Our House in the Last World

I just finished this novel/memoir, and was in tears for much of the reading. I love all of Oscar Hijuelos' writing, but this was truly the best of the best. It belongs with the great world classics, a heartbreaking chronicle of the human condition. Hijuelos' heart is as big as Knut Hamsun's, and his characters will live with me forever. Thank you, Mr. Hijuelos, from the bottom of MY heart, for explaining to me why I could not cry when my mother died, and thank you, too, for illuminating the dark corners of all our lives. I am so glad you had the courage to take up the pen.

It brings you into the beautiful world of Cuba and New York City. It gets you nostalgic for your own country. Hijuelos takes you through Cuban and American history with a flow. He pulls you into the Santinios family and lets you share their ups and downs with them. A great book for anyone.