Ignacia Novoa Novoa itibaren El Matazano, Honduras
This was first recommended by Paul Thiboutot at a Carleton AAR board meeting.
Really liked this book, but could only give it 4 stars instead of 5 because I got so mad at the characters on occasion. Marina said some of the dumbest things, even though she seems to be very intelligent. It felt like a ploy to get across some point of the author's rather than something her character would say/do. Dr. Swenson just annoyed me to no end and I never found myself liking her, which was too bad, because it rubbed off on everything she was trying to do. However, I did love the description of the Amazon jungle and the writing style was very detailed and flowed nicely.
Second read: I loved this book the first time around, giving it 5 stars, and I think even listing it on a Facebook "15 Most Influential Books of My Life" list. But for whatever reason, I really had a hard time even getting through it this time. I recognize that the depiction of New Orleans is lush and gorgeous, and certainly Ignatius is a memorable character...but there's no one in the story, with the possible exception of Jones the doorman, that I actually want to spend time with. It's true that Ignatius's deluded, screaming rants are an art form, but on second read I found them more tiresome than amusing. Downgraded by one star, but if I was being totally honest I might even go lower.