Book Review of Reinbou by Pedro Cabiya trans Jessica Powell

Name of Book: Reinbou 

Author: Pedro Cabiya trans Jessica Powell

ISBN: 978-1-6626-0251-1

Publisher: Astra House  

Type of book: Dominican Republic, American intervention, Santo Domingo, 1965, 1976, leadership, dreams, resilience, hope, imagination 

Year it was published: 2024 (2017) 

Summary:

Dominicana meets Woman of Light in this propulsive work of historical fiction about U.S. intervention and corruption in the Dominican Republic.

The basis of the 2017 film adaptation by Andrés Curbelo and David Maler.

In 1976 Santo Domingo, Ángel Maceta uncovers the real story behind the murder of his father, Puro Maceta, ten years prior. In the process, events that unfolded during and after the war are revealed, unleashing a series of small revolutions in his community that in turn unravel other intrigues of what really took place during the Civil War of 1965.

Weaving together the brutal realities of war with the innocence of childhood imagination, Reinbou explores this era in Dominican society, a time when the U.S. sent Marines into the country to back a coup against Juan Bosch, the first democratically elected president of the Dominican Republic since the end of the brutal, three-decade-long dictatorship of the genocidal Rafael Trujillo. Moving between 1965 and 1976, we follow the revolutionary efforts of Puro and the transformative, feverish adventures of Ángel.

Told through the eyes of a child and a varied cast of friends, family, and neighbors, Reinbou explores the consequences of political and societal upheaval, corruption, and violence in modern Dominican society.

Characters:

There are a lot of characters, but I think important ones would Angel Maceta, Loco Abril, Puro Maceta, Inmaculada Carmona and Lucia Mendez. Angel Maceta is the only child of Puro Maceta and son of Inmaculada who is best described as imaginative, creative, a bit oblivious and very helpful. He finds interesting objects, assigns them his own names as well as their purpose and gives them away. He is interested in Irish myths, especially rainbow and leprechauns. Loco Abril is a man who lives with guilt and in the past. He is a talented fighter. Puro Maceta was a revolutionary leader who dreams of better things and desires than possible. He is tender, warmhearted and very loyal. Inmaculada Carmona is Puros love interest and mother of Angel. She is hardworking but I get the sense she doesn't believe in dreams at first due to her past. Lucia Mendez is Angels friend, and has a crush on him. She is resourceful, popular and often resents the sacrifices she makes for Angel.           

 
Theme:

There are themes of dreams and resilience and unexpected places or things they come from

Plot:

The structure is definitely on the odd side: first there is a narrator that is telling this story to an audience, yet story is told in third person narrative and quite often switches from 1965 to 1976. At first I found it confusing and jarring because I honestly had little to no idea what is going on! Later on though, the mysteries became clear and at last I understood what was happening. 

Author Information:
( From goodreads) 

No English summary available

Opinion:

It definitely took me awhile to understand the purpose of the novel, but once I did, I am surprised that I hadn't come up with it earlier: while there is focus on USA interfering and jeopardizing Dominican Republic, most of the story is of the aftermath, of dreams and resilience and imagination that is used to help people lead different lives. This story also had quite an interesting narrative where an unknown narrator is telling this story to an audience ( sometimes interrupting the narrative to talk to audience). I definitely enjoyed reading it and gaining an understanding of April Revolution as well as learning a bit more background that adds up to HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS. 

This was given for review 

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)