This collection of short fiction, a winner of the Bakeless Prize, captures the international hub city of Miami, Florida, in all its roiling guises-from the opulence of South Beach to the ferocity of Little Havana.
Introducing us to a wide range of unforgettable characters-an unscrupulous newscaster, a Lincoln Road bar manager, a beautiful but cruel teenage heartbreaker, and the title character, a suicidal Latin pop star-in situations that teem with humor and brutality, absurdity and poignancy, this remarkable debut offers a vivid portrait of a city defined by a blur of cultures.
"A mesmerizing collection of the first order. It's hilarious and it's harrowing. The stories here are exhilarating to read; some are breathtaking and achingly beautiful. This is a dazzling literary achievement."
John Dufresne, author of Johnny Too Bad
"Barr demonstrates fine storytelling with a good ear for nuance."
Publishers Weekly
"Many of the stories sparkle with daily ritual, along with the bonus (beyond pleasure) of a spirit-cleansing kindness, patience and tolerance."
