - told from the perspective of the woman who inspired the fictional Castillo brothers' best-known song, "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" - I remembered enough nearly the original novel to be interested.

Maria is a adult female who seems to exist primarily under the male gaze; her most remarkable quality - not just to those male gazers, but to herself - is her physical beauty. Descriptions of her face, hair, and "traffic-stopping" body abound in the novel - and I''m not sure a woman would accept written her that way. In that location is more to her, though; the sections of the novel that focus on other aspects of the grapheme - her illiterate state upbringing, her drive to educate herself, her motherhood - were some of the parts I liked nigh, and I don''t remember at that place were plenty of them. At that place was more than than plenty almost her looks, her desirability, and the sexual aspects of her relationships, though, including the skill and concrete attributes of her lovers - and that all came across to me in a male voice, despite the fact that the protagonist is female.

Equally for the song-inspiring love betwixt Maria and Nestor Castillo - my take on that is that theirs was a hormone-driven connection that they believed must therefore exist a romantic 1. Even in the midst of information technology, Maria realized they didn''t have a lot to talk most. Had they stayed together - that is, had she not refused him because she felt his ambitions were too narrow - biology dictates that the fires would have subsided somewhen, and I''m not sure they'd accept had much beyond that.

Hijuelos'' writing is bright and descriptive throughout, bringing mid-century, pre-Castro Cuba to life, and generously sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases; I just would accept preferred less description of some aspects. My favorite part of the book was its final section, an amusingly meta twist in which the author becomes a graphic symbol in his own novel when he writes the novel that commencement told Maria and Nestor''s story, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Dear. Up until and then, I'd have called Beautiful Maria of My Soul my about disappointing read of the twelvemonth; while it kept my attending, I didn''t always want it to. I think it would be of interest primarily to readers who recall the before novel, and would besides appeal to fans of Latino-American literature for its depictions of pre-revolutionary Republic of cuba and the Cuban-American exile community in Miami. I''1000 not distressing I read it, but I''yard sorry I didn't similar it improve.

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December 22, 2010 Bill rated it liked it

Several themes are intertwined in this non totally successful novel. Amidst them is the fictional biography of Beautiful Maria, her career, her lovers, and most importantly, the dear she has for her girl Teresita. Some other theme is Maria's love of country especially a valley in Pinar del Rio, her family dwelling house. This is get-go by a clarification of Havana's seedy side before the Castro revolution. Finally, in that location is the vocal, Cute Maria of My Soul written by her dreamy and extremely passionate Several themes are intertwined in this not totally successful novel. Among them is the fictional biography of Beautiful Maria, her career, her lovers, and almost importantly, the love she has for her daughter Teresita. Some other theme is Maria'south love of state especially a valley in Pinar del Rio, her family unit home. This is start by a description of Havana's seedy side before the Castro revolution. Finally, there is the song, Beautiful Maria of My Soul written by her dreamy and extremely passionate lover, Nestor Castillo.

Afterward travelling from Pinar del Rio to Havana, Maria, innocent and illiterate, becomes a dancer in a second rate dark social club. She avoids becoming a prostitute. Many other dancers engaged in the trade. She does, however, go the mistress of Ignacio Fuentes, a gangster. Lazaro, an elderly black man, teaches her to read. Maria becomes more confident, independent and business firm. Then she meets handsome and well endowed Nestor Castillo, a guitar player. They fall in beloved and have steamy sex. To her everlasting regret, Maria breaks the human relationship assertive there is no future with a poor musician.

Later taking over, Castro tried to reform Havana and closed the seedy clubs where Maria danced. She and 3 yr old Teresita flee to Miami where they feel much hardship. Eventually this is overcome and Teresita becomes an ontological pediatrician.

Hijuelos has several bug. His ending, which some may call daring, while others volition consider it to be very poorly chosen, is the greatest problem. In the novel's catastrophe chapters, he introduces himself, as Oscar Hijuelos the writer. He describes several meetings with his fictional characters. Hijuelos is also redundant. Maria's beauty is noted all too often. He also uses Spanish words and phrases, sometimes immediately translated to English but often not, causing a loss of thought.

Beautiful Maria does non live up to his earlier book, Mambo Kings. Mari's life is mildly interesting, but the volume is justified by the strong descriptions of pre-revolutionary Havana and post- revolutionary Miami.

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In 1990, Oscar Hujuelos wrote "The Mambo Kings Play Songs Of Love" and won a Pulitzer Prize. I didn't read that book about the Castillo brothers, but "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" tells the story of the woman who captured the heart of Nestor Castillo, who with his brother Cesar left Cuba for New York and eventually became popular Cuban musicians due to Desi Arnez who featured them on "I Love Lucy." Nestor and Maria were madly in honey, just Maria chose to live with a man who gave her more security In 1990, Oscar Hujuelos wrote "The Mambo Kings Play Songs Of Love" and won a Pulitzer Prize. I didn't read that book about the Castillo brothers, but "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" tells the story of the woman who captured the heart of Nestor Castillo, who with his brother Cesar left Cuba for New York and somewhen became popular Cuban musicians due to Desi Arnez who featured them on "I Dearest Lucy." Nestor and Maria were madly in dear, merely Maria chose to live with a human who gave her more security and let Nestor go. Nestor worked on the song about Maria ("Beautiful Maria of My Soul") for many years and reworked information technology over 40 times. Nestor longed for Maria all of his life even though he married and had children. Maria's regret is also dealt with every bit the novel unfolds. For years, no one knew who the Maria was in the song.

Maria is far too cute for her ain good. She left her pocket-sized village in Cuba for Havana in a pig-farmer's truck, illiterate and with no money, and becomes well known as a dancer in Havana'southward second rate clubs. She eventually flees Castro'south Republic of cuba and makes her way to Miami where she lives in relative condolement proud of her but girl who is a pediatrician.

That description sounds much too simplistic. Though she appears to exist merely an object of desire, in that location is a lot to Maria that gets cached in the many explicit and sometimes seedy sexual scenes, and the multitude of pages that depict Maria's beauty. Maria is able to come to terms with the love song that was written in her honor and the love song becomes that much more meaningful. I would have appreciated fewer pages, less descriptions of the sex and more than insight into Maria every bit a person who suffered a lot to get to where she ended upward. The descriptions of Havana during Batista's rule with the sharp contrast betwixt the slums and the wealthy neighborhoods are outstanding. The story of Cuban immigrants is also an interesting aspect of this novel.

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Aug 09, 2010 Mag rated it liked it

Just when I decided that this book was a complete waste product of my time, the author appeared in the novel creating an interesting intrusion of non-fiction into fiction, and the story somewhat redeemed itself.

Designed as a sequel to Mambo Kings, the novel is about the object of Nestor's love- Beautiful Maria. Beautiful Maria is, as the name suggests, cute. An illiterate peasant girl, fairly reasonable and levelheaded, Beautiful Maria makes her fashion upwardly in the dance clubs of Havana, but there is ne

Simply when I decided that this book was a complete waste matter of my fourth dimension, the author appeared in the novel creating an interesting intrusion of non-fiction into fiction, and the story somewhat redeemed itself.

Designed as a sequel to Mambo Kings, the novel is about the object of Nestor's honey- Cute Maria. Beautiful Maria is, every bit the name suggests, beautiful. An illiterate peasant girl, adequately reasonable and levelheaded, Beautiful Maria makes her fashion upwards in the dance clubs of Havana, but at that place is neither a spectacular career nor a scenic character development in that location. She is and stays pretty shallow, and there isn't much at that place besides her beauty, and it gets ultimately slow to be hearing about information technology over and once more.

Even though I wasn't thrilled with the story, it seems to me that if a adult female like Maria existed in existent life, Hijuelos portrayed her well. It'southward just that she didn't have very much to offering. When I picked up this volume, I besides hoped for a broader pic of Havana in the fifties, but since Beautiful Maria didn't lead a busy social life and wasn't interested in politics either, we don't go much of it in the story.

I had the audio version of the book, and it was very well read past Armando Durán. I liked the frequent Castilian intrusions into the text equally they added authenticity to the linguistic communication, even though they might have been a hinderance had I been reading the book.

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Oct 28, 2014 Pete Dematteo rated it really liked it

once once more, reading Oscar hijuelos is like sitting in some old timer's living room on southwest calle eight, or under the palms in his back yard, with a loving cup of succulent Cuban coffee, and having some former lady in a housedress bringing out pastels to crumb on.

Maria was certainly a beautiful adult female, but she was attracted to the incorrect types of men because she was a victim of incest by her papi. As a immature lady, she had been quite sensitive indeed, despite the abuse, only Havana ruined her. She seemed to

once once more, reading Oscar hijuelos is like sitting in some onetime timer'due south living room on southwest calle 8, or under the palms in his dorsum thou, with a loving cup of delicious Cuban coffee, and having some old lady in a housedress bringing out pastels to nibble on.

Maria was certainly a cute woman, simply she was attracted to the wrong types of men considering she was a victim of incest past her papi. As a young lady, she had been quite sensitive indeed, despite the corruption, but Havana ruined her. She seemed to accept made a career out of making bad decisions and degrading herself, addicted exclusively to garish men, with exaggerated masculinity, at the cost of forming healthy relationships with more appropriate and available men, or even women. A psychoananlyst'due south dream.

Fifty-fifty well into her 50's, strutting however restrictedly effectually opulent Coral Gables, she was the type who would quickly run across the eyes of some youth xxx years her inferior and really consider him to exist a potential lover. That's how damaged she was! But look what she'd been through with the poverty and the machismo. Like an aged street prostitute or promiscuious homosexual, her spiritual bankruptcy had only been partially self-imposed, but I couldn't aid but remember about the similarities of the three groups.

She ended up a common cold and alone woman, with only her cat and her troubled daughter to keep her from utter madness, I guess, simply the book was a real roller coaster ride.

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Jun 12, 2010 Brenda rated information technology liked information technology

The guy can tell a story, merely the story lacked depth. Unrequited honey, love for the sake of money, sexual practice equals honey are universal themes presented here with some passion. The only grapheme I actually loved was Maria's reading maestro. And even he was so bugged by her beauty that he didn't criticize her. The guy can tell a story, but the story lacked depth. Unrequited love, love for the sake of money, sex equals dearest are universal themes presented here with some passion. The only character I really loved was Maria'southward reading maestro. And even he was so bugged past her beauty that he didn't criticize her. ...more

Jul 31, 2010 Linda rated it actually liked information technology

I hadn't read a lot of books about the Cuban experience, so this book taught me several things nearly the civilisation and what Maria does to leave her poor background. The author won the Pulitzer for his commencement book "Mambo Kings," in which Maria appears, and I was eager to read what happened to her. She'southward a very circuitous graphic symbol. Warning -some people might exist put off by how risque the book is. I hadn't read a lot of books most the Cuban experience, and so this book taught me several things about the culture and what Maria does to leave her poor background. The author won the Pulitzer for his first book "Mambo Kings," in which Maria appears, and I was eager to read what happened to her. She's a very circuitous grapheme. Alert -some people might exist put off past how risque the book is. ...more

A smashing read on many levels, with some serious shortcomings that might bother feminist readers. Be prepared for graphic sex activity scenes. Hijuelos' keen strength prevarication in recreating a place, a time and a culture. Run into the review I wrote for the Portland Oregonian here: http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index... A smashing read on many levels, with some serious shortcomings that might bother feminist readers. Exist prepared for graphic sexual activity scenes. Hijuelos' smashing strength lie in recreating a place, a time and a culture. See the review I wrote for the Portland Oregonian here: http://www.oregonlive.com/books/alphabetize... ...more

I give up. I made it about i/iii in and that's it. A lightbulb went off and I realized, I don't HAVE to keep going. I tin end.
Anyone looking for this new championship? I'm going to put information technology on swap... I give up. I fabricated it about 1/3 in and that's it. A lightbulb went off and I realized, I don't HAVE to keep going. I tin can stop.
Anyone looking for this new title? I'm going to put it on swap... ...more

Jul 19, 2010 Cindy rated it did not like it

This volume is boring and repetitive. It was tiresome hearing how the graphic symbol thought she was and so beautiful and oversexed.

October 12, 2020 Keith rated it it was ok

Maria Garcia y Cifuentes, the muse who inspired then much passion, longing and music in The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Honey, returns as the middle of attending in Oscar Hijuelos' extension and re-telling of the Mambo Kings story. Ready in both pre-revolution Republic of cuba and the U.s.a., this novel traces Maria's fifty-year journeying from her humble origins in the Cuban countryside to her rising as a notable figure in Havana's nighttime lodge scene to her ii trips—and eventual self-imposed exile—to America. Thousand Maria Garcia y Cifuentes, the muse who inspired so much passion, longing and music in The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Dearest, returns every bit the middle of attention in Oscar Hijuelos' extension and re-telling of the Mambo Kings story. Gear up in both pre-revolution Republic of cuba and the United states of america, this novel traces Maria's fifty-year journey from her humble origins in the Cuban countryside to her rise equally a notable figure in Havana's night club scene to her 2 trips—and eventual self-imposed exile—to America. Much of the story involves Maria's effort to find a balance between her passions and her need for comfort and security, an issue she struggles with throughout her life. In the procedure of telling her story, the author introduces the reader to a dizzying array of existent and imagined supporting characters and some of the most lasciviously extravagant linguistic communication I have encounter in quite some time.

I am really torn in my feelings about this book. At its all-time, the novel does a wonderful task recreating the intoxicating atmosphere and rhythms of daily life in Havana in the years before Castro assumed control of the country. These descriptions were moving and very evocative; collectively, they corporeality to zippo curt of a paean and love letter to the spirit and resilience of the Cuban people in that long-gone time and place. Also, the relatively brief section describing the years that Cesar and Nestor Castillo—Los Reyes del Mambo themselves—spent in New York and their rise to fame was engaging and a great reminder of what made their original story and so deservedly popular in the first place.

On the other hand, what did not piece of work nigh too was the chronicle of Maria's life, which, of course, is the main point of this volume. But put, this woman is neither interesting nor peculiarly likeable. Hijuelos spends and then much time disarming us that "Beautiful Maria" is actually, truly beautiful—he seldom lets a page go past without reminding the states of that fact—that her character becomes flat and one-dimensional. He seems to want us to believe that Maria is a complex, sympathetic person who has survived life in a heroic fashion, only what nosotros ultimately get is a portrait of someone who only learns to trade her looks in order to improve her economical condition. Even her great on-again, off-again dearest affair with Nestor seems to have little basis other than their mutual obsession with her beauty and the size of his "pinga" (which, by the mode, is described in lurid item throughout the volume). That this brief, physically motivated thing could so profoundly influence the deportment of the protagonists over the next forty years is implausible, to say the least.

This novel, and then, is one of contrasts: it is at once a lovingly rendered portrait of an era that is rapidly receding from our retentivity as well as a rather pedestrian business relationship of a woman the reader never learns to care much about. I tin recommend reading information technology—Hijuelos is certainly a talented enough author that it is unlikely you will exist bored, even in the most repetitive passages—just unfortunately that recommendation is not without significant reservations.

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Why use so many Spanish words? It's absolutely useless in this volume - and then annoying! Showtime of all, if the reader doesn't know Spanish these words don't mean anything to them and they can't even phonetically imagine what they sound similar. These random Spanish phrases and words were some of the worst parts of the volume.

Second - we get it. Maria is Beautiful! But chapter later on chapter he takes upward pages describing how beautiful she is. No you don't go it - she's really beautiful. And men want her.

Why use so many Spanish words? It's absolutely useless in this book - and and so annoying! First of all, if the reader doesn't know Spanish these words don't mean anything to them and they tin can't even phonetically imagine what they audio similar. These random Spanish phrases and words were some of the worst parts of the book.

Second - we go it. Maria is BEAUTIFUL! But chapter later on chapter he takes upward pages describing how beautiful she is. No y'all don't get it - she's really beautiful. And men want her. She's really beautiful and stunning. Did I mention she'southward really pretty and has great NALGAS?

Bad. Don't waste your time.

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An Cuban love story with extreme erotic tension. But now I am a bit confused. Is this story fact or fiction? The sexual scenes with Maria Garcia y Cifuentes and Nestor Castillo are described in a very detailed way. Who has given a permission for that? In the finish of the book there is an argument of that between the daughter of Maria and the author himself.
I am searching the couple by google, but I don't discover any real persons. If it is a fiction story, I take been cheated in a very practiced way! Bu An Cuban love story with extreme erotic tension. Simply at present I am a bit dislocated. Is this story fact or fiction? The sexual scenes with Maria Garcia y Cifuentes and Nestor Castillo are described in a very detailed fashion. Who has given a permission for that? In the end of the volume there is an statement of that between the daughter of Maria and the author himself.
I am searching the couple past google, merely I don't find any existent persons. If information technology is a fiction story, I have been cheated in a very skilful style! But information technology is a good story anyway. ...more

This one's difficult to rate. In that location was a lot to like...and a lot of fluff. I take yet to read the original it was based on, just all the same, could experience it become off the rails once it diverged from the source textile. The terminate is salvaged somewhat by fourth-wall bursting meta moment that was so audacious, it has to be applauded This one's difficult to rate. There was a lot to like...and a lot of fluff. I have yet to read the original it was based on, merely notwithstanding, could feel information technology go off the rails once it diverged from the source material. The terminate is salvaged somewhat by fourth-wall bursting meta moment that was so audacious, it has to be applauded ...more

May 01, 2021 Paula Murtagh rated it did not similar it

Abandoned.
I expected a skillful book. Pulitzer Prize winning author.
This is porn. This is the 3rd time I gave up on the book and I'm washed for sure. I'm halfway through and I had wanted to know what was going to happen but I'm left wondering, what was the point? If I never hear the word pinga over again, I would exist happy.
Nada stars. I want my time dorsum.

Yes, I realize this book is all nigh Cuba, and that they speak Castilian there. And I actually wish I knew Spanish. But, given that I don't, the frequent sprinkling of Spanish words took me out of the menstruation of the story and so often that I couldn't bask the story. Aye, I realize this book is all about Republic of cuba, and that they speak Spanish there. And I really wish I knew Spanish. Only, given that I don't, the frequent sprinkling of Castilian words took me out of the flow of the story so often that I couldn't enjoy the story. ...more

I couldn't stop this. I retrieve Maria being a pretty shallow, one-dimensional graphic symbol in The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Beloved and this book didn't fill her out or make her any more likable for me. I couldn't end this. I remember Maria being a pretty shallow, one-dimensional character in The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Beloved and this book didn't fill her out or make her any more than likable for me. ...more

A skillful book, I enjoyed it a lot. The author does a very expert job painting the scenes and emotions.

Apr eleven, 2021 Rosa rated information technology information technology was ok

Could have been romantic just was generally raunchy.

three.75 stars

My 2nd favorite Hijuelos book. Information technology's related to Mambo Kings, but y'all don't need to read that one to enjoy Maria's story. In fact, read this i showtime and then Mambo Kings can't detract from any of the joy & life in this book.

Prepare in pre-Revolution Cuba, the story follows the life of an exotic dancer and her friends & lovers. Beautifully flawed characters, lively settings, & tasting of the joy & sorrow of life, I highly recommend this. I've read it three times.

Feb 25, 2017 Kathleen rated information technology did not like it

Hard to believe this is the work of writer whose other work I take enjoyed. The one-dimensional title character, the plodding story, the repetitive cliche in describing places, foods, and even music... disappointed.

At times, Maria reminded me of the mother in The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, unsympathetic, ane-dimensional, and living in the by, just and then at other times, principally when she's convincing herself that she loves Nestor, she seems an enchantingly hopeless romantic. So she has two sides, but the other characters don't develop and we only ever see one side of them. I almost dare to remember that, like the Oscar Wao volume, the author has no real sympathy for female characters. They remain t At times, Maria reminded me of the mother in The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, unsympathetic, 1-dimensional, and living in the past, just and then at other times, principally when she's convincing herself that she loves Nestor, she seems an enchantingly hopeless romantic. So she has 2 sides, only the other characters don't develop and we only ever run into 1 side of them. I near cartel to call up that, like the Oscar Wao volume, the writer has no real sympathy for female characters. They remain as well mysterious. We're seeing Maria's story non from her perspective, but from the perspective of one of her salivating admirers. That said, the prose pulls the story along nicely. In the end information technology'southward a nicely written love story in which no one has ever really loved anyone, a argument about being extracted from ane's homeland and the incredible loneliness that comes with the sense of never belonging anywhere. Read from that perspective, it's a very powerful book.

I oasis't read The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, although I did see the movie when it came out, and then I don't know to what extent this book differs from the starting time book. Although the author's self-insertion in the final part of this book, complete with corking reviews of the Mambo Kings and its pic, was self-indulgent, I enjoyed the way it fabricated the last part of the book a meta-volume. The vocal in the movie is different than the song in the "real life" of this book, the film only showed Maria for a few minutes and she feels like a pocket-size role in the play of life. The story starts to proliferate in all kinds of different iterations, starting to become something eternal. The characters' objections to some of the details of the story within the story made them more than existent to me even every bit the fourth wall was torn down.

This was an advance reading re-create, and it was rife with type-os and unintentional mistakes in the Spanish. The rendering of the Castilian, with an English language translation right after, was a piffling wearisome. It doesn't add together anything to the story if information technology'southward that elementary to translate, anyway, so just stick with the English language in most cases.

...more than

Oscar Hijuelos (born August 24, 1951) is an American novelist. He is the first Hispanic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Hijuelos was built-in in New York City, in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, to Cuban immigrant parents. He attended the Corpus Christi School, public schools, and later attended Bronx Customs College, Lehman College, and Manhattan Community College before matriculating into and

Oscar Hijuelos (born August 24, 1951) is an American novelist. He is the first Hispanic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Hijuelos was born in New York Metropolis, in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, to Cuban immigrant parents. He attended the Corpus Christi School, public schools, and later attended Bronx Community College, Lehman College, and Manhattan Community Higher before matriculating into and studying writing at the City College of New York (B.A., 1975; G.A. in Creative Writing, 1976). He and so practiced diverse professions before taking upwardly writing full time. His first novel, Our House in the Last World, was published in 1983 and received the 1985 Rome Prize, awarded by the American University in Rome. His second novel, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Dear, received the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It was adjusted for the flick The Mambo Kings in 1992 and as a Broadway musical in 2005.

Hijuelos has taught at Hofstra University and is currently affiliated with Duke Academy, where he is a member of the faculty of the Department of English.

...more

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