I did not have high expectations when approaching The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love. I was hoping for a pleasant surprise. Sadly, there were only fleeting moments of surprise, not sufficient to elevate this book above the three-star mark. It won the 1990 Pulitzer Prize over Billy Bathgate. Since I haven't read that book yet, I assume it was mediocre. And with no other runner-ups, that year must have been lackluster in literary terms. Maybe they should have considered Get Shorty or Hocus Pocus. However, perhaps stooping to Jurassic Park would have been too low. In any case, the book was interesting but lacked, I don't know, a likable protagonist.

Nestor and Cesar Castillo are brothers from Cuba who arrive in New York in the 1940s, riding the mambo wave to become the Mambo Kings. They leave their families in Cuba: their abusive father, their doting mother, and for Nestor, an ex-lover who haunts him, and for Cesar, a wife and a daughter. Of the two, the younger Nestor is a shy trumpet player, while Cesar is a flamboyant singer, multi-instrumentalist, and dancer. The book is told from the perspective of the broken and dying Cesar in his room at the decrepit Hotel Splendor in Manhattan as he ruminates on his life while drinking. We learn the tragic stories of various musicians on the scene, killed over women, drugs, or unpaid bills. Most of the narrative is in the third person, but there are first-person interruptions in parentheses, and occasionally we step into the minds of Nestor and his unfortunate wife Delores as well.

There are some nice passages in these memories. For example, \\"it's as if he's a kid again running through the center of Las Piñas at carnival and the porches of the houses are lit with huge lanterns and the balconies garlanded with ribbons and tapers and flowers, and where he runs past so many musicians, musicians everywhere on the street corners, on the church steps, on the porches of houses, and continuing on toward the plaza, where the big orchestra is set up; that's the trumpet he hears echoing in the arcades of his town as he passes the columns and the shadows of couples hidden behind them and charges down steps past a garden, through the crowds and the dancers, to the bandstand, where that trumpet player, obese in a white suit, head tilted back, blows music up into the sky, and this carries and bounces off the walls of another arcade in Havana, and he's blowing the trumpet now at three in the morning, reeling in circles and laughing after a night out at the clubs and brothels with friends and his brother, laughing with the notes that whip into empty dark spaces and bounce back, swirling inside him like youth.\\" (p. 25). If only all the text was like this, it would have been a better book. As it is, the text is mostly about how awful Cesar is with women: using and losing them one after another, and his disregard for his daughter (despite half-hearted efforts to get to know her, ultimately failing to meet her as an adult).

There is some occasional insight that, as someone who grew up in Miami and was close to several Cuban families, I found appropriate in terms of how many Cubans deal with depression. \\"He didn't know what was going on. Cubans then (and Cubans now) didn't know about psychological problems. Cubans who felt bad went to their friends, ate and drank and went out dancing. Most of the time they wouldn't think about their problems. A psychological problem was part of someone's character. Cesar was un macho grande; Nestor, un infeliz. People who hurt bad enough and wanted cures expected these cures to come immediately.\\" (p. 114). This helps to explain, for me anyway, how this generation of Cuban immigrants became such hardcore conservatives and why there was so much spousal and child abuse (as shown in the book and in real life) in the community.

The key memory for Cesar and Nestor is the moment they meet Desi Arnaz and get a spot on the I Love Lucy show in 1955 to play Nestor's ballad \\"Beautiful Maria of My Soul\\", which gives their careers a temporary boost. The meeting is described in a typically Cuban way: \\"And then in the way that Cubans get really friendly, Arnaz and Cesar reinvented their pasts so that, in fact, they had probably been good friends.\\" (p. 127). Perhaps it is this idealism that doomed those who stayed in Cuba to accept a terrible regime under Castro and pushed the migrants to the US to success while their unprocessed psychological problems pulled their politics hard-right?

Unfortunately, two years later, Nestor - still crushed by his undiagnosed depression due to his lost love in Havana - dies in a car crash. The rest of Cesar's life is a slow descent into alcoholism and escapism, and this is the real issue I had with the book. I sort of liked Nestor, but really it was more out of pity than affection, and Cesar is just the boisterous Cuban asshole that I saw and detested when I grew up in Miami. Even Delores was a depressing character who never rises above her station when truly she could have. All the meaningless sex (and there is a lot of it) and discussions of Cesar's enormous prick got to be irritating as well.

In summary, this is a very melancholic book about extreme macho stereotypes who refuse to look in the mirror and take responsibility for their actions. \\"While [Nestor] was onstage and playing the solo to \\"Beautiful Maria\\", a bad sensation had started in his kneecap and risen slowly, rib by rib, through his chest and back before settling in his thoughts. It was the simple feeling that his desires somehow contradicted his purpose in his life, to write sad boleros, to lie sick in bed, to mourn long-past loves, to crave what he could never have.\\" (p. 180). Ultimately, Nestor dies with that last thought, and the reader is left to draw their own conclusions about the whole mess that the two brothers leave behind. I suppose that many of the situations relayed here by Hijuelos were autobiographical, but I just found that the pace was grueling at times and that I never liked or wanted to like Cesar - especially 300+ pages of his rambling, self-pitying memoirs.

My rating of all the Pulitzer Winners: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

After taking AP Spanish, my appreciation for literature originally written in Spanish has grown significantly.

This particular book was extremely popular in the early 1990s. Subsequently, a movie was released starring Antonio Banderas! The book was indeed good, yet it didn't possess the same magical charm as an Allende novel. It presented a very realistic portrayal, delving into themes such as revolutions and the pain of separation from loved ones.

The story revolves around two brothers who are part of a mambo band. One brother is highly focused on achieving success and becoming the next Desi Arnaz, while the other deeply misses the love of his life, who was left behind when the brothers came to the US and, to some extent, initiated the mambo fever. The narration skillfully switches between the two brothers, offering a unique perspective.

If you have a penchant for historical novels, a fascination with Latino culture, a love for mambo, and are interested in a novel where Desi Arnaz makes cameo appearances, then I would highly recommend this book!

What a truly terrific read this is! "The Mambo Kings Sing Songs of Love" presents the captivating story of two emigre brothers who make the momentous move from Cuba to NYC in 1949.

The narrative follows their arduous struggles as they adapt to a new country, their glorious triumphs in the face of adversity, their illusions that sometimes lead them astray, and their inevitable disillusions as reality sets in.

The characters are developed with an astonishing degree of sensitivity and pathos. They are real people, complete with all the achievements that bring joy, the disappointments that sting, the foibles that make them endearing, and the contradictions that make them complex, just like we have become accustomed to in our own lives.

Perhaps the most significant asset of this novel is the writing itself. Hijuelos' prose is like a torrential downpour of vivid description. All of the senses are powerfully stimulated as the rich settings are meticulously developed: the idyllic rural Cuba, the vibrant New York clubs, the stuffy apartments where dreams are hatched, the lavish estates that represent success, and the sometimes scary streets that add an element of danger. Particularly notable are the Thomas Wolfe-like catalogs that enumerate food, people, and places, painting a detailed and immersive picture.

Another aspect that makes this book so appealing is the author's deeply researched knowledge of Cuban/American music from the middle of the 20th Century. He brings to life all the musicians, composers, songs, sub-genres, and associated dances, adding a rich and vibrant layer to the story.

"The Mambo Kings Sing Songs of Love" is truly a visit to a fascinating world that is well worth the journey. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

I was reading this for a class titled "Literature of Displacement", but I gave up for two reasons.

Firstly, I simply ran out of time. Secondly, in my personal opinion, it was not a good book.

The story focuses on Cuban musicians in the 1950s. That's about all the essential information you need to know. The rest of the content mainly revolves around excessive drinking, womanizing, and the characters being rather despicable individuals, to put it bluntly.

I've read a significant amount of steamy material, as can be seen from my "read" list for recommendations. Having said that, I'm not unfamiliar with racy writing. However, this book was truly awkward for me. I've heard of a contest where "serious" writers submit sex scenes and the worst one wins a prize. Well, this book should definitely be submitted to that contest. It's just that awkward. Especially considering I was reading it for a class. The womanizing and the references to a 13-year-old girl being sexually awakened when she sees her dad's "member" and other such details were just too much. I'll spare you the rest of the details before your eyes start to burn. And to top it off, this book竟然 won a freaking Pulitzer Prize for Christ's sake.

Yeah, it's about excess, but it's a bit... excessive.

This statement implies that there is a certain degree of extravagance or overabundance involved. It could refer to various aspects such as excessive spending, excessive consumption of resources, or even excessive behavior in general.

When something is described as excessive, it often suggests that it has gone beyond what is considered reasonable or necessary. It may lead to negative consequences such as waste, financial difficulties, or an unbalanced lifestyle.

However, it's important to note that the concept of excess can be subjective and may vary depending on individual perspectives and circumstances. What one person may consider excessive, another may not.

In conclusion, while the idea of excess may seem a bit extreme at times, it's crucial to be aware of our own consumption and behavior patterns to ensure that we are living within reasonable limits and not causing unnecessary harm to ourselves or the environment.

Ha a filmes borítók megdobják a könyveladást, nézzük, hogy reagál ilyesmire az értékelés műfaja.

A könyv egy bevándorlóregény, amely egyben vezet az olvasót a latin életérzéshez. César és Nestor, a két testvér, úgy érzik, hogy Kuba szigete túl szűk számukra, és ezért átállítják a székhelyüket az államokba. Mindketten pazar muzsikusok, és a mambo a vérükben él. Már érthető, mire gondolunk. (A könyvből ítélve ez a két dolog egyfajta kubai nemzeti sajátosság.) César és Nestor úgy tűnik, hogy egyre inkább nem különböznek egymástól. Az egyik merőkanállal habzsolja az életet, ital, nők, bulika, míg a másik introvertált és képtelen szabadulni otthon hagyott ex-szerelme emlékétől. A két testvér betör a New York-i mambopiacra és még világhír felé is halad.

A könyv egy kaotikus, pulzáló nyelven megírt krónika, amelynek egyik erénye a New York latin-amerikai közösségének színpompás ábrázolása. Egyértelműen kettéosztja a történetet: az első blokk a siker, a második a lejtmenet krónikája. Az első részt néha túl soknak és túl harsánynak éreztem, bár a szereplők világhoz való viszonyulása kompatibilis volt. A második rész viszont annyira szépen írja le, ahogy a maximálisan igénybe vett test szépen és fokozatosan benyújtja a számlát a folyamatos extrém megterhelésért. Hijuelos jól érti, hogy a macsónak a legnagyobb tragédiája a férfierő elszivárgása, és ezt nem kezeli félvállról. Ez egy csillogó-villogó, lendületes regény, amely igazán emlékezetessé az empátia teszi.

A plump, juicy, sexy tropical fruit of a novel!

It is immediately evident why this novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. In fact, it comes from a proud line of family sagas, all of which are fatefully conjoined with the history of our nation. The Castillo Bros., or "castle" siblings, are the Kings of their music and major purveyors of the Cuban-American Zeitgeist.

The story is tragicomic, sad but not in a completely unfamiliar way. It seems to have inspired later Pulitzer winners such as "The Stone Diaries", "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay", "Oscar Wao", and the music-heavy "A Visit from the Goon Squad".

This novel is a rich and complex exploration of family, culture, and history. It delves into the lives of the Castillo Bros. and their struggles and triumphs in the music industry. The characters are vividly drawn, and the story is told with a great deal of passion and authenticity.

Overall, this is a must-read for anyone interested in literature, music, or Cuban-American culture. It is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

He laughed heartily. Oh, how he wished he could possess the physical prowess he had when he was thirty-six and first led Miss Mambo up those stairs and into the room. Back then, he lived for that moment when he could strip a woman down on the bed. Miss Vanna Mane from Brooklyn, New York, had a mole just below the nipple of her right breast, and, boom, his big thing would stick out just like that, simply by touching a woman's breast or standing close to her and sensing the heat between her legs.

Pulitzer Prize Winner-- 1989

I am rating this based on the writing. It is truly masterfully written, and the storyline is a stroke of genius. I am a die-hard Oscar Hijuelos fan. The only reason it doesn't receive a five-star rating is the rather exotic parts he includes in his writing. He seems to be either a very detailed sexual being or someone extremely deprived of sex, imagining it to be so glamorous and writing like a porn star-turned-writer. However, I wholeheartedly support cheering for a Latin writer to gain recognition, not merely because of his ethnicity but because he can actually write with great skill.

The story revolves around two brothers. The setting commences in Cuba during the pre-Fidel era and then transports us to New York City, where the remainder of the story unfolds. Cesar Castillo, the Mambo King with a penis like King Kong's, is a sexual deviant and basically a jerk and womanizer. Yet, there are glimmers of goodness in him, allowing the reader to dislike or like him at any given moment throughout the novel. Nestor Castillo, the younger brother, is a perpetual downer. He is constantly sad and wonders when the next terrible thing will befall him or his family. I suspect he would require anti-depressants in today's times. He meets a woman, and although she breaks his heart and leaves him, we witness him becoming unhappier than ever. He fantasizes and lusts after her, even after getting a wife and two children. What could be worse than a depressed man who still yearns for his ex? Perhaps I dislike him more than Cesar because at least Cesar doesn't pretend to be good.

So, we observe them immigrate to the United States and form an orchestra in an attempt to achieve fame, like Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball make numerous appearances throughout the novel. It is a charming story that unfolds before our eyes. I came to know and admire the characters as well as Hijuelos' writing.

Overall, it is a fantastic novel. I would most definitely recommend it.

(Side Note:: Buddy Read w/@Licha)

Well, this was truly a tough one.

I found myself on the verge of giving up countless times.

As I delved into the book, a significant contradiction emerged in my mind.

On one hand, there was the feeling that life is easy, which was created by the vivid description of New York in the summer and the idyllic scenes in Cuba.

On the other hand, there was a heavy melancholy that pervaded, mainly due to almost all of the human characters.

Their actions and emotions seemed to weigh down on me, making me just want to get over with it.

At the end of it all, if I were forced to make a choice, I would毫不犹豫地 keep the beautiful landscapes and the enchanting times, but simply throw the people out.

Perhaps it is the power of the setting that has left such a profound impression on me, while the human element has failed to resonate as strongly.

Nevertheless, this reading experience has been a thought-provoking one, making me reflect on the complex interplay between the environment and the individuals within it.

This was a truly moving story that delved deep into the themes of immigration, aging, and music.

It painted a vivid picture of the challenges and joys that come with these aspects of life. However, for me, there were certain elements that detracted from the overall experience of reading the book.

The nearly constant sexual explicitness felt unnecessary and at times overshadowed the more profound and meaningful aspects of the story. It seemed to be included simply for the sake of shock value rather than adding any real depth or understanding.

Furthermore, the book's lifting up of the "macho" paradigm in certain ways was frustrating. It presented a rather narrow and traditional view of masculinity that I found limiting and unappealing.

Overall, while the story had its strengths, these two aspects prevented me from fully enjoying and connecting with the book on a deeper level.

READ IF YOU LIKE...

• Sex, music, and dancing

• Vivid descriptions of old-school NYC

• Flashbacks

I THOUGHT IT WAS...

A both flashy and melancholic reflection on the musical community of Cuban immigrants in the 1950s and 1960s. Sitting in a hotel room in 1980, Cesar Castillo listens to one of his old records and thinks back to 1949. That was the year when he and his brother Nester first arrived in New York City from Cuba. They were eager to make a name for themselves as musicians in the hot era of mambo.

Having read a few reviews before starting, I knew that sex would be a prominent feature of this book. And boy, was there sex and was there a lot of it. However, outside of a little men-writing-about-women syndrome, it didn't bother me. In fact, it plays a crucial role in setting the raucous mood that pervaded the dance halls and nightlife of the Castillo brothers. It also plays a huge role in defining the character of Cesar. Sex is the shining emblem of his machismo, but it's something that fades after the two great losses of his life: his youth and his brother.

This novel is about so much more than mambo and sex, even though that's often what you're reading on the page. It delves into the unspoken depression within a culture of toxic masculinity. It explores the idea that only family and love can provide lasting fulfillment. It's about being poor financially but rich in community, about immigrants banding together and paying it forward. Above all, it serves as a reminder for us to appreciate the present moment and acknowledge the blessings we have. Because before long, we'll only be left with the memories of those good times.

After a while, all the reminiscing about sexual escapades simply got old.

It doesn't seem out of the ordinary for an elderly, macho man to devote a significant amount of energy to pondering the moments when he performed oral sex on a woman and what kind of aroma it had. However, if this topic fails to pique your interest, then I would highly recommend seeking out something else to read.

I rate it a 2 rather than a 1 due to the writing style. I truly adored all of the vivid descriptions of life in Cuba and New York, including the music, food, and everything else. The author does an excellent job of recreating the atmosphere.

My issue with the book is that, despite the captivating stories of many of the characters, it is difficult to empathize with them. The repetitiveness only served to exacerbate this problem.

Overall, while the writing style and descriptions are commendable, the overemphasis on sexual escapades and the lack of character empathy make this book a somewhat flawed read.