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Find Me in Havana
From the bestselling author of THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES, a new historical novel based on the dazzling story of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated Hispanic actresses and her daughter’s search for closure.
“Told in a series of letters, FIND ME IN HAVANA is a beautiful and heart-wrenching story of mothers and daughters, and the American Dream that comes with the biggest price of all. I couldn’t put it down!” — Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author
Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration—from Havana to New York’s Copacabana and then Hollywood—becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty. Not the revolving door of husbands or the fickle world of film.
Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina, is blindsided by her mother’s mysterious death. Seeking answers, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms.
Based on true events and exclusive interviews with Nina Lopez, Estelita’s daughter, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary story that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery.
“Told in a series of letters, FIND ME IN HAVANA is a beautiful and heart-wrenching story of mothers and daughters, and the American Dream that comes with the biggest price of all. I couldn’t put it down!” — Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author
Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration—from Havana to New York’s Copacabana and then Hollywood—becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty. Not the revolving door of husbands or the fickle world of film.
Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina, is blindsided by her mother’s mysterious death. Seeking answers, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms.
Based on true events and exclusive interviews with Nina Lopez, Estelita’s daughter, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary story that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2021
98 people are currently reading
8052 people want to read
About the author
Serena Burdick
5 books567 followersSerena Burdick is the USA Today, Toronto Star and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES. She is the author of the novel THE STOLEN BOOK OF EVELYN AUBREY, FIND ME IN HAVANA, GIRL IN THE AFTERNOON, and her forthcoming novel A PROMISE TO ARLETTE. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and published in twelve territories to date. She studied creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College, holds a Bachelors of Arts from Brooklyn College in English literature and an Associates of Arts from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in theater.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
January 13, 2021
Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick is a historical fiction book about a Cuban woman and her daughter. Find Me in Havana is based on the true story of Estelita Rodriguez.
Find Me in Havana is told from Estelita and Nina’s perspectives. This really helped the story by allowing the reader to understand both character’s feelings. I enjoyed reading about Estelita’s and Nina’s relationship. There were many times where Nina thought her mom was putting her career or other people before her, but from Estelita’s perspective the reader sees that is not the case. Estelita’s mother and Nina’s grandmother was an important character which showed another mother daughter relationship.
Find Me in Havana is full of emotion and history. Cuban history isn’t talked about frequently, so that was a nice addition to this story. Find Me in Havana includes rape and abuse. Estelita has multiple husbands and all of them do not treat Nina well. Nina always felt like her mother chose her husbands over her.
Thank you NetGalley, Edelweiss, Harper Audio, Harlequin Audio, Harper Collins and Park Row for Find Me in Havana.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Find Me in Havana is told from Estelita and Nina’s perspectives. This really helped the story by allowing the reader to understand both character’s feelings. I enjoyed reading about Estelita’s and Nina’s relationship. There were many times where Nina thought her mom was putting her career or other people before her, but from Estelita’s perspective the reader sees that is not the case. Estelita’s mother and Nina’s grandmother was an important character which showed another mother daughter relationship.
Find Me in Havana is full of emotion and history. Cuban history isn’t talked about frequently, so that was a nice addition to this story. Find Me in Havana includes rape and abuse. Estelita has multiple husbands and all of them do not treat Nina well. Nina always felt like her mother chose her husbands over her.
Thank you NetGalley, Edelweiss, Harper Audio, Harlequin Audio, Harper Collins and Park Row for Find Me in Havana.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
January 12, 2021
Before reading Find Me in Havana, I had never heard of Cuban-born singer and actress Estelita Rodriguez. Author Serena Burdick had a chance meeting with Nina Rodriquez and the story of her mother Estelita intrigued her. Years later she revisited the incredible and mostly unknown story and wrote this fictionalized version.
The book is told in two voices. Mother Estelita writing to daughter Nina and Nina writing to her mother, who we know from the start, died in 1966 at age 37. Estelita’s singing talent as a child in Cuba led her to the U.S. and a career in the movies. By eighteen, she became a mother and chose to leave her husband who wanted her to give up her career. Estelita’s life was filled with Hollywood glitz and a continued stream of men. Nina was sent away to school and had a difficult childhood. The book tells of incredible incidents that took place in Mexico and back in Cuba where they find themselves in the middle of the Cuban Revolution.
This is a touching story which we know ends up in tragedy. But it was interesting to learn about Estelita Rodriguez. I wish the book told a bit more of Estelita’s experiences in making Rio Bravo and the other movies she was in but this is essentially a book about a daughter coming to terms with her mother’s life and her own. And a tale of a talented woman who was dominated by the men in her life. A worthwhile read.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Park Row / HarperCollins and the author for the opportunity to read Find Me in Havana in advance of its January 12, 2020 publication.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The book is told in two voices. Mother Estelita writing to daughter Nina and Nina writing to her mother, who we know from the start, died in 1966 at age 37. Estelita’s singing talent as a child in Cuba led her to the U.S. and a career in the movies. By eighteen, she became a mother and chose to leave her husband who wanted her to give up her career. Estelita’s life was filled with Hollywood glitz and a continued stream of men. Nina was sent away to school and had a difficult childhood. The book tells of incredible incidents that took place in Mexico and back in Cuba where they find themselves in the middle of the Cuban Revolution.
This is a touching story which we know ends up in tragedy. But it was interesting to learn about Estelita Rodriguez. I wish the book told a bit more of Estelita’s experiences in making Rio Bravo and the other movies she was in but this is essentially a book about a daughter coming to terms with her mother’s life and her own. And a tale of a talented woman who was dominated by the men in her life. A worthwhile read.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Park Row / HarperCollins and the author for the opportunity to read Find Me in Havana in advance of its January 12, 2020 publication.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
September 23, 2023
Mėgstu romanus su dramom, bet net jau man čia buvo per daug – skaitydama jaučiausi, tarsi žiūrėčiau stipriai perspaustą muilo operą, nes čia tiek visko vyko, kad... laikykitės:
dvi revoliucijos šalyje, emigracija, ankstyvas nėštumas, skyrybos, sutuoktinio savižudybė, vaiko tvirkinimas, vaiko pagrobimas/išvežimas į kitą šalį, vaiko pergrobimas, nelegalus sienos kirtimas, seksualinė prievarta (prieš suaugusias moteris ir nepilnametes), narkotikai, psichiatrijos ligoninė, sutuoktinio smurtas, LGBT, nunuodijimas, avarija, ir dar visame tame – Holivudo fonas.
Yra toks geras apibūdinimas tam, kas dėjosi šitoj knygoj: trauma porn.
Ir pasakojimo formatas dar visiškai nevykęs: pasakojama iš motinos ir dukros perspektyvų, ir kiekvienas skyrius parašytas tarsi laiško forma motinai/dukrai. Nors iš to, kas pasakojama, akivaizdu, kad tai tikrai nėra tikras laiškas (nes abejoju, kad rašydama laišką dukrai, kaip vyko jos gelbėti, motina prisipažintų tokiom aplinkybėm pafantazavusi apie seksą su ką tik viešbutyje sutiktu vyru ar pasibėdavojusi, kad biški ilgisi savo ekso, kuris tvirkino tą pačią dukrą), tad... kam tokia laiško forma pasirinkta apskritai?
Visko tikrai per daug vienam romanui ir autorė nesugebėjo susitvarkyti su jai patikėta informacija – nes, kad ir kaip netikėtai skambėtų, tai istorija apie išties egzistavusią iš Kubos kilusią Holivudo aktorę ir dainininkę Estelitą Rodriguez, kurią autorei papasakojo jos dukra Nina (taip pat tapusi šios knygos heroje). Romanas tarsi turėjo pagerbti pamirštą tragiško likimo žvaigždę ir motiną, tačiau ji, visų tų dramų fone, nesugebėjo sukelti jokių simpatijų, greičiau priešingai: ji egocentriška, savanaudė, išlepusi ir, būkim biedni bet teisingi – tikrai nekokia motina, nors būtent tas niekam nepavaldus motinos ir dukters ryšys (kurio sorry, bet visai nebuvo) akcentuotas non stop.
Norėjau iš šitos knygos Kubos ir Havanos, likau praktiškai nieko nepešusi.
dvi revoliucijos šalyje, emigracija, ankstyvas nėštumas, skyrybos, sutuoktinio savižudybė, vaiko tvirkinimas, vaiko pagrobimas/išvežimas į kitą šalį, vaiko pergrobimas, nelegalus sienos kirtimas, seksualinė prievarta (prieš suaugusias moteris ir nepilnametes), narkotikai, psichiatrijos ligoninė, sutuoktinio smurtas, LGBT, nunuodijimas, avarija, ir dar visame tame – Holivudo fonas.
Yra toks geras apibūdinimas tam, kas dėjosi šitoj knygoj: trauma porn.
Ir pasakojimo formatas dar visiškai nevykęs: pasakojama iš motinos ir dukros perspektyvų, ir kiekvienas skyrius parašytas tarsi laiško forma motinai/dukrai. Nors iš to, kas pasakojama, akivaizdu, kad tai tikrai nėra tikras laiškas (nes abejoju, kad rašydama laišką dukrai, kaip vyko jos gelbėti, motina prisipažintų tokiom aplinkybėm pafantazavusi apie seksą su ką tik viešbutyje sutiktu vyru ar pasibėdavojusi, kad biški ilgisi savo ekso, kuris tvirkino tą pačią dukrą), tad... kam tokia laiško forma pasirinkta apskritai?
Visko tikrai per daug vienam romanui ir autorė nesugebėjo susitvarkyti su jai patikėta informacija – nes, kad ir kaip netikėtai skambėtų, tai istorija apie išties egzistavusią iš Kubos kilusią Holivudo aktorę ir dainininkę Estelitą Rodriguez, kurią autorei papasakojo jos dukra Nina (taip pat tapusi šios knygos heroje). Romanas tarsi turėjo pagerbti pamirštą tragiško likimo žvaigždę ir motiną, tačiau ji, visų tų dramų fone, nesugebėjo sukelti jokių simpatijų, greičiau priešingai: ji egocentriška, savanaudė, išlepusi ir, būkim biedni bet teisingi – tikrai nekokia motina, nors būtent tas niekam nepavaldus motinos ir dukters ryšys (kurio sorry, bet visai nebuvo) akcentuotas non stop.
Norėjau iš šitos knygos Kubos ir Havanos, likau praktiškai nieko nepešusi.
January 15, 2021
TW: Molestation, Sexual Assault, Rape, Parental Kidnapping, Domestic Abuse/Intimate Partner Violence, Drug Addiction.
This book was basically just Trauma Porn™ - just fyi y'all.
Where do I even start?
- Author Choice
A book about Estelita Rodriguez, a famous Cuban actress and singer, with segments concerning the Cuban Revolution, was written by a non-hispanic, white female. While Estelita's daughter, Nina, agreed to the creation of this book and completed interviews with Burdick for the development of this story, I can't help but feel that this narrative would have been significantly better portrayed had a Cuban (or even a latinx author tbh) written it.
Nina mentioned in an interview that she wanted the world to remember the star her mother was and all the sacrifices she made to achieve and maintain her dream job - so wouldn't that have come across as more authentic if she'd chosen someone directly from her culture? Someone who was directly impacted or tied to Cuban politics and the corresponding violence there? Someone who understood the pride that is so closely intertwined with being a Cuban individual in spite of how hard life has fucked them over? No? ... We're going with a white woman you befriended when she was 19? oh... okay. Like, to each their own but I would not have chosen that.
- Book Motivation
Excuse me, but aren't I supposed to like Estelita if the primary motivator for this book is to 'remember a forgotten star?' Congrats, she got my attention, but also, I kinda hate her. In fact, it's very difficult for me to even be indifferent toward her when she did the following:
Moreover, for a book that's supposed to remind me of a star - it had VERY little scenes regarding her rise to fame, challenges in the field, career highlights, and methodology in prepping for acting or singing gigs. This book seemed to focus more on trauma porn than anything else. No puedo.
- Poor Advertisement
I'm gunna copy and paste the summary exactly how it appears, alongside my notes, so that you understand my frustration having just finished this book.
Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration--from Havana to New York's Copacabana and then Hollywood--becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty.
***Besides the first chapter with Estelita's POV as a child - we don't actually get to the Havana, Cuba storyline until 50% in, and even then, we leave that setting a few trauma porn chapters later. Besides, Estelita isn't exactly close to her family; she left Cuba when she was a child and was pretty well off tbh on account of being, ya kno, famous.
Not the revolving door of husbands and the fickle world of film. Not even the tragic devastation of Castro's revolution that rained down on her loved ones.
***Again, we don't even get that much information about said "loved ones" and Castro's revolution until the 50% mark, and even then it doesn't last until the end of the book. Literally, the first half of this novel is a separate story in and of itself centered on the parental kidnapping of Nina to MEXICO and the quest to escape once she's rescued.
Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina Rodriguez, is blindsided by her mother's mysterious, untimely death.
*** NINA IS ONLY AN ADULT FOR THE LAST 10%-ISH OF THIS BOOK THO. THE STORY ALTERNATES PRIMARILY BETWEEN GROWN ESTELITA'S POV & CHILD NINA'S POV GTFO. Also mysterious? Let's not kid ourselves. Nina knows deep down in her gut what happened. I mean, c'mon now, she accused the guy to his face.
Seeking answers no one else wants to hear, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms.
***What exactly did Estelita sacrifice? She seemed okay disregarding the majority of her family and point blank stated her daughter was never a priority to her. She didn't sacrifice shit. You have to be genuinely concerned about a thing or care about it for it to be a true sacrifice. Sigh.
Based on true events and exclusive interviews with the real Nina Rodriguez, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary journey that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery.
***The self-discovery is barely existent - just sayin. And LMAO "... explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child" should be replaced with any of the following and it'd be more correct than that statement -
1. ... explores the generational violence and trauma between mother and child.
2. ... explores how easy it is for a mother to leave her kid in a boarding school or with her abuela for weeks or months at a time.
3. ...explores the severely poor coping mechanisms of both mother and child.
I just
Find Me in Havana (which honestly shouldn't even be called that considering we spend the majority of time either in LA or Mexico) was disappointing in so many ways and unnecessarily graphic. Like, for why?
Didn't like it, but listened to the entire thing in audio because I'm apparently a masochist.
Positives:
- You can tell the author did some research.
- Narrators were on point.
- Felt for Nina from her very first POV. All the adults may have sucked but she was just a child in a series of shitty situations without appropriate active supports.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this audible in exchange for an honest review. I probably would have purchased this book otherwise. *shudder*
This book was basically just Trauma Porn™ - just fyi y'all.
Where do I even start?
- Author Choice
A book about Estelita Rodriguez, a famous Cuban actress and singer, with segments concerning the Cuban Revolution, was written by a non-hispanic, white female. While Estelita's daughter, Nina, agreed to the creation of this book and completed interviews with Burdick for the development of this story, I can't help but feel that this narrative would have been significantly better portrayed had a Cuban (or even a latinx author tbh) written it.
Nina mentioned in an interview that she wanted the world to remember the star her mother was and all the sacrifices she made to achieve and maintain her dream job - so wouldn't that have come across as more authentic if she'd chosen someone directly from her culture? Someone who was directly impacted or tied to Cuban politics and the corresponding violence there? Someone who understood the pride that is so closely intertwined with being a Cuban individual in spite of how hard life has fucked them over? No? ... We're going with a white woman you befriended when she was 19? oh... okay. Like, to each their own but I would not have chosen that.
- Book Motivation
Excuse me, but aren't I supposed to like Estelita if the primary motivator for this book is to 'remember a forgotten star?' Congrats, she got my attention, but also, I kinda hate her. In fact, it's very difficult for me to even be indifferent toward her when she did the following:
Moreover, for a book that's supposed to remind me of a star - it had VERY little scenes regarding her rise to fame, challenges in the field, career highlights, and methodology in prepping for acting or singing gigs. This book seemed to focus more on trauma porn than anything else. No puedo.
- Poor Advertisement
I'm gunna copy and paste the summary exactly how it appears, alongside my notes, so that you understand my frustration having just finished this book.
Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration--from Havana to New York's Copacabana and then Hollywood--becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty.
***Besides the first chapter with Estelita's POV as a child - we don't actually get to the Havana, Cuba storyline until 50% in, and even then, we leave that setting a few trauma porn chapters later. Besides, Estelita isn't exactly close to her family; she left Cuba when she was a child and was pretty well off tbh on account of being, ya kno, famous.
Not the revolving door of husbands and the fickle world of film. Not even the tragic devastation of Castro's revolution that rained down on her loved ones.
***Again, we don't even get that much information about said "loved ones" and Castro's revolution until the 50% mark, and even then it doesn't last until the end of the book. Literally, the first half of this novel is a separate story in and of itself centered on the parental kidnapping of Nina to MEXICO and the quest to escape once she's rescued.
Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina Rodriguez, is blindsided by her mother's mysterious, untimely death.
*** NINA IS ONLY AN ADULT FOR THE LAST 10%-ISH OF THIS BOOK THO. THE STORY ALTERNATES PRIMARILY BETWEEN GROWN ESTELITA'S POV & CHILD NINA'S POV GTFO. Also mysterious? Let's not kid ourselves. Nina knows deep down in her gut what happened. I mean, c'mon now, she accused the guy to his face.
Seeking answers no one else wants to hear, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms.
***What exactly did Estelita sacrifice? She seemed okay disregarding the majority of her family and point blank stated her daughter was never a priority to her. She didn't sacrifice shit. You have to be genuinely concerned about a thing or care about it for it to be a true sacrifice. Sigh.
Based on true events and exclusive interviews with the real Nina Rodriguez, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary journey that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery.
***The self-discovery is barely existent - just sayin. And LMAO "... explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child" should be replaced with any of the following and it'd be more correct than that statement -
1. ... explores the generational violence and trauma between mother and child.
2. ... explores how easy it is for a mother to leave her kid in a boarding school or with her abuela for weeks or months at a time.
3. ...explores the severely poor coping mechanisms of both mother and child.
I just
Find Me in Havana (which honestly shouldn't even be called that considering we spend the majority of time either in LA or Mexico) was disappointing in so many ways and unnecessarily graphic. Like, for why?
Didn't like it, but listened to the entire thing in audio because I'm apparently a masochist.
Positives:
- You can tell the author did some research.
- Narrators were on point.
- Felt for Nina from her very first POV. All the adults may have sucked but she was just a child in a series of shitty situations without appropriate active supports.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this audible in exchange for an honest review. I probably would have purchased this book otherwise. *shudder*
November 1, 2022
Su šios autorės kūryba susipažinusi jau esu ir prieš porą metų skaityta "Bevardės mergaitės" istorija man labai patiko. Labai nekantravau perskaityti ir naujausią Serenos kūrinį.
Nina prisiminimų dėka vis sugrįžta į savo vaikystę. Jauna moteris vis svarsto apie savo gyvenimą bei sprendimus, kurie turėjo tam įtakos. Ji vis prisimena savo motiną Estelitą, kuri buvo žymi aktorė.
Estelita būdams vos devynerių pirmą kartą dainuoja viename iš Havanos klubų. Prabėgus keletui metų, Estelita tapusi jauna moterimi, kuri labiausiai už viską pasaulyje trokšta būti scenoje, palieka savo gimtąjį kraštą ir išvyksta į Ameriką. Deja, bet čia viskas nėra tik rožėmis klota..
Šiai istorijau turėjau nemažus lūkesčius, nes "Bevardės mergaitės" buvo tikrai stipri istorija, kuri paliko man didelį įspūdį. Negalėčiau sakyti, jog ši knyga man nepatiko visai, tačiau mano lūkesčių šį kartą ji nepateisino.
Istorija pasakojama motinos bei dukros akimis. Man šioje knygoje pritrūko jausmų gylio bei stipresnio siužeto.
Nei viena iš veikėjų nepelnė mano simpatijos. Tad ir istorija man pasirodė gana paviršutiniška bei nuobodoka..
Autorė vaizdžiai atvaizdavo Meksiką bei Kubą ir gyvenimą tuometinėmis sąlygomis. Tikriausiai šie jos pasakojimai man labiausiai ir patiko šioje istorijoje. Šią knygą rekomenduočiau mėgstantiems lengvesnius romanus, alsuojančius Havanos ritmu ✨️
Nina prisiminimų dėka vis sugrįžta į savo vaikystę. Jauna moteris vis svarsto apie savo gyvenimą bei sprendimus, kurie turėjo tam įtakos. Ji vis prisimena savo motiną Estelitą, kuri buvo žymi aktorė.
Estelita būdams vos devynerių pirmą kartą dainuoja viename iš Havanos klubų. Prabėgus keletui metų, Estelita tapusi jauna moterimi, kuri labiausiai už viską pasaulyje trokšta būti scenoje, palieka savo gimtąjį kraštą ir išvyksta į Ameriką. Deja, bet čia viskas nėra tik rožėmis klota..
Šiai istorijau turėjau nemažus lūkesčius, nes "Bevardės mergaitės" buvo tikrai stipri istorija, kuri paliko man didelį įspūdį. Negalėčiau sakyti, jog ši knyga man nepatiko visai, tačiau mano lūkesčių šį kartą ji nepateisino.
Istorija pasakojama motinos bei dukros akimis. Man šioje knygoje pritrūko jausmų gylio bei stipresnio siužeto.
Nei viena iš veikėjų nepelnė mano simpatijos. Tad ir istorija man pasirodė gana paviršutiniška bei nuobodoka..
Autorė vaizdžiai atvaizdavo Meksiką bei Kubą ir gyvenimą tuometinėmis sąlygomis. Tikriausiai šie jos pasakojimai man labiausiai ir patiko šioje istorijoje. Šią knygą rekomenduočiau mėgstantiems lengvesnius romanus, alsuojančius Havanos ritmu ✨️
October 17, 2023
Skaičiau šios autorės knyga "Bevardės mergaitės" kuri tiek daug jausmų sukėlė.
Tai kažko panašaus tikėjausi ir iš šios knygos, bet deja nesulaukiau. Nesakau, kad ši knyga neįdomi, bet man čia pasirodė per daug dramos. Mamos ir dukros blaškymasis, ieškojimas savęs, nesikalbėjimas. Vietomis buvo įdomu, bet buvo nuobodžių vietų tai pat. Jau artėjant link pabaigos norėjau greičiau baigti skaityti, nes panašu į meksikietiška serialą.
Tai kažko panašaus tikėjausi ir iš šios knygos, bet deja nesulaukiau. Nesakau, kad ši knyga neįdomi, bet man čia pasirodė per daug dramos. Mamos ir dukros blaškymasis, ieškojimas savęs, nesikalbėjimas. Vietomis buvo įdomu, bet buvo nuobodžių vietų tai pat. Jau artėjant link pabaigos norėjau greičiau baigti skaityti, nes panašu į meksikietiška serialą.
July 18, 2023
...ne pagrindine knygos tema mane suzavejo, o aprasomi tuometiniai ivykiai Kuboje, taip pat gamta...
January 2, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review.
Find Me in Havana is a 5 star read. I hadn’t heard of Estelita Rodriguez a Cuban actress. best known for her roles in many Westerns with Roy Rogers for Republic Pictures, as well as her role in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo.
In January 1953, Rodriguez married actor Grant Withers; they divorced in 1955. ... On March 12, 1966, Estelita Pego was found dead on the kitchen floor of her home, at age 37. The cause of death was complications of influenza. She is interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.
Her daughter Anna talk’s about the life of her mom through letters and what Nina has gone through herself.
Happy Reading
Lisa
Find Me in Havana is a 5 star read. I hadn’t heard of Estelita Rodriguez a Cuban actress. best known for her roles in many Westerns with Roy Rogers for Republic Pictures, as well as her role in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo.
In January 1953, Rodriguez married actor Grant Withers; they divorced in 1955. ... On March 12, 1966, Estelita Pego was found dead on the kitchen floor of her home, at age 37. The cause of death was complications of influenza. She is interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.
Her daughter Anna talk’s about the life of her mom through letters and what Nina has gone through herself.
Happy Reading
Lisa
August 29, 2021
Based on true events, this historical fiction is incredibly sad.
I quickly captivated at the beginning, to learn what life was like in Cuba for the young, 9-year-old Estelita. But quickly, the mood became heavy - like a smoke-filled bar where pleasure can be found, but also sorrow and melancholy.
I would have loved to see a happier resolution for Estelita's death, but alas that is a challenge when working with a factual account. But, thankfully, there is a happy ending for Estelita's daughter, Nina, otherwise I think I would have been depressed for weeks.
An interesting tale, but not for the faint of heart.
A big thank you to Serena Burdick, Harlequin, Park Row, and NetGalley for providing an Advance Reader Copy of this publication in exchange for this honest review.
I quickly captivated at the beginning, to learn what life was like in Cuba for the young, 9-year-old Estelita. But quickly, the mood became heavy - like a smoke-filled bar where pleasure can be found, but also sorrow and melancholy.
I would have loved to see a happier resolution for Estelita's death, but alas that is a challenge when working with a factual account. But, thankfully, there is a happy ending for Estelita's daughter, Nina, otherwise I think I would have been depressed for weeks.
An interesting tale, but not for the faint of heart.
A big thank you to Serena Burdick, Harlequin, Park Row, and NetGalley for providing an Advance Reader Copy of this publication in exchange for this honest review.
October 29, 2020
4.5 stars. I received a digital galley of this book yesterday. I thought it looked interesting so started reading it immediately...and finished it less than 24 hours later. This book is outstanding. It is a fictional retelling of the life of Estelita Rodriguez, a Cuban singer who eventually moved to Los Angeles to make her way in the movies. I am not an expert on old movies and I had never heard of Estelita but I now plan on researching her fascinating life which included an exciting chase through Mexico and a harrowing stay in Cuba during the revolution. The book is told through alternating letters between Estelita and her daughter, Nina, as they navigate truly heartbreaking incidents. The epilogue is interesting, too, as it explains the author's relationship with Nina. I highly recommend this book, although be aware of trigger warnings before beginning as violence against women is very prevalent in this novel. I received a digital ARC of this copy through the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2021
This was Historical Fiction. It wasn't quite 3 stars for me, but I'm going to round up for the positive. The positive was that I really enjoyed some of the author's descriptive strokes for the time period, for the mother-daughter relationships, and for character traits. Some of this was vividly written. And that is something I can always appreciate.
But there were also things that didn't work for me. This often felt like a few different stories being squished together. With each story there seemed to me some kind of tragic catalyst to kick off the story's new direction. And there was a lot of tragedy: domestic violence, rape, child rape, suicide, kidnapping, ptsd, drug abuse and addiction, murder....and unfortunately more.
So all in all, 2.5 stars rounding up to 3.
But there were also things that didn't work for me. This often felt like a few different stories being squished together. With each story there seemed to me some kind of tragic catalyst to kick off the story's new direction. And there was a lot of tragedy: domestic violence, rape, child rape, suicide, kidnapping, ptsd, drug abuse and addiction, murder....and unfortunately more.
So all in all, 2.5 stars rounding up to 3.
February 22, 2021
This book is based on the life of Cuban actress and singer Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter Nina Lopez. It chronicles her move from Cuba to the US in pursuit of a movie career while juggling her role as a single mother. The story alternates between Estelita and Nina’s perspectives using a series of letters.
The start of this audio book was confusing. It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm of the writing and understand which character was narrating. Once I got into the story, however, it was riveting. The life of a Hollywood movie star in the mid 20th century was touched upon but much of the plot was about the mother daughter relationship impacted by Estelita’s career and husbands. The story also takes the reader into Mexico and Cuba during the revolution.
This historical fiction was touching and heartbreaking. I even shed a few tears at the end. The audio performance was very good. Another fabulous book by this author as I also loved her previous one.
Thank you to Harper Audio, Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
The start of this audio book was confusing. It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm of the writing and understand which character was narrating. Once I got into the story, however, it was riveting. The life of a Hollywood movie star in the mid 20th century was touched upon but much of the plot was about the mother daughter relationship impacted by Estelita’s career and husbands. The story also takes the reader into Mexico and Cuba during the revolution.
This historical fiction was touching and heartbreaking. I even shed a few tears at the end. The audio performance was very good. Another fabulous book by this author as I also loved her previous one.
Thank you to Harper Audio, Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2020
Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick is an excellent historical fiction (that is written about true characters and events) kept me fascinated and enthralled from beginning to end.
This novel tells the story of Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter, Nina Lopez (Rodriguez) in alternating chapters and in letter form. Each chapter is written as a journal entry/letter to the other woman. It was wonderful to be able to enter the life and minds of both women and see each event as it unfolded within their own viewpoints and feelings. Being able to see each half, and fusing those visions together, gives the reader the ultimate image of a complicated, volatile, and passionate mother-daughter relationship. Each woman has their own hopes, dreams, insecurities, hang-ups, and fears.
I have to admit that before I had read this book, I had not heard of Estelita Rodriguez ( I know, I know), and that the author was able to write and create such vivid picture of her tragic and complicated life to make me feel as if I knew her personally, blew me away.
The stories of both Nina and Estelita, the flawed beings that they are, is packed, eventful, and stunning. I cannot imagine going through a fraction of the things either went through. From their times in Cuba, LA, and the eras that both lived (a time that was definitely not kind for women and especially women of color), they experienced far more then any person should.
This book felt so personal, so raw. It was heartbreaking to see all of the horrible events occurring that were beyond either woman's control, yet frustrating when bad choices were sometimes made. (Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course.) The push-pull relationship of a mother-daughter was heartwarming, yet tragic and hard to read. To see that each woman was desperate for love, acceptance, affection, forgiveness, and to feel safe was so real and should seem so attainable, yet for this story was very difficult to obtain. For Estelita, I am not sure if she ended up ever experiencing that feeling before her untimely death. At least for Nina, especially all the tragedies and horrific experiences she encountered, I was pleased to see that she found a happiness and stillness in her adult life. The adoration she had for her mother, despite her faults, and her quest for acknowledgement, attention, and love from her mother was so difficult to read due to the miscommunications and slights that she felt she was given in return.
I loved the prose, the literary descriptions of being in Cuba, experiencing the Old Hollywood scenes, and the dusty plains of the Mexican towns were all unbelievably amazing and depicted to the point as if I was literally there. I was stunned by all the imagery, the passion, and the story. Also, the author's ability to interweave real people and events with a fictional storyline was nothing short of amazing.
This book was truly a wonder and it is one that I will truly remember for many years.
An excellent book that I highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Park Row for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
This novel tells the story of Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter, Nina Lopez (Rodriguez) in alternating chapters and in letter form. Each chapter is written as a journal entry/letter to the other woman. It was wonderful to be able to enter the life and minds of both women and see each event as it unfolded within their own viewpoints and feelings. Being able to see each half, and fusing those visions together, gives the reader the ultimate image of a complicated, volatile, and passionate mother-daughter relationship. Each woman has their own hopes, dreams, insecurities, hang-ups, and fears.
I have to admit that before I had read this book, I had not heard of Estelita Rodriguez ( I know, I know), and that the author was able to write and create such vivid picture of her tragic and complicated life to make me feel as if I knew her personally, blew me away.
The stories of both Nina and Estelita, the flawed beings that they are, is packed, eventful, and stunning. I cannot imagine going through a fraction of the things either went through. From their times in Cuba, LA, and the eras that both lived (a time that was definitely not kind for women and especially women of color), they experienced far more then any person should.
This book felt so personal, so raw. It was heartbreaking to see all of the horrible events occurring that were beyond either woman's control, yet frustrating when bad choices were sometimes made. (Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course.) The push-pull relationship of a mother-daughter was heartwarming, yet tragic and hard to read. To see that each woman was desperate for love, acceptance, affection, forgiveness, and to feel safe was so real and should seem so attainable, yet for this story was very difficult to obtain. For Estelita, I am not sure if she ended up ever experiencing that feeling before her untimely death. At least for Nina, especially all the tragedies and horrific experiences she encountered, I was pleased to see that she found a happiness and stillness in her adult life. The adoration she had for her mother, despite her faults, and her quest for acknowledgement, attention, and love from her mother was so difficult to read due to the miscommunications and slights that she felt she was given in return.
I loved the prose, the literary descriptions of being in Cuba, experiencing the Old Hollywood scenes, and the dusty plains of the Mexican towns were all unbelievably amazing and depicted to the point as if I was literally there. I was stunned by all the imagery, the passion, and the story. Also, the author's ability to interweave real people and events with a fictional storyline was nothing short of amazing.
This book was truly a wonder and it is one that I will truly remember for many years.
An excellent book that I highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Park Row for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
May 9, 2021
I finished reading this book a couple weeks ago and thought this was the perfect day to post, being that it “explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child”.
Like the cover, the story is absolutely stunning, captivating and mesmerizing! I loved it. This was likely one of my favorite books to read in April, pulling me out of a major month-long reading slump.
The story is comprised of a series of letters written from mother, Estelita, to daughter, Nina, and daughter to mother. They talk about their experiences, highs and lows, triumphs and trials. It was heartbreaking to read at times with such painful things they endured, but I hung on to every word.
The family dynamics struck me most from Estelita’s upbringing in Cuba, her strained family relationships after her fame, as well as her many relationships with men. It was so surreal how both mother and daughter both had distant relationships with their fathers.
At the time I read it I had no idea that it was a fictional account of the late Cuban actress, Estelita Rodriguez. It definitely gives Evelyn Hugo glamour and appeal, with more Cuban flavor, flair, and history added to the mix. This type of poignant tale is making me fall in love with historical fiction.
The narration was incredible; I loved the narrators’ thick Cuban accents and how they brought the story to life.
Like the cover, the story is absolutely stunning, captivating and mesmerizing! I loved it. This was likely one of my favorite books to read in April, pulling me out of a major month-long reading slump.
The story is comprised of a series of letters written from mother, Estelita, to daughter, Nina, and daughter to mother. They talk about their experiences, highs and lows, triumphs and trials. It was heartbreaking to read at times with such painful things they endured, but I hung on to every word.
The family dynamics struck me most from Estelita’s upbringing in Cuba, her strained family relationships after her fame, as well as her many relationships with men. It was so surreal how both mother and daughter both had distant relationships with their fathers.
At the time I read it I had no idea that it was a fictional account of the late Cuban actress, Estelita Rodriguez. It definitely gives Evelyn Hugo glamour and appeal, with more Cuban flavor, flair, and history added to the mix. This type of poignant tale is making me fall in love with historical fiction.
The narration was incredible; I loved the narrators’ thick Cuban accents and how they brought the story to life.
January 12, 2021
The story unfolds in a series of letters between Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter Nina Lopez. The story begins in Cuba in 1936 with Estelita’s family struggling following the Cuban Revolution. Growing up with a group of sisters who loved to sing and dance, Estelita is discovered in a nightclub in Havana as a young girl and arrives in the U.S. at age 15 to sing at the Copacabana in New York City. Nina is the result of a marriage to actor Chu Chu Martinez, the first of her four husbands. As was the often the case during this time in history, Chu Chu forbade his wife from performing. Estelita leaves the marriage and is discovered in Hollywood, beginning an acting career and appearing in movies such as Rio Bravo with John Wayne and Dean Martin.
Nina’s relationship to her mother remained strong, despite many horrific events that fell upon the two. Upon her mother’s mysterious death in 1966, Nina finds her self on a journey, reflecting on memories of her mother’s life and all that she endured to find her American dream.
The story would not be complete without the mention of the one constant in both Estelita and Nina’s lives- Estelita’s mother. A strong woman herself, she encourages Estelita to follow her dreams to Hollywood and becomes a stabilizing figure for Nina. The book really shines to me in the depth and sacrifice of all three women to create a good life independent of having to be someone’s wife. Therefore, I find it interesting that Estelita married so often in her 37 years.
I found this book to be a very interesting read. It provides the reader with an immersion into the Cuban Revolution. It also is demonstrates the way women have historically experienced injustice and atrocities as they strived to be something more. As a warning to more sensitive readers, this book has elements of physical abuse, misogyny and rape. It is a difficult read at times because of this, but an important one to completely understand the story.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Marisol Ramirez and Frankine Corzo. Their performances were very good, and provided a sense of realism to the story. Their voices were articulate and expressive. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x which provided a comfortable experience. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Nina’s relationship to her mother remained strong, despite many horrific events that fell upon the two. Upon her mother’s mysterious death in 1966, Nina finds her self on a journey, reflecting on memories of her mother’s life and all that she endured to find her American dream.
The story would not be complete without the mention of the one constant in both Estelita and Nina’s lives- Estelita’s mother. A strong woman herself, she encourages Estelita to follow her dreams to Hollywood and becomes a stabilizing figure for Nina. The book really shines to me in the depth and sacrifice of all three women to create a good life independent of having to be someone’s wife. Therefore, I find it interesting that Estelita married so often in her 37 years.
I found this book to be a very interesting read. It provides the reader with an immersion into the Cuban Revolution. It also is demonstrates the way women have historically experienced injustice and atrocities as they strived to be something more. As a warning to more sensitive readers, this book has elements of physical abuse, misogyny and rape. It is a difficult read at times because of this, but an important one to completely understand the story.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Marisol Ramirez and Frankine Corzo. Their performances were very good, and provided a sense of realism to the story. Their voices were articulate and expressive. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x which provided a comfortable experience. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
February 1, 2021
This was pure torture. I am not sure if it was because I listened to an audio version of the book instead of physically reading, but I felt like I was being put through a special version of hell.. I tried listening to it in various settings, thinking a change of scene would help my mood, or set the pace, or help in any way, but I found myself tuning the audio out for minutes at a time and then cutting back in to wonder what I had missed. This was almost a DNR.. or DNL in this case.. but I pushed through.
Where to begin? I will say it started off interesting. I thought the book was going in one direction and was thinking ok cool, insight into a Hollywood mom’s relationship with her neglected daughter. Then it switched to sexual assault/kidnapping. Which then went into TWO Cuban revolutions. Which also included sexual assault (on adults and children). Then it switched over to abuse on abuse on more abuse. And somewhere in between all that, a lesbian lover. And then murder.
I’ve read trauma porn before. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is trauma porn to the max, but it’s done WELL. This book is trauma porn for the sake of trauma porn. Oh, you thought she (and the reader) would finally catch a break? NOPE, here’s a woman getting beat up by her FOURTH husband after the THIRD husband sexually assaulted her daughter. Why? Just why?
And don’t get me started on the characters. Apparently this was meant to give insight on a “forgotten” Hollywood star and help us remember her in a positive light but... Let’s just say this book is about a neglectful, spineless woman who “raises” an equally annoying, more selfish little girl. The only redeeming part of the whole book is Estelita’s mom who is the ONLY rational guide in both these women’s lives and she gets shit on nonstop throughout the whole thing. No thanks. This was a terrible way to honor her mother if that’s what Nina was going for.
Do not read. Or listen.
Where to begin? I will say it started off interesting. I thought the book was going in one direction and was thinking ok cool, insight into a Hollywood mom’s relationship with her neglected daughter. Then it switched to sexual assault/kidnapping. Which then went into TWO Cuban revolutions. Which also included sexual assault (on adults and children). Then it switched over to abuse on abuse on more abuse. And somewhere in between all that, a lesbian lover. And then murder.
I’ve read trauma porn before. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is trauma porn to the max, but it’s done WELL. This book is trauma porn for the sake of trauma porn. Oh, you thought she (and the reader) would finally catch a break? NOPE, here’s a woman getting beat up by her FOURTH husband after the THIRD husband sexually assaulted her daughter. Why? Just why?
And don’t get me started on the characters. Apparently this was meant to give insight on a “forgotten” Hollywood star and help us remember her in a positive light but... Let’s just say this book is about a neglectful, spineless woman who “raises” an equally annoying, more selfish little girl. The only redeeming part of the whole book is Estelita’s mom who is the ONLY rational guide in both these women’s lives and she gets shit on nonstop throughout the whole thing. No thanks. This was a terrible way to honor her mother if that’s what Nina was going for.
Do not read. Or listen.
September 6, 2020
This poignant story is based on the life of Cuban singer and actress Estelita Rodriguez, as told to the author by her daughter. During a time when women were supposed to bow to their husband’s wishes, both Mamá and Estelita were cut from a different cloth. Their strength comes out through the pages to inspire today’s women. Read more about this memorable book on my blog "You decide: Should I read it or not?": https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
October 24, 2022
Po šios knygos tik dar kartą įsitikinau, kaip stipriai aš noriu į Kubą. Pabaigusi net lindau pasižiūrėti kiek kainuoja bilietai ir kurioje salos dalyje patogiausia apsistoti. O gi toji nuotolinė meilė neatsirado iš niekur. Prieš nemažai metų pažiūrėjau „Purvinus šokius“ (n kartų), o vėliau skaičiau gana stipriai kabliukais atmintyje įsikabinusią knygą „Hermanas“ (vertimas baisus, knyga nuostabi). Gavusi šį romaną supratau, kad ilgai neužsigulės ne tik dėl to, kad apie Kubą, bet dar ir dėl to, jog pasakoja tikrą istoriją apie tų laikų žvaigždę Estelitą Rodriguez ir jos dukrą Niną Lopez. Apie kokius laikus kalbu? Žinoma, kad apie tuos, kai Kuboje vyko pjautynės, kai Batista kovojo su Castro ir kai Che dar tik žengė į „šlovės nušviestą sceną“.
Visuomet labai mėgstu, kai kažkas pasikapsto pro praeitį, atranda įdomias asmenybes ir apie jas sukuria filmus, parašo knygas ar apdainuoja. Tik ar visos žvaigždės to vertos? Klausimas beveik retorinis, nes Estelita man kėlė dviprasmius jausmus: vieną akimirką žavėjausi stiprybę, kitu metu pykau ant jos kvailo naivumo ir negalėjimo būti be vyrų. Nes po galais, tik per juos čia visos įmanomos problemos ir kildavo. Naivumas irgi negelbėjo.
Autorė vis tik puikiai piešia tiek Meksikos, tiek Kubos vaizdus. Labai gerai pavaizduota ir šeimos svarba, kai visi laikosi vieni kitų įsikibę. Pietų šalims tai labai būdinga – namas, pilnas klegančių moterų, kurios laikosi šiaudo pačiose tragiškiausiose situacijose ir bando išplaukti gyvos ir sveikos, tik ne visada pavyksta. Esu sugluminta savo nejautrumo, nes skaitant šią knygą ir tas vietas, kurios tikrai šokiruotų normaliomis sąlygomis, vis pagalvoju – o va Ukrainoje dar baisiau… dar vis negaliu atsistebėti kaip stipriai daro įtaką aplinkos įvykiai, kai net knygos skaitymas tampa visiškai kitoks, nei seniau.
Vienas iš lengvesnių paskutiniu metu skaitytų romanų. Nemažai man čia ko trūko, ir siužeto būčiau norėjusi stipresnio. Bet man ir tik dėl Kubos pasirodė verta perskaityti, nes tarp visų žiaurumų ir spalvos karts nuo karto išlįsdavo į paviršių, o Estelitos dainavimas prasklaidydavo ir tamsiausius bei sunkiausius debesis.
Leidyklos dovana.
Visuomet labai mėgstu, kai kažkas pasikapsto pro praeitį, atranda įdomias asmenybes ir apie jas sukuria filmus, parašo knygas ar apdainuoja. Tik ar visos žvaigždės to vertos? Klausimas beveik retorinis, nes Estelita man kėlė dviprasmius jausmus: vieną akimirką žavėjausi stiprybę, kitu metu pykau ant jos kvailo naivumo ir negalėjimo būti be vyrų. Nes po galais, tik per juos čia visos įmanomos problemos ir kildavo. Naivumas irgi negelbėjo.
Autorė vis tik puikiai piešia tiek Meksikos, tiek Kubos vaizdus. Labai gerai pavaizduota ir šeimos svarba, kai visi laikosi vieni kitų įsikibę. Pietų šalims tai labai būdinga – namas, pilnas klegančių moterų, kurios laikosi šiaudo pačiose tragiškiausiose situacijose ir bando išplaukti gyvos ir sveikos, tik ne visada pavyksta. Esu sugluminta savo nejautrumo, nes skaitant šią knygą ir tas vietas, kurios tikrai šokiruotų normaliomis sąlygomis, vis pagalvoju – o va Ukrainoje dar baisiau… dar vis negaliu atsistebėti kaip stipriai daro įtaką aplinkos įvykiai, kai net knygos skaitymas tampa visiškai kitoks, nei seniau.
Vienas iš lengvesnių paskutiniu metu skaitytų romanų. Nemažai man čia ko trūko, ir siužeto būčiau norėjusi stipresnio. Bet man ir tik dėl Kubos pasirodė verta perskaityti, nes tarp visų žiaurumų ir spalvos karts nuo karto išlįsdavo į paviršių, o Estelitos dainavimas prasklaidydavo ir tamsiausius bei sunkiausius debesis.
Leidyklos dovana.
March 15, 2021
This was a difficult-to-read but beautifully-written book about a mother, a daughter, and the ways in which the world comes between them. Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter Nina have to navigate a series of tumultuous experiences as women living in a time and in places that did not value their voices (no matter how much money Estelita's beautiful singing voice brought in for others).
Their story, based on actual events as told by Nina Lopez to author Serena Burdick years later, unfolds in a series of fictionalized letters, mostly spanning Estelita's childhood in Cuba in the 1930s to her untimely death in California in the 1960s. The idea of using fictionalized letters was something that at first confused me -- and then I realized how brilliant this decision was. Letters can communicate our deepest feelings to the unseen other; Estelita and Nina never could, in person, truly communicate their feelings to each other.
While the plot seems, on the surface, to revolve around Estelita's life and death, I found the most compelling story to be Nina'a story -- how, being the daughter of a Hollywood actress and singer left her often feeling alone and isolated. Despite this, there is a strong bond between mother and daughter--a fact that makes this story even more tragic. Estelita truly loved her daughter, but she also loved her career, and she loved being loved by others. So many circumstances (especially a few power-hungry men) forced her to choose between her different loves -- and Nina suffered as a result.
This book was, as I mentioned above, very difficult for me to read, for there are no easy moments for these women (though there are real and true friendships, sisterly love, and a great strength of spirit shown by both main characters). I had to read slowly, a few chapters at a time until I reached the last quarter of the book, when I could hardly put down the book. But taking the book slowly was a reward in and of itself, for Burdick's prose can be heartbreakingly beautiful; I wanted to take in the imagery at a pace allowing me to appreciate it.
Given the difficult subject matter, this may not be a book for everyone. I can't help but wonder if the publishers did a disservice to the book in the choice of title, cover, and blurb (assuming these are mainly choices in the traditional publisher's domain). Based on these exterior factors, I'd expect this book to be something breezy or dramatic--an escapist read. Don't get me wrong; I love breezy and escapist reads. But I don't think that's Burdick's goal here, and the story doesn't match the set of expectations possibly created by the packaging. There's a certain irony to the publishers dressing this book up to look a certain way, when in fact the interior is so much more nuanced and complex.
Perhaps this disconnect between the exterior and the interior is why some reviewers here on Goodreads have, in my opinion, unfairly accused the book of being "trauma porn." My understanding of that term is that an author manufactures disaster and trauma for the sake of entertainment. I felt instead that Burdick was giving the actual Nina Lopez a voice and by sharing her story in a way that respected the complex, emotional, and very difficult relationship Nina shared with her mother.
Their story, based on actual events as told by Nina Lopez to author Serena Burdick years later, unfolds in a series of fictionalized letters, mostly spanning Estelita's childhood in Cuba in the 1930s to her untimely death in California in the 1960s. The idea of using fictionalized letters was something that at first confused me -- and then I realized how brilliant this decision was. Letters can communicate our deepest feelings to the unseen other; Estelita and Nina never could, in person, truly communicate their feelings to each other.
While the plot seems, on the surface, to revolve around Estelita's life and death, I found the most compelling story to be Nina'a story -- how, being the daughter of a Hollywood actress and singer left her often feeling alone and isolated. Despite this, there is a strong bond between mother and daughter--a fact that makes this story even more tragic. Estelita truly loved her daughter, but she also loved her career, and she loved being loved by others. So many circumstances (especially a few power-hungry men) forced her to choose between her different loves -- and Nina suffered as a result.
This book was, as I mentioned above, very difficult for me to read, for there are no easy moments for these women (though there are real and true friendships, sisterly love, and a great strength of spirit shown by both main characters). I had to read slowly, a few chapters at a time until I reached the last quarter of the book, when I could hardly put down the book. But taking the book slowly was a reward in and of itself, for Burdick's prose can be heartbreakingly beautiful; I wanted to take in the imagery at a pace allowing me to appreciate it.
Given the difficult subject matter, this may not be a book for everyone. I can't help but wonder if the publishers did a disservice to the book in the choice of title, cover, and blurb (assuming these are mainly choices in the traditional publisher's domain). Based on these exterior factors, I'd expect this book to be something breezy or dramatic--an escapist read. Don't get me wrong; I love breezy and escapist reads. But I don't think that's Burdick's goal here, and the story doesn't match the set of expectations possibly created by the packaging. There's a certain irony to the publishers dressing this book up to look a certain way, when in fact the interior is so much more nuanced and complex.
Perhaps this disconnect between the exterior and the interior is why some reviewers here on Goodreads have, in my opinion, unfairly accused the book of being "trauma porn." My understanding of that term is that an author manufactures disaster and trauma for the sake of entertainment. I felt instead that Burdick was giving the actual Nina Lopez a voice and by sharing her story in a way that respected the complex, emotional, and very difficult relationship Nina shared with her mother.
March 13, 2021
I wasn’t happy with this book. Maybe because the tale was so full of grief, hurt, without the relief of joy or humor. Maybe it was the letter writing format. I was happy to be done with this book.
July 23, 2023
Paskutinius 100 puslapių skaičiau labai nenoriai, tempdama laiką. Ir ne todėl, kad knyga prasta, o dėl laukiančios liūdnos pabaigos.
Estelita Rodriguez buvo talentinga ir žavinga moteris, lengvai apžavėdavusi vyrus, tuo pačiu ir pati per greitai įsimylėdavusi. Tragiškos lemties moteris mirė būdama tik 37 metų, jos dukra Nina savo mamos istoriją, būdama jau senyvo amžiaus, papasakojo būsimai rašytojai Serenai ir dabar visas pasaulis gali susipažinti su šia, iš Kubos kilusia ir Amerikoje trumpai žibėjusia, dainininke bei kino aktore.
Estelita Rodriguez buvo talentinga ir žavinga moteris, lengvai apžavėdavusi vyrus, tuo pačiu ir pati per greitai įsimylėdavusi. Tragiškos lemties moteris mirė būdama tik 37 metų, jos dukra Nina savo mamos istoriją, būdama jau senyvo amžiaus, papasakojo būsimai rašytojai Serenai ir dabar visas pasaulis gali susipažinti su šia, iš Kubos kilusia ir Amerikoje trumpai žibėjusia, dainininke bei kino aktore.
November 17, 2023
I honestly wasn't even expecting to push through this book until the end but there was something in me just telling me to keep going, and I don't hate that I did, it's just that I don't know how much I'll remember this book. I'll remember Estelita and Nina, who the book is based on, but honestly ... I was a bit bored and it definitely dragged on a little longer than necessaryand the story was quite choppy. If it was a hundred or so pages shorter I would have enjoyed way more, I think.
December 12, 2020
3.5 stars.
The writing was pretty phenomenal, I really enjoyed the historical aspect, and I had a hard time tearing myself away from this book. This book is correctly compared to "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo." Just add the Cuban revolution and multi-generational mother/daughter relationships in there. I love historical fiction and enjoy multi-generational family sagas a lot so I really liked the lead up to the climax/the end.
The book was tense throughout and I think the author did a fantastic job of building tension throughout scenes. She introduced characters well and build them up pretty well. I had a bit of a hard time swallowing the believability of the the mother's romantic partners but they helped move the plot along so I found that relatively easy to overlook.
I have to round my rating down though because of the end. The prologue pulled me in but by the time we got to the resolution I was really disappointed in the way the character's stories ended. Some of it was sweet but I mostly just disappointed.
* I want to add that the audiobook is also VERY well produced and worth a listen!
The writing was pretty phenomenal, I really enjoyed the historical aspect, and I had a hard time tearing myself away from this book. This book is correctly compared to "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo." Just add the Cuban revolution and multi-generational mother/daughter relationships in there. I love historical fiction and enjoy multi-generational family sagas a lot so I really liked the lead up to the climax/the end.
The book was tense throughout and I think the author did a fantastic job of building tension throughout scenes. She introduced characters well and build them up pretty well. I had a bit of a hard time swallowing the believability of the the mother's romantic partners but they helped move the plot along so I found that relatively easy to overlook.
I have to round my rating down though because of the end. The prologue pulled me in but by the time we got to the resolution I was really disappointed in the way the character's stories ended. Some of it was sweet but I mostly just disappointed.
* I want to add that the audiobook is also VERY well produced and worth a listen!
May 7, 2022
Good story. Deals with mother daughter relationships. Also dealt with difficult times in Cuban history.
April 3, 2021
This was an interesting book about real-life Cuban actress, Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter, Nina. The title is stupid and has nothing to do with the content of the book. Find Me in Mexico City would have been more appropriate.
January 20, 2021
The Review
A beautiful story of two women connected by family and fate, the novel expertly crafts a narrative of how the daughter of a renowned actress and singer must come to terms with the childhood she had and the life she’s led thus far after her mother’s passing. The shift in perspective between both Nina and her mother Estelita was an inspired choice, as readers are able to get a better sense of where each of them was coming from, and the tragic circumstances they each found themselves in.
The backdrop of Cuba and the nation’s violent history of revolution and war did a great job of highlighting not only the nation’s history but the vast culture that the people of Cuba had as well. However the core of this story is undoubtedly the relationship between a mother and her daughter, and the daughters need to understand her mother’s life and how to let go of the past in order to move on with her own life. The novel is marred by tragic events to be sure, but the emotional journey is well worth the known outcome and makes this a truly intimate historical fiction read.
The Verdict
A mesmerizing, emotional, and heartfelt read of the relationship between a mother and her daughter, author Serena Burdick’s “Find Me In Havana” is a must-read historical fiction novel. The real-life people within this novel come to life in a memorable way, and the honest look into the lives of these two women will be something so many of us can connect with. If you haven’t yet, grab your copies today!
A beautiful story of two women connected by family and fate, the novel expertly crafts a narrative of how the daughter of a renowned actress and singer must come to terms with the childhood she had and the life she’s led thus far after her mother’s passing. The shift in perspective between both Nina and her mother Estelita was an inspired choice, as readers are able to get a better sense of where each of them was coming from, and the tragic circumstances they each found themselves in.
The backdrop of Cuba and the nation’s violent history of revolution and war did a great job of highlighting not only the nation’s history but the vast culture that the people of Cuba had as well. However the core of this story is undoubtedly the relationship between a mother and her daughter, and the daughters need to understand her mother’s life and how to let go of the past in order to move on with her own life. The novel is marred by tragic events to be sure, but the emotional journey is well worth the known outcome and makes this a truly intimate historical fiction read.
The Verdict
A mesmerizing, emotional, and heartfelt read of the relationship between a mother and her daughter, author Serena Burdick’s “Find Me In Havana” is a must-read historical fiction novel. The real-life people within this novel come to life in a memorable way, and the honest look into the lives of these two women will be something so many of us can connect with. If you haven’t yet, grab your copies today!
October 28, 2021
I didn't realize this was based on a true story, which had me bumping up my rating. It was a slow start and it took me a few chapters to catch on to the back and forth between Estelita's point of view and Nina's. There was a chunk in the middle that also bogged me down, but the end was full of drama and the epilogue helped wrap the story up in a neat package.
"Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration—from Havana to New York’s Copacabana and then Hollywood—becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty. Not the revolving door of husbands or the fickle world of film. Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina, is blindsided by her mother’s mysterious death. Seeking answers, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms. Based on true events and exclusive interviews with Nina Lopez, Estelita’s daughter, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary story that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery."
"Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration—from Havana to New York’s Copacabana and then Hollywood—becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty. Not the revolving door of husbands or the fickle world of film. Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina, is blindsided by her mother’s mysterious death. Seeking answers, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms. Based on true events and exclusive interviews with Nina Lopez, Estelita’s daughter, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary story that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery."
January 9, 2021
4 stars
This was a sweeping historical fiction story that takes you from LA, to Mexico and Cuba. The story of Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter Nina is told by alternating perspectives between them. This gives insight into the characters feelings as they are not very good at sharing them with each other. It also allows the reader to see what is the motivation behind some of the decisions that they make. Estelita is so focused on her career that she loses sight of the importance of motherhood and struggles with it throughout the book. Nina wants her mother’s love and attention . They face many challenges throughout the story including a kidnapping rescue in Mexico, Cuban imprisonment and sexual assault. The author did a great job building tension and keeping the reader engaged throughout. . This book is based on a true story and shares little known history. My only complaint is that the ending fell a little flat. I was hoping for more resolution and some justice. I would have also liked to hear more about Estelita’s film career. I appreciated the celebrity names in the book but without some background as to their relationship it fell a little flat.
Thank you #Netgalley for the audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review
This was a sweeping historical fiction story that takes you from LA, to Mexico and Cuba. The story of Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter Nina is told by alternating perspectives between them. This gives insight into the characters feelings as they are not very good at sharing them with each other. It also allows the reader to see what is the motivation behind some of the decisions that they make. Estelita is so focused on her career that she loses sight of the importance of motherhood and struggles with it throughout the book. Nina wants her mother’s love and attention . They face many challenges throughout the story including a kidnapping rescue in Mexico, Cuban imprisonment and sexual assault. The author did a great job building tension and keeping the reader engaged throughout. . This book is based on a true story and shares little known history. My only complaint is that the ending fell a little flat. I was hoping for more resolution and some justice. I would have also liked to hear more about Estelita’s film career. I appreciated the celebrity names in the book but without some background as to their relationship it fell a little flat.
Thank you #Netgalley for the audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review
December 30, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Park Row (Harlequin) for the advance copy of the book. Seeing the author, Serena Burdick’s, book up for selection, I couldn’t say no. Girl in the Afternoon was one of my favorite books the year that I read it, so I went in with high expectations for another great story. I was not disappointed. This is one of those “based on a true story” novels that make you realize the backstory of certain people make for fascinating reading. We follow Nina and her mother Estelita’s lives as they struggle with love, betrayal, tragedy over and over again. The power of family is at the center of the story and it unfolds through letters between Nina and Estelita reflecting on the past, incidents that shaped their lives and things left unsaid. It held my attention from the beginning and I was invested in the characters in short order. The epilogue helped round out the story and was equally fascinating. Great book!
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