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gomar93's review against another edition
4.0
I am confident that Padura's novel would serve as a wonderful introduction to Cuban culture through its use of the sort of Cuban vernacular (in language and thought) that anyone studying Spanish has got to love.
Deseos, hemingwayanismo, and humor are all inescapable Cuban themes that the novel presents wonderfully. The presence of deseos (wishes) is in the retrospective dialogue — that of the servants-turned-family under Hemingway — to the constant self-doubt of ex-detective Mario Conde in his search for truth behind what happened to Hemingway over 40 years prior that made him leave Cuba. After the adolescent Conde briefly met Hemingway in a fishing getaway with his grandfather years ago, he hailed the American author an inspiration for his own novice literary career, which he now focuses on. The "hemingwayanos cubanos" that Conde associates himself to be a part of are simply Cubans that read Hemingway's work, though the term could also be used to label Hemingway's workers in his home of Finca Vigía during his time in Cuba. After investigated on by Conde, these Cubans who reverentially called Hemingway "Papa," admired the writer much more for what he gave them monetarily AND affectionately rather than artistically. This is very key to understanding current Americans-in-Cuba and how Hemingway's presence in the country remains distinct and perhaps misunderstood. Humor, present in perhaps too many interactions within Cuba, is present throughout the entire murder mystery — I'd rather let you read and find out for yourself. The imagery of the final scene alone is worth reading the entire novel.
Deseos, hemingwayanismo, and humor are all inescapable Cuban themes that the novel presents wonderfully. The presence of deseos (wishes) is in the retrospective dialogue — that of the servants-turned-family under Hemingway — to the constant self-doubt of ex-detective Mario Conde in his search for truth behind what happened to Hemingway over 40 years prior that made him leave Cuba. After the adolescent Conde briefly met Hemingway in a fishing getaway with his grandfather years ago, he hailed the American author an inspiration for his own novice literary career, which he now focuses on. The "hemingwayanos cubanos" that Conde associates himself to be a part of are simply Cubans that read Hemingway's work, though the term could also be used to label Hemingway's workers in his home of Finca Vigía during his time in Cuba. After investigated on by Conde, these Cubans who reverentially called Hemingway "Papa," admired the writer much more for what he gave them monetarily AND affectionately rather than artistically. This is very key to understanding current Americans-in-Cuba and how Hemingway's presence in the country remains distinct and perhaps misunderstood. Humor, present in perhaps too many interactions within Cuba, is present throughout the entire murder mystery — I'd rather let you read and find out for yourself. The imagery of the final scene alone is worth reading the entire novel.
luisbazinga's review against another edition
4.0
De los mejores libros que he leído este 2020. Aporta un poco de la biografía de Hemingway al igual que lo envuelve en un misterio, aue no es lo relevante, en donde la imaginación y la verdad encajan como anillo al dedo. Al final fue predecible pero me hizo pensar mucho y releer ciertas partes.
catherine_80's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
deathlores's review against another edition
1.0
So basically, this 230-page-long novel has only one female character and it's the memory of Ava Gardner... whose knickers are more important to the story than she is. Hahaha nope.
Me has decepcionado, Leonardo. Even Hemingway would be embarassed.
Me has decepcionado, Leonardo. Even Hemingway would be embarassed.
jonathantoews19's review
2.0
i understand that the point of detective fiction is to explore that which is regularly impossible, but if i never read another paragraph about ernest hemingway's boner i will be just fine
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