The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love
- 407 pages
- 15 hours of reading
Follows the lives and loves of two young Cuban musicians as they make their way from Havana to New York where they earn the title of the Mambo Kings
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love Series
This series chronicles the vibrant lives of two Cuban brothers who journey from Havana to the New York City scene during the electrifying era of mambo. Follow their rise from working-class roots to becoming stars of the dance halls, where their music pulses with youth, love, and freedom. Immerse yourself in nostalgic reflections on a golden age filled with both triumphs and tragedies. The saga beautifully captures themes of cultural fusion, identity, and the unforgettable spirit of a musical era.
Recommended Reading Order
“Savor the mysterious power of a master’s pentimento.” —Los Angeles Times “It takes a lot of nerve and skill to pull off something as rich as Beautiful MarÍa of My Soul, but pull it off Hijuelos does.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer “I fell instantly in love with the glorious soul of Beautiful MarÍa of My Soul. Hijuelos has created and brought to life two beloved characters, a heart-stealing heroine and Havana during an epoch of changing fate.” —Amy Tan, bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club In Beautiful MarÍa of My Soul, Oscar Hijuelos returns to the passionate tale he began twenty years ago in The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love. MarÍa is the great Cuban beauty who stole musician Nestor Castillo’s heart and broke it, inspiring him to write the Mambo Kings’ biggest hit, “Beautiful MarÍa of My Soul.'” Now in her sixties and living as an exile in Miami, MarÍa remains a beauty, still capable of turning heads. But while she left Cuba decades ago, she has never forgotten Nestor. As she thinks back to her days—and nights—in Havana, an entirely new perspective on the Mambo Kings story unfolds. Beautiful MarÍa of My Soul is a stunning act of reinvention, and another contemporary classic from an extraordinarily talented writer.