this is a powerful historical novel told from the dual perspectives of a guatemalan refugee who has fled to los angeles, only to end up homeless, and a former guatemalan soldier who has migrated to los angeles to build a new life. both men find themselves in a los angeles that is about to explode into race riots. through flashbacks, which vary from tender to violent, the reader gradually discovers the shared history of these two guatemalan men, ultimately speeding toward their present-day encounter. the book is based on actual events that did occur during the guatemalan civil war. by the time i finished reading it, i honestly did not know which of the characters was evil and which was innocent. both characters contained varying levels of each element.

the novel certainly leaves the reader with much to contemplate. i recommend it to anyone interested in guatemalan history, race relations, or the psychological extremes men can be driven to.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

released on the benches at the entrance to the restaurant after our meetup. :)

I picked this book up at a bookcrossing meeting from another bookcrosser.

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