It was a time I remember well. The thirteen days when the Cuban Missile Crisis loomed over all of our lives, it would be even more traumatic for those living so close to Cuba, like the characters in A Place We Knew Well. Florida, where these characters lived, would seem like the place most affected by events as they unfolded.
Wes Avery, the owner of a Texaco service station, is the primary narrator. His wife Sarah seems to be going through a major crisis, and as the count-down to possible disaster continues, a number of events sharpen the emotional components in her world.
Daughter Charlotte has been nominated for Homecoming Queen, and her date is a young Cuban named Emilio. What does this signify to Sarah, who protests loudly?
Why does Sarah then curl up in their bomb shelter with the lights out? Is the past crushing her with the loss of hope and the death of dreams? Why does someone from their past suddenly appear, and how does this event change the landscape of their world?
The story moved very slowly in the beginning, but as the count-down continued, I felt more engaged. I was mostly bored by Wes and his thoughts and feelings, but eventually I started to connect with him.
Sarah felt like the typical bored housewife until some moments from her past are magnified.
Memorable times drove the story for me, and the characters became more likable later on. I read it mostly for the historic events, and how people struggled during those thirteen days. 3.5 stars.
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This sounds really intriguing partly because the mystery I just reviewed yesterday begins shortly after Bay of Pigs and involves the resurfacing of a mysterious letter that is believed to contain damning information about the major players in that fiasco. Funny how things connect. I’ll have to try your book.
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Oh, that sounds like a good one, Ms. M. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’ve heard some similar thoughts about this book from others. Not quite as much as expected. I’m still drawn to it, probably because of the historical details. Thanks for giving your experience to us. 🙂
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Yes, the historical details were my favorite parts. Thanks for stopping by, Kay.
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Sounds like this was one that you would have to persevere with until all the details were revealed. I was much more removed from the Cuban crisis but like all these things it did send some fear around the globe.
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Yes, it felt tedious at times, Kathryn…I don’t know why. Thanks for stopping by.
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I debated about this one but the hair on the cover threw me!
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Ha-ha, I remember you commenting about the hair, Patty….but my issues were with the MC being a boring man named Wes, with only superficial elements shared about any of the women, hair or not. LOL
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I am glad the story picked up as it went, not a bad read 🙂
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I don’t like a book that drags, as I dread picking it up again…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Kimberly.
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Difficult when the story drags on at the beginning. Sometimes its difficult to persist. There are brilliant books out there and all of us limited time to read.
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I had to struggle…if it hadn’t been a review book, I would have set it aside. Thanks, Mystica.
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You sound a bit lukewarm about this one which is too bad. I was hoping for more against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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So was I, Susan, and I’m not quite sure why this one left me cold…I was so looking forward to it. I think I just couldn’t engage with Wes, who seemed to be the MC. I was more interested in some of the others.
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