1. How did you experience the book?

[John]

1. How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to "get into it"? How did you feel reading it—amused,
sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?

[John]

At first I found Robinson's writing a little stiff, almost off-putting. It most closely reminds me of W.E.B. Griffin's style. But as I got into it, I found the story compelling. I hadn't finished El reino de este mundo, which I was trying to squeeze in at the end of last year, and started reading just a chapter at a time, planning to dedicate myself once I finished El reino. But as I found myself being pulled into the story, I put aside Carpentier and focused solely on Robinson.

[Jill]

I love this book, am recommending it to my other book club! I did have trouble understanding Father Steve's friendship with Captain Orselli, didn't find him a very sympathetic character, but he keeps popping up at key times and does manage to grow in virtue