Broken Paradise - by Cecilia Samartin (Paperback)

About the Book

In the spirit of "The Kite Runner," this shimmering literary debut traces thepath of two cousins--one who left Cuba at the brink of revolution and the onewho stayed behind.

Book Synopsis

Cuba, 1956: Cousins Nora and Alicia are accustomed to living among Havana's privileged class -- but their lavish dinners, days at the beach, and extravagant dances come to an end after Castro's rise to power. Food becomes scarce, religion is forbidden, and disease runs rampant. Although Alicia stays behind while Nora emigrates to the United States, both of their identities are challenged as they try to adapt to the changes forced upon them. As the situation in Cuba deteriorates, Alicia is beset by bad fortune, while Nora -- whose heart is still in Cuba -- painfully assimilates into middle-class U.S. culture. Letters between the cousins track their lives until Alicia's situation becomes so difficult that Nora is forced to return and help. But what she finds in Cuba is like nothing she ever imagined.

Told with wrenching insight into the tender balance between the hope and grief that shapes the immigrant heart, Broken Paradise is an extraordinarily powerful novel about passion, love, and the heart's yearning for home.

Review Quotes

"A heart wrenching story of separation, love, and redemption gently told through two cousins as they confront the political realities of Castro's revolution and its aftermath. This is a story I can truly identify with. It is a story that Cecilia Samartin has told with astounding courage and grace."
-- Viviana Carballo, author of Havana Salsa: Stories and Recipes

"A nostalgic story that sieves smoothly in the folds of our memory, transporting us to a universe of flavors, unforgettable colors and Cuban landscapes. A tribute to those who live far from their homelands."
-- Javier Sierra, author of New York Times bestseller The Secret Supper

"Cecilia Samartin delivers a novel rich in passion, heartbreak and love. Broken Paradise captures the textures and rhythms of my homeland of Cuba with its musical, agile prose and kept me engrossed to the last page. An important, timely work of fiction, it goes to the heart of what it means to be an exile. A truly American story."
-- Victor Rivas Rivers, actor and author of A Private Family Matter

"Cecilia Samartin writes with shimmering grace about homeland and exile, passion and loyalty...A richly textured story, sensuous and haunting."
-- Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander

"Gripping, poignant, and enlightening...a profound meditation on the complexities of the human heart and the redeeming power of love."
-- Carlos Eire, National Book Award-winning author of Waiting for Snow in Havana

"I dare anyone not to be moved...the book is ultimately uplifting -- a testimony to the strength of love and the human spirit."
-- Traveller Magazine

"It's like drinking a full bottle of Cabernet by yourself."
-- New Zealand Public Radio

"She spins a gripping tale."
-- Kirkus Reviews