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A review by suzzeb22
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos
4.0
Compared to Oscar Hijuelos' book Mr. Ives Christmas, this book is a lot racier. He fills pages up with stories of sexual encounters between Cesar Castillo and a huge number of women including Vanna Vane, a blonde bombshell. His brother Nestor also has romantic encounters and lots of heartache.
The characters are very well realized, particularly Cesar who lives until his 60's. His struggles with his machismo, his fight to stay a musician, his failed club, his ageing etc. All of these are well explored.
I felt melancholy whenever he would reminisce about Cuba and how happy he was as a child walking through fields of wildflowers. Some beautiful and touching moments and beautiful prose by the author.
The characters are very well realized, particularly Cesar who lives until his 60's. His struggles with his machismo, his fight to stay a musician, his failed club, his ageing etc. All of these are well explored.
I felt melancholy whenever he would reminisce about Cuba and how happy he was as a child walking through fields of wildflowers. Some beautiful and touching moments and beautiful prose by the author.