A review by mrmuleman
Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe

3.0

Another social critique / satire from the white suited professor emeritus of New York's literary world. Overall, this novel examines some fascinating aspects of the cultural and ethnic divides that criss cross this unique American metropolis, exploring the inter-relations of the Cuban, African-American, WASP, and Russian populations that dominate the Miami social structure. But while Wolfe once again exercises his powers of minutia detail (the particular brand of sunglasses that Miami Cuban cops all wear as an example), in this book, at times, he appears to be more of an observing outsider than usual. At times the characters, their motivations and interests, feel like they are being described by an anthropologist, someone so removed from their existence that his descriptions read more like an academic treatise, and less like the connected story that Wolfe is capable of.

Overall, an interesting book, especially if you're interested in the city and culture of Miami, but not one of Wolfe's classic works.