A review by bgg616
The Strange Case of Rachel K by Rachel Kushner

4.0

I am a fan of Rachel Kushner although I am discovering she is not loved by all. I didn't realize these stories were set primarily in Cuba but looking closely at the book jacket, the Cuban flag is recognizable. I read this in an hour. It is a portrayal of the decadent side of colonialism. One image that struck me was the French Nazi SS officer reflecting that the American Cadillacs roaming the streets of pre-revolution Cuba reminded him of the Nazis driving Mercedes through Paris. Chilling. While the time period is not defined, it can be estimated by the entrance of Batista (1940). The critical details is that this is post-Spanish American War and pre-Cuban Revolution of 1959. Rachel K is not the author, but coincidentally, as Kushner points out, has the same name. She was a prostitute found murdered in a Havana hotel room. A short book, full of intriguing details of the crimes of colonialism, and a portrayal of Havana I'd not seen before.