Raining Sardines (review)

Set in pre-Communist Cuba, this first novel from Cuban-born Flores-Galbis tells the story of Ernestina and Enriquito, best friends living in a village near Havana. When Ernestina and Enriquito discover that the wealthy and powerful Don Rigol is going to clear-cut the mountain valley that is home to the last herd of wild ponies, Ernestina blackmails Alysia Rigol-Betancourt, her uppity classmate and the Don's daughter, and seals the deal with Alysia's precious golden locket. When Enriquito is later accused of stealing the locket, he ends up in jail, though he has a strong feeling, based on a dream, that the locket actually belongs to his family. Add to this an age-old quest for Indian treasure and you've got a many-layered story of fact, fiction, and folklore that moves easily between magical and traditional realism. Enriquito and Ernestina are a formidable twosome, always in the thick of things and truly dedicated to their homeland, and their remarkable friendship is solidly portrayed. The multifaceted nature of the novel can be confusing at times, but those willing to ride the wave between perception and reality will appreciate the novel's quiet rhythm and mystical atmosphere.