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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Great story about a part of history I didn't know anything about. Books like this remind me of the power of story to help us understand what happened in our history with context and in a way that we will remember. This author approaches historical fiction with the intent to honor history and will re-tool the plot when her research uncovers information that require it. It's impressive. This book centers around three women who are all in different types of trouble and whose lives intersect during the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 that hit the Florida keys. There were many influences on people living in the keys during this time that are demonstrated through the story: The depression, the veterans from WWI that have come home and the government has given them jobs working on Flagler's railroad through the keys, a large criminal element tied to NY mob activity in the keys at this time; the end of prohibition a few years prior during which the keys played a large part in smuggling, the 1933 Cuban revolution and changes in society happening during this time. The author somehow was able to weave all these things together into a story that felt like anything but a history lesson. The characters may not all be likeable, but they are believable and there is a lot to discuss here. This would be a good book club pick, particularly during hurricane season!
Audiobook.
Delightful froth after the last two heavy books I listened to.
Delightful froth after the last two heavy books I listened to.
I really enjoyed this story, it was good...but it could have been great. I would have loved to hear more about the historical aspects, specifically about the WWI veteran camps. And, the intersecting stories of the 3 women and men was way too tidy and convenient to be believable. Unfortunately, that brought me ought of the story more than it should have.
I’m not sure why I kept listening to this book, except to see if it would get worse. It did. Misogynistic, predictable, improbable, and trite. I didn’t expect a complex narrative, but even for “beach reading”, this fell short.
The Last Train to Key West begins just days before the Great Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. The country is still feeling the impact of the Great Depression. The three main characters' paths first cross in Key West at Ruby’s Diner where we meet the young women whose lives will be changed by the horrific disaster about to occur.
Helen Berner is nine months pregnant and is still working at Ruby’s as a waitress. She is trapped in a marriage with an abusive husband. Mirta Perez has married a virtual stranger after her Cuban family has lost its social standing under the new Batista regime. The newlyweds have come to the Keys for their honeymoon before the wealthy American businessman takes Mirta back to New York. Elizabeth Preston’s family was ruined in the stock market crash and she is now engaged to man she does not love. She flees New York and heads to the Keys to find her brother, a war veteran, to escape her fiancé. The women’s lives intersect again when they each travel to Upper Matecumbe, where the hurricane lands creating catastrophic damage and tragic death.
In addition to the engaging stories of the three women, filled with love and determination, author Chanel Cleeton does an excellent job providing well-researched history which was rich in detail including Henry Flagler’s ambitious railroad project hoping to link New York with Havana and the veterans who were housed in deplorable camps to work on its construction.
This was such an enjoyable and interesting journey. I could not put the book down.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Berkley / Penguin Publishing Book and Ms. Cleeton for an advance copy of this riveting book which will be published on June 16, 2020.
Rated 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com
Helen Berner is nine months pregnant and is still working at Ruby’s as a waitress. She is trapped in a marriage with an abusive husband. Mirta Perez has married a virtual stranger after her Cuban family has lost its social standing under the new Batista regime. The newlyweds have come to the Keys for their honeymoon before the wealthy American businessman takes Mirta back to New York. Elizabeth Preston’s family was ruined in the stock market crash and she is now engaged to man she does not love. She flees New York and heads to the Keys to find her brother, a war veteran, to escape her fiancé. The women’s lives intersect again when they each travel to Upper Matecumbe, where the hurricane lands creating catastrophic damage and tragic death.
In addition to the engaging stories of the three women, filled with love and determination, author Chanel Cleeton does an excellent job providing well-researched history which was rich in detail including Henry Flagler’s ambitious railroad project hoping to link New York with Havana and the veterans who were housed in deplorable camps to work on its construction.
This was such an enjoyable and interesting journey. I could not put the book down.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Berkley / Penguin Publishing Book and Ms. Cleeton for an advance copy of this riveting book which will be published on June 16, 2020.
Rated 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com
I enjoyed this book. A fairly quick read for me. I enjoyed the characters and would love to read a follow up book about Mirta and her life in New York.
The book follows 3 women who start in Key West. They travel north for different reasons. With a hurricane approaching and each woman having to deal with a problem, the last half of the book picked up speed and I couldn’t put it down.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and author.
The book follows 3 women who start in Key West. They travel north for different reasons. With a hurricane approaching and each woman having to deal with a problem, the last half of the book picked up speed and I couldn’t put it down.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and author.
This book kept me interested throughout. I found the history fascinating, characters endearing and the hurricane tragic.
I definitely liked her other books better: next year in Havana and when I left Cuba. This one seemed to be about female empowerment but then everyone had a man to help them in the end, like the knight in shining armor. It was too tidy and good for a nice, easy read. But definitely didn’t pull me as a strong read like her others.
What did I dislike about this? That list would be smaller because it’s literally zero items. I loved the alternating POVs, the beautifully written characters, the suspense that surrounds each of their lives, and how all of their lives connected to each other. ⠀
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I definitely loved meeting another Perez—this time its Mirta (Emilio’s sister). We also meet Helen, a very pregnant waitress from Key West with an abusive husband (side note: there are parts of this that describe abuse), and Elizabeth, an ex Manhattan socialite who’s family has fallen on hard times during the depression. ⠀
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I absolutely love how Chanel Cleeton creates such strong, compelling, and resilient female characters. In all three of the books involving the Perez family, I cannot get enough of how awesome these women are. They are always defying the odds to create their own happy ending the way they want and I AM HERE FOR IT. Also can we please get a book about Elisa and Beatriz’ mom? Or maybe the Corsair and his wife? Either way I’m ready. ⠀
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This was one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read. 5mil/10 recommend.
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I definitely loved meeting another Perez—this time its Mirta (Emilio’s sister). We also meet Helen, a very pregnant waitress from Key West with an abusive husband (side note: there are parts of this that describe abuse), and Elizabeth, an ex Manhattan socialite who’s family has fallen on hard times during the depression. ⠀
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I absolutely love how Chanel Cleeton creates such strong, compelling, and resilient female characters. In all three of the books involving the Perez family, I cannot get enough of how awesome these women are. They are always defying the odds to create their own happy ending the way they want and I AM HERE FOR IT. Also can we please get a book about Elisa and Beatriz’ mom? Or maybe the Corsair and his wife? Either way I’m ready. ⠀
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This was one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read. 5mil/10 recommend.