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A review by ifyouhappentoremember
Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina García
2.0
If a book promises me a multi-generational family saga spanning time and place, I'm sold. Dreaming in Cuban is one of the more unique books in this mold I've read. Not only is the story told in a non-linear fashion and its location flipping between New York City and Cuba, the narrative switches between third person, first person, and epistolary. Garcia explores the various ways family threads can fray, ranging from exile to political disagreements.
It is highly ambitious. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. Family sagas work best for me when I care about the characters and I didn't have strong feelings about any character in this book. Despite the narrative shifts, every character's perspective sounded similar to each other.
I thought the ending was the strongest section of the book. However, a book having a strong ending doesn't mean the other 90% of the book is worth slogging through.
It is highly ambitious. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. Family sagas work best for me when I care about the characters and I didn't have strong feelings about any character in this book. Despite the narrative shifts, every character's perspective sounded similar to each other.
I thought the ending was the strongest section of the book. However, a book having a strong ending doesn't mean the other 90% of the book is worth slogging through.