1989Pulitzer 1990
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love
Oscar Hijuelos · 1951–2013 · USA
Why it matters
Two Cuban brothers chase musical stardom through 1950s New York's mambo clubs, their one real brush with fame (a guest spot on I Love Lucy) replayed for the rest of their disappointing lives. Hijuelos's Pulitzer winner made him the prize's first Latino recipient.
At a glance
family sagaromance
Difficulty 5/10medium pace432 pagesNonlinear, memory-driven structure moves fluidly between decades and requires tracking two intertwined lives.
Deep dive
Why one guest spot on I Love Lucy becomes the ceiling of an immigrant life, and what Nestor's one unfinished song is really mourning.
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