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Azucar's Sweet Hope: Her Story Continues
Part two of the trilogy of books from Alan Cambeira
By Laurel Johnson, Midwest Book Review | Posted: March 30, 2005
In this second novel in the Azúcar Trilogy, _Alan Cambeira_
(http://www.cambeira.com/) once again works prosaic magic as a story teller. Lush Caribbean
locales, a seductive story line, and clearly defined characters kept me
riveted from page one. Cambeira's style is beguiling.
Azúcar's Sweet Hope picks up several years after book one ends. Azúcar
Ferrand-St. Jacques and her soulmate Lucien have formed a powerful international
consortium in their efforts to attract tourists to the Caribbean. This
beautiful, successful, and determined couple is protected by powerful island spirits
and a seemingly endless supply of money. Despite unparalleled success in
business, neither has forgotten the squalid roots from which they came. Azúcar,
in particular, never forgets her childhood of poverty, exploitation,
violence, and abuse. She is determined to make life better for those who must labor
long hours under a merciless tropical sun. Sugar cane fields and
European-owned plantations have given way to pricey tourist hideaways. Still, laborers
struggle daily with unimaginable horrors and hardships that persist in their
island paradise. With their latest business venture, Azúcar and Lucien plan to
pay workers well, treat them humanely, and create new financial channels into
impoverished areas. Their idealistic plans are threatened from the outset.
First, wealthy tourists - members of the influential Montalvo family - are
horribly murdered, victims of a kreyol ritual. Sociopolitical tensions result
from these unsolved murders while a displaced work force of discontented
sugar cane workers rebel against decadent consumerism. Will outside forces ruin
Azucar's plans? And will she betray beneficial island spirits to achieve her
goals?
Azúcar's Sweet Hope is a realistic picture of what happens when greedy,
racist businessmen and politicians combine forces to gain wealth and power. The
result, as always, is the raping of a country's resources and ruination of the
poor who serve as laborers. Cambeira writes honestly, with powerful,
persuasive prose. Through his words, inhumanity and hope, beauty and sadism, love
and squallor come alive in the island paradise he loves.
Azúcar's Sweet Hope is available at _Amazon.com_ (http://amazon.com/) ,
_Barnes & Noble_ (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/) , _Borders Books_
(http://www.bordersstores.com/) and _Publish America_ (http://www.publishamerica.com/) .
_This Article in Print-Friendly Version »_
(http://www.caribbeantales.org/ct_newsletter/archives//book_reviews/azucars_sweet_hope_her_story_continues/printv
ersion.html)
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Book Reviews
_Azucar's Sweet Hope: Her Story Continues_
(http://www.caribbeantales.org/ct_newsletter/archives/book_reviews/azucars_sweet_hope_her_story_continues/index.h
tml)
Part two of the trilogy of books from Alan Cambeira
Your Story
_The Douen_
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Douens, according to Trinidadian myth, are the souls of children who died
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search of playmates, and appear as any other child except that their feet are
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Around The Fire
_Editorial_
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_Part 2: History Matters_
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