Finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction
The debut novel by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Kushner, called “shimmering” (The New Yorker), “multilayered and absorbing” (The New York Times Book Review), and “gorgeously written” (Kirkus Reviews).
Young Everly Lederer and K.C. Stites come of age in Oriente Province, where the Americans tend their own fiefdom—three hundred thousand acres of United Fruit Company sugarcane that surround their gated enclave. If the rural tropics are a child's dreamworld, Everly and K.C. nevertheless have keen eyes for the indulgences and betrayals of the grown-ups around them—the mordant drinking and illicit loves, the race hierarchies and violence.
In Havana, a thousand kilometers and a world away from the American colony, a cabaret dancer meets a French agitator named Christian de La Mazière, whose seductive demeanor can't mask his shameful past. Together they become enmeshed in the brewing political underground. When Fidel and Raúl Castro lead a revolt from the mountains above the cane plantation, torching the sugar and kidnapping a boat full of "yanqui" revelers, K.C. and Everly begin to discover the brutality that keeps the colony humming. Though their parents remain blissfully untouched by the forces of history, the children hear the whispers of what is to come.
Kushner's first novel is a tour de force, haunting and compelling, with the urgency of a telex from a forgotten time and place.
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"The story of Americans in Cuba prior to Castro's revolution, it occurs through flashbacks and memories of some of the kids who grew up on the island, but tells in "real time" the story of the adults. I didn't think I would like this book, because it comes across as very-unPC. But the main character apologizes for that -- he knows his attitudes aren't the correct ones, nor were the attitudes of his parents and their "friends." It was an interesting look at a region that continues to vex us to this very day."
— Amanda (4 out of 5 stars)
" Interesting local color but flat characters. "
— Maureen, 2/16/2014" Couldn't put the book down...great story and historical insignt. "
— Carolhdaniels, 2/12/2014" This was not for me. At 100 pages I was still looking for a plot, and I didn't care about any of the characters (and there were a lot of them). The back half picked up a little, but if I hadn't been reading it for a book club, I wouldn't have made it that far. As a book club book, I do have several questions, and I suspect a thoughtful analysis might make me appreciate it more. But in terms of reading enjoyment, it didn't happen for me. "
— Nancy, 2/9/2014" This book captures the American presence in Cuba as the Castro brothers were gaining power. It follows families working for an American manufacturing company. It's kind of like 'Mad Men' in Cuba. "
— Dianne, 1/22/2014" For a book whose ending was a given, I was disappointed by the weak plot and characterization. Some of the writing was exquisite but uneven enough that I was too often bored. Seemed historically accurate but lacked any punch. "
— Margaret, 1/18/2014" Americans in Cuba before the revolution. "
— Dan, 12/10/2013" Not top notch literature, but very interesting in terms of its depiction of pre-Revolution Cuba. "
— Corinne, 11/14/2013" Really interesting view of the American influence in preCastro Cuba. "
— Melinda, 11/4/2013" I really enjoyed this story about Americans in Cuba when Castro took over. Lots of different characters who were all interesting. "
— Rena, 10/13/2013" this book is interesting because it's a fictionalized account of what happened to the Americans in Cuba right before and during the revolution. "
— christie, 10/8/2013" I loved the dialogue in the book. It is told from several different perspectives, most of them children. I loved the insight into Americans in Cuba during the 1950s. I laughed all through the book and had a little cry in the last few chapters. Good one. "
— Chantel, 8/9/2013" set in cuba right before the revolution-the americans bask in luxury oblvious to the poverty and conditions which the workers chafe against.nostalgia for a time which had to end but was beautiful for a priveleged child-very interesting and the narration alternates in a varied manner.great read. "
— Laura, 7/28/2013" I kept waiting to find the plot in this book. It is basically a narrative of life as a wealthy American in pre-revolution Cuba. Not bad, but definitely not the great novel that the NY Times portrayed it to be. "
— Mary, 6/8/2013" fabulous read. different perspective on cuba. "
— Deirdre, 5/16/2013" This was just what I needed during a hectic week. Fiction that was well written and interesting. The story of being white and corporate right before el revolution. Good story. "
— Lewis, 5/2/2013" What it was like to spend your childhood in Cuba in the 50s when your fathers were running the sugar plantations of the United Fruit Company. Then the revolution led by your neighbors--the Castro brothers. Fascinating! "
— Pamela, 12/22/2012" This book fed my fascination with Cuba. "
— Mary, 2/1/2012" Learned alot about Americans living in Cuba. It was an interesting view of what life was like before Castro. "
— Cindy, 12/30/2011" i can't even remember how it ended. "
— Ksto28, 10/26/2011" This historical fiction of Cuba before Castro was fascinating and has made me want to read more Cuban history during this time period. "
— Ruie, 10/23/2011" excellent book. think i would appreciate it even more if i reread it. also would help to look up some of the historical references. a great book club book. "
— nitsirkvil, 8/23/2011" I can't pinpoint exactly why I didn't like this book, but it is one of the very few books that I have ever put down without finishing. I'm usually such an optimist that I think the author is going to "pull it out" by the end of the book. I couldn't keep muddling through this one. Sorry. "
— Kay, 7/28/2011" really well-written historical fiction about US ex-pats in the United Fruit enclave of Oriente in mid-to-late, pre-revolutionary Cuba. "
— Gregory, 6/4/2011" Americans in Cuba before the revolution. "
— Dan, 4/27/2011" not really holding my attention, but OK "
— Emily, 4/19/2011" A glorified harlequin romance billed as historical fiction. Somehow this book was up for National Book Award. A yawner of a story, which is hard to achieve given it was set in 1950s Cuba amid two government overthrows. Kushner fixated on sex leaving all of her characters shallow. "
— Dennis, 3/27/2011" Ever read a book that was half good & half bad? That was this book for me. I was just glad to be done with this book. "
— Jay, 3/5/2011" This historical fiction of Cuba before Castro was fascinating and has made me want to read more Cuban history during this time period. "
— Ruie, 2/6/2011" Interesting read on the American experience in pre-revolutionary Cuba. "
— Maria, 1/10/2011" A fun read with an interesting historical perspective on Americans living in Cuba just prior to the Cuban revolution. "
— Susan, 1/5/2011" This book went far in satisfying my desire to learn more about life in Cuba during this period. While the storyline itself may not have been riveting, the historical account and descriptiveness of the environment were wonderful. I feel it added significantly--and credibly-- to my understanding. "
— Gerrie, 12/2/2010" Not a bad premise/story but it is disjointed and tedious. "
— Emily, 11/18/2010" I really enjoyed this book about Cuba on the brink of revolution. Just good writing. "
— Joey, 11/15/2010" excellent book. think i would appreciate it even more if i reread it. also would help to look up some of the historical references. a great book club book. "
— nitsirkvil, 11/8/2010" Interesting local color but flat characters. "
— Maureen, 10/20/2010" I thought I would get some insight into what the expat population in Cube went through during the revolution. Wrong! Nothing but petty, fatuous infighting among very boring people. "
— Lou, 9/28/2010Rachel Kushner is the author of four bestselling novels, a novella, and short stories. She has won the Prix Médicis and been a finalist for the Booker Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Folio Prize, and was twice a finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction. She is a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and the recipient of the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her books are translated into twenty-seven languages.
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.