Set in Cuba during Fulgencio Batista's reign as dictator, the novel follows the intersecting lives of several families of white American expatriates, the men of which work for the United Fruit Company. Several Americans who, back home, would have been of different classes and never mixed, become close while living in Cuba. K.C. Stites, the son of the CEO, with the encouragement of his mother, grows close with Everly Lederer, the daughter of a man who was considered weak and ineffectual back home. His best friend is from the Allain family whom the Stites consider hillbillys and who is rumoured to have killed a man back in America. The Carringtons are a couple who lived in Latin America for most of their lives and have a bitter acerbic marriage. Tip Carrington regularly cheats on his wife, and Mrs. Carrington has turned to alcohol in order to help.
In 1958, the rebel forces begin to grow stronger and gain sympathy from several of the children of the white expatriates. K.C's older brother Del runs off to join the rebels and helps to organize attacks against his father. After a bomb goes off in the United Fruit Company's prestigious club, the white Americans are forced to evacuate by their government.
Characters
K.C. Stites, a young boy whose father works for the United Fruit Company and whose older brother Del runs off to join Fidel Castro and his rebel army.
Everly Lederer, a shy young girl with coke-bottle glasses who thinks that life in Cuba will be like the novel Treasure Island.
Rachel K., a young woman of vague European extraction who pretends to be from France and dances a burlesque. She is close to several of the overthrown presidents.
La Mazière, a former Nazi officer who helps to supply arms to the differing warring factions in Cuba and eventually joins the rebels in the mountains helping to train them in the art of war.
Reception
The novel received positive reviews upon its release. On The Omnivore, based on British press, the book received an "omniscore" of 4.5 out of 5.[2] In September/October 2008 issue of Bookmarks, the book received 4 out of 5 stars, with the critical summary saying, "But overall, Kushner’s magnificent debut re-creates a lost world and era".[3]
A review for The New York Times called the style of the novel "sure and sharp, studded with illuminating images."[4]The Guardian dubbed it "an epic and enjoyable look at wealth tainted by loss in expatriate Cuba."[5] In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews called the novel "Soundly researched and gorgeously written, the creative story also serves as a history lesson. An imaginative work that brings Cuban-American history to life."[6]
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