Hemingway's Girl: Book Review

Hemingway's Girl
By Erika Robuck


I am writing this review about two weeks after I finished reading. My memory is a bit fuzzy.

This is a story about a young girl, mixed blood. Her mother is Cuban, and her father American. Ambriella, has to support her mother financially, and emotionally, as well as her sisters.  They don't have much money, and her father died tragically.

She meets a war veteran, she is attracted and infatuated with, and Hemingway at a bar, called Sloppy Joe's. There is a bet, and a boxing match.  This is how she connects with both men. 

Hemingway, is attracted to her. Gives the excuse would you like to work for me and my wife, Pauline.  Pauline is Hemingway's second wife.  Pauline offers her a position.

  Luckily, Ambiella holds her ground and doesn't allow it to get to far. She is wise, and sensible to realize that he is much older than her, and the relationship will not lead to anything. But, still there is a conflict between the two men for her affection.

The description of Sloppy Joe's I could visualize it like, Harrison Ford's Raider of the Lost Ark. There is a scene of a bar.  This is how I visualized Sloppy Joe's.

I have not read many novels, that take place in the Key's so this was a treat to get away.

Reading about the Key's and The war vets was the most interesting. There is a part of history that is not known to many people. The bridge that connects to Miami and to the Keys back in the 30's was in the process of being built.  They hired many vets from the war to build the bridge.  They took advantage of these poor souls.

During the time when the bridge was being built, a hurricane was developing in the Keys.  At that time there wasn't any technology to warn them of a real threat of a hurricane, like there is now.
Back in the 30's they did not warn people to evacuate.  

There was a bridge being built and many vets were killed. Because the management of the bridge did not take the danger seriously and tell them to evacuate. They were more interested in building the bridge than these vets lives.

The description of the Keys was wonderful, and the part of history I did not know about. But, unfortunately, it did not hold my attention.

If you are looking for a fictional story about Hemingway, read Paul McLain's novel, Paris Wife, it is wonderful. I will be doing a review in the next few days.