Nicole W. (elocina) reviewed on 10/9/2005 + 53 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Didn't like the characters as much as I did in Baggage, but more suspenseful than Solo. Like Baggage, you get to see the point of view of multiple characters instead of just one, which works better for Barr (as compared to Solo). There was a psychological thriller aspect to the book that clearly worked. I wish the author could've gone into more description of Cuba, instead of one brief conversation with a Cuban about how the system works, because that's one of the true reasons why people are reading the book. A cashier even stopped me when I was checking out of Whole Foods in Manhattan to have a five minute conversation about Cuba, because I was carrying this book. Cuban life could have been more integral to the plot I thought, instead of Barr's whole "this person has a secret, let's find out how it is and how they go on to deal with their lives" formula that's so typical of every book I've read by her. I mean Barr started out as a travel writer by trade so you'd think she's say something more than it's beautiful and the people there dress well and love children. I thought the effects of the socialist system were simplifed.

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