The Great Divide: Book Review

The Great Divide

By Christina Henriquez

I loved The Great Divide even though it was not a sweeping historical fiction epic. The Great Divide grabbed me from the first page. Back when I was in my twenties, Panama was a big topic and talked about. You hardly hear anyone talk about it. When I was in college my room mate was a Panamanian. I have not read many books about the area, fiction or non-fiction. I knew a few facts but not enough. Didn't hear much about how the Canal was built, who built it. So, I was glad to read about it.

The book opened my eyes to the history, and the US involvement. A dark part of history. The action of the US and other countries action with colonialism.  After reading, I'm sure there is much more to know about in the people, country, and the culture. For instance, I wasn't aware Panama was actually Columbia, and became part of the US for 100 year lease. Which actually did happen.

 There was illness, sickness, poor living conditions, and poor treatment of the workers which all did actually happen. 

In 1906 in Panama, history is being made. There are few inter-related main characters. They tell their stories and narrate the history which is interweaved into the story. 

It is a page turner and it was captivating, and kept the story moving. There are three main characters, Ada from Barbados, Omar from Panama, and Marian, from the US( Tennessee). 

Ada, a teenager was born out of wedlock, as well as her sister, Matilda. Her Mother, born as a slave. The slave, and plantation owner finds out about her, and her husband's affair. He has no choice but to cast her aside. Ada's mother leaves with her children and a new beginning, and a house.  After the girls become teenagers. Her Sister becomes ill. Ada feels she has no choice but to travel to Panama for work to raise money to help her sister. 

Then Omar, a Panamanian teenager wants to work on the construction of the Panamanian Canal. His Father, and him don't see eye to eye when it comes to trust the Americans. They don't speak for months.

This is where the story becomes interesting. I loved the story. Only two critique of the author. It was too simplistic in writing, and style. I was expecting a bit more. The traditional historical sweeping epic of a novel. Because I felt the Panama Canal was a large project. I think I expected the same from the story. Just my opinion. The other the ending, was wrapped up in a pretty bow with a conclusion. It maybe because I am a literary fiction snob. Most lit-fiction never wraps up knowing the conclusion with character and story. Usually there is no ending, and us as the reader imagine ourselves.

I still recommend it and loved it. If you don't know the history of the Panama Canal, PBS, Discovering the Panama Canal or History Channel has one as well. You can find both of YouTube.