Dancing to Almendra

The murder of a Cuban hippopotamus and a New York Mafia don (the historical capo Umberto Anastasia) are bizarrely linked in Mayra Montero`s mesmerizing and heartfelt noir novel set in 1950s Cuba and Manhattan. Joaquin Porrata is a young journalist in Havana covering the peculiar death of the hippo, who finds himself caught up in the frenzied world of Cuban politics, where mobsters like Meyer Lanksy run the celebrity world of casinos and sun-drenched beaches, while Castro`s revolutionaries threaten the corrupt Batista regime. Porrata also finds himself romantically entangled with a one-armed beauty who has a Mafia lover. Her back-story and narrative begin to alternate with Porrata`s, and the novel brilliantly captures a strange blend of violent detective fiction, cultural atmosphere, and poignant romance. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.