A Colombian author who has won high praise from Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Hardcover signed by the author.

I found it slow going, the plot twists sometimes too stereotypical, the quirky choices of what to leave in Spanish frustrating, the ending too pat, the timelines sometimes off-kilter. And for me Sayonara, the main character, didn't always come through. But I liked many of the supporting characters, the color and dignity Restrepo finds in them in their rural slum serving the transnational oil company. It's fascinating to know that Restrepo is a journalist-turned-novelist and that she really met and talked with the people on whom these characters are based. The chapter about the strike is worth reading just for itself. I also enjoyed the perspective in the NY Times review-- a little insight into the past and present of Colombia helps balance out my appreciation. Here's the link, hope it works -- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E7D6173FF93BA3575AC0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Offered as a RABCK to LyekkaMarengo, who accepted. Yay! Off it goes on Monday.

This was on my wishlist, though I have to admit I don't know where I heard of it. Anything on my wishlist at least merits a try.

Never got around to this one. It will be moving on. Maybe AAUW in State College, PA