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Ciao! Miami
An uncompromising look at lower class Miami in the late 90s.
98 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
About the author
Fawzy Zablah
5 books14 followersFawzy Zablah is the author of Ciao! Miami (2006, Little Havana Press) and Rarity of the Century (2014, Tiny TOE Press)
Rarity of the Century was short listed Semi Finalist in the William Faulkner William Wisdom Competition in 2012.
His short story 'This Modern Man is Beat' (Acentos Review, Feb. 2011) has just been adapted into a short film by screenwriter David Schroeder and director Alex Merkin.
Rarity of the Century was short listed Semi Finalist in the William Faulkner William Wisdom Competition in 2012.
His short story 'This Modern Man is Beat' (Acentos Review, Feb. 2011) has just been adapted into a short film by screenwriter David Schroeder and director Alex Merkin.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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June 15, 2020
Blood. Bitches. Dancers. Drugs. Demons. Denny's. Destruction. Dicks. Discrimination. Emotion. Heart. Head. Ciao! Miami.
June 6, 2013
I couldn't wait to start reading this book. It makes me realize what a remarkable talent it is to be able to sit down and successfully write a dialogue between characters, and able to express ideas that are easily transported to the mind of the reader. I'm really amazed by that gift and talent.
Let me first begin by saying that I approached this book prudently. I wanted to make sure I read and thoroughly absorbed all the stories, and it's symbolism. I had a hunch before even reading any of them that there would be a lot more than met the eye.
The first one was "Eve in blue robe". I have to admit that since it was the first story and I was unfamiliar to the general style and theme of the work as a whole I didn't quite know where it was heading, but it turned out to be surprisingly funny, a bit wicked, and I actually cracked up in the end. It was classic! I don't want to put any spoilers in my review since these are a collection of short stories, but it gives insight to the superficial nature of the social scene in Miami, and how deceiving looks can be.
Post Bug Billy Flint, was a sweet yet sad story, and after finishing it, I was confident I was going to enjoy the rest of the book because I was very comfortable with Zablahs congenial form of writing.
"The Women's Army" was my favorite! I know it sounds cliche but it was so riveting. I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and Zablah pulled it off quite effortlessly and un-forcibly, I may add. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't know much about Elias, and never heard the story about the dolphins, so it urged me to look online and read his entire story.
I just really enjoyed the characters in this one, they were all so clearly presented, and developed.
The Last Club on Earth reminded me of the movie Trainspotting. It had qualities of a dark comedy. Tragic, but funny.
"The Existence of Babil" was my second favorite because it immediately reminded me of Rachel Corrie, the activist who was bulldozed by the Zionists while trying to protect Palestinian homes in Rafah, Gaza Strip. This story took me back to that time during 911, when I was living in Brooklyn NY, and racial tensions were very high, and a lot of innocent hard working people had to endure the anger of the atrocity that the city was feeling at the time. Another story that made me jump on the net and revisit that era. I'm glad I did because I wasn't aware that in 2012 the Israeli courts ruled the Zionist army was not at fault in Rachel Corrie's death.
I absolutely love books that make me jump on the internet and search for historical events, and this was one of those books.
"People Clash in Pre-Smoking Ban Florida"
I particularly enjoyed the honesty of this story. "she looks like a retard", "She must be a retard". lol I can related to the reaction of these two servers. I display the same reaction upon witnessing someone smoking around their child. I appreciated this one a lot.
"Darling, It Was An Uphill battle Loving You" was my third favorite. This was one I kind of wish was an entire full length novel because it had this rhythm that consistently increased in suspense. I read this one in bed after work, and I was sleepy but I couldn't put it down. The ending was so shocking, but it made me laugh because I could totally picture that happening to a girl. lol
Overall this collection of short stories were definitely worth reading. Dare I say, this is the first collection of short stories which I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. If i had to pick 2 writers whose style I think Zablah represents, it would be a little Bolano, but more like Junot Diaz.
I really can't wait to read more from this author.
Let me first begin by saying that I approached this book prudently. I wanted to make sure I read and thoroughly absorbed all the stories, and it's symbolism. I had a hunch before even reading any of them that there would be a lot more than met the eye.
The first one was "Eve in blue robe". I have to admit that since it was the first story and I was unfamiliar to the general style and theme of the work as a whole I didn't quite know where it was heading, but it turned out to be surprisingly funny, a bit wicked, and I actually cracked up in the end. It was classic! I don't want to put any spoilers in my review since these are a collection of short stories, but it gives insight to the superficial nature of the social scene in Miami, and how deceiving looks can be.
Post Bug Billy Flint, was a sweet yet sad story, and after finishing it, I was confident I was going to enjoy the rest of the book because I was very comfortable with Zablahs congenial form of writing.
"The Women's Army" was my favorite! I know it sounds cliche but it was so riveting. I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and Zablah pulled it off quite effortlessly and un-forcibly, I may add. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't know much about Elias, and never heard the story about the dolphins, so it urged me to look online and read his entire story.
I just really enjoyed the characters in this one, they were all so clearly presented, and developed.
The Last Club on Earth reminded me of the movie Trainspotting. It had qualities of a dark comedy. Tragic, but funny.
"The Existence of Babil" was my second favorite because it immediately reminded me of Rachel Corrie, the activist who was bulldozed by the Zionists while trying to protect Palestinian homes in Rafah, Gaza Strip. This story took me back to that time during 911, when I was living in Brooklyn NY, and racial tensions were very high, and a lot of innocent hard working people had to endure the anger of the atrocity that the city was feeling at the time. Another story that made me jump on the net and revisit that era. I'm glad I did because I wasn't aware that in 2012 the Israeli courts ruled the Zionist army was not at fault in Rachel Corrie's death.
I absolutely love books that make me jump on the internet and search for historical events, and this was one of those books.
"People Clash in Pre-Smoking Ban Florida"
I particularly enjoyed the honesty of this story. "she looks like a retard", "She must be a retard". lol I can related to the reaction of these two servers. I display the same reaction upon witnessing someone smoking around their child. I appreciated this one a lot.
"Darling, It Was An Uphill battle Loving You" was my third favorite. This was one I kind of wish was an entire full length novel because it had this rhythm that consistently increased in suspense. I read this one in bed after work, and I was sleepy but I couldn't put it down. The ending was so shocking, but it made me laugh because I could totally picture that happening to a girl. lol
Overall this collection of short stories were definitely worth reading. Dare I say, this is the first collection of short stories which I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. If i had to pick 2 writers whose style I think Zablah represents, it would be a little Bolano, but more like Junot Diaz.
I really can't wait to read more from this author.
September 23, 2014
English is not my first language, and one of the things I liked about this book is that is so easy to read, which made my experience very enjoyable. I enjoyed all the stories, as the description says, a look at lower class Miami of the 90s, kind of like I was there.
My favorite story was Women's Army, "mijita!", the characters are very special, the women reminded me of people from the town I was born in Mexico, it was a very interesting story and so hilarious remembering this or that woman I know behaving like some of the women's army.
I recommend you to get a copy, you wont regret it.
My favorite story was Women's Army, "mijita!", the characters are very special, the women reminded me of people from the town I was born in Mexico, it was a very interesting story and so hilarious remembering this or that woman I know behaving like some of the women's army.
I recommend you to get a copy, you wont regret it.
May 24, 2020
my favorite I love the whole way it's written cuz it is showing me my favorite way to look at life. the cosmic laughter of the absurd and he captures how it can be sad but still just laugh. it inspires me so much.
October 19, 2020
A book of short stories set in Miami in the 90s - from prostitutes and nightlife to errant love and painting a picture of the mix of cultures in the city. There aren't a lot of writers that come out of Miami and popular culture about the place is stuck on Scarface, but these stories show a very real side of the city, and Zablah writes well. Some of the stories, like Eve in Blue Robe, have an almost Raymond Carver type of ending, abrupt and leaving me wanting more. Other stories, like Women's Army, had a great plot but dragged on and were anticlimactic. But overall good stuff. It was short - I finished the book in a night.
December 15, 2020
Fawzy Zablah writes not very nice characters. And yet you are compelled to hear their stories. This collection is as kind-hearted as it is grim. Sure, everything sucks for everybody, but at the end of the day there's hope tearing through this book. If this is what Miami was like in the late nineties and early 2000s, I'm glad there was a writer there to capture it. Not normally a fan of this length of short story, but Zablah leaves me compelled on every page.
October 22, 2018
Three killer stories in the second half—The Existence of Babil, People Clash in Pre-Smoking Ban Florida, and Darling, It Was An Uphill battle Loving You—but not enough for a collection this short.
October 14, 2020
A ripping good time! Full review here: https://www.joylesshousepublishing.co...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews