BookBrowse provided an ebook for me to review.
Female Endurance, Rom-Com, Mystery, History and The Importance of Books ( and the Usefulness of Iron Frying Pans)
Chanel Cleeton provides them all in this book. She has chosen to reveal them all through the revolving chapters among three women, Eva a Cuban teacher living in Cuba at the turn of the 20th Century, Pilar, a librarian, also Cuban who leaves for Florida during Fidel's rule, and Margo, a Brit in modern London who is a finder for a fee of lost or stolen items for rich clients.
Needless to say the lives of Eva and Pilar and their friends and family describe the history of Cuba from its overthrow of Spanish dominian, through the short-lived influence of the United States, to the revolution that brought Fidel Castro into power and reduced the country to one of submission and fear.
It is during these chapters that we learn of Eva's experience as a member of a group of teachers who came to Harvard to learn about American educational practices and to show Cuban life and culture to their nearest neighbor now that they were free of Spanish rule and could establish themselves as an independent nation, Here, too, we are privy to the short romance between Eva and an American, James Webber. A romance that lead to heartbreak for her, not a real surprise. It also resulted in her penning of a novel she wrote about the experience called A Time for Forgetting. This book becomes the real star of Cleeton's book! And its writing is the first of Cleeton's demonstration of the importance of books--here to the writer-- allowing her to express her sorrow and grief and alleviate the pain somewhat.
Also Pilar's story takes place under Fidel's rule. Her husband has been taken by his troops. She has no idea where he is of if alive. But, in an effort to defy the regime in some small way, Pilar has taken to rescuing books of families who are fleeing Cuba and cannot take them. Some are very valuable and should be turned over to the soldiers but she hides them and as the time goes on this activity brings her into danger. Once she uses the frying pan she too must flee Cuba. But, one of the books in her care is Eva's novel and she searches for Eva and returns the book to her. Once she lells Eva of how important the book became to her in her loneliness and then grief at the loss of her husband, Cleeton's second belief that some books are meant for some people and give them the strength or hope needed to live.
And finally, we have Margo and her ex-husband Luke, in London looking for Eva's novel. No one seems to know what happened to it and they must learn its story and whereabouts without Cleeton giving them the information we, the readers, have. And this is the rom-com, mystery piece. Several people seem to be looking for the book. Margo has a client as does Luke both interested in finding it. Why? My first thought was the secret of a child in the book--an effort to keep it a secret. Then, still related to the child, I thought it was for money. Either blackmail or a claim to an inheritance. Well, money is involved--isn't it always? Along with the mystery, Margo and Luke analyze their failed marriage and look, they are getting together again--easy to see it coming. But, here is the last point of importance of books--can give someone a place in the world, a knowledge of one's heritage and its importance.
An easy read, that covers all these aspects surprisingly well with good integration. Some of it is obvious in its conclusions but the parts pursuing Eva's novel is complex enough to keep it interesting..
The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbø
