Book Review: The Country Under My Skin

Subtitled, "A Memoir of Love and War" by Gioconda Belli, this reads like a great novel. But, it's an autobiography. I was going to quote something representative but there are so many things covered--all with great writing. [Info/Buy]

Why should you read this book?

• You like good stories
• You want to fill in your knowledge of the Nicaraguan Revolution from 1966-1990
• You want to know what it was like growing up in Managua in the upper class
• You like strong women

That's a good start. What struck me the most about the entire book (which I read in one day) is that it is so Nicaraguan. That is, Belli is open about her thoughts and emotions just like I see with most people here in Nicaragua. The difference is that as she makes her journey thru life she is describing people you don't normally see described in this way. Those people include many of the FSLN leaders, and Fidel Castro, as well as those that were hip in Managua in the 1970s.

Lacking that representative quote, here is what Salman Rushdie said about the book:

This is the best autobiography I've read in years: a passionate, lyrical, tough-minded account of an extraordinary life in art, revolution and love. It's a book to relish, to read and reread. Unforgettable.

Note that it was originally written in Spanish but Belli speaks English and was involved in the translation. While I haven't read the Spanish version, I am pretty confident that the translation is very well done.