The Last Train to Key West tells the story of how three women’s lives intersect during the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. Helen is a Key West native that is 8 months pregnant and trapped in an abusive marriage. One night, a veteran named John saves her from a mugging and becomes her guardian angel. Elizabeth is a formerly rich New York socialite fleeing her impending marriage. Federal agent Sam helps her search for her brother at the work camps. Mirta married Antonio back home in Havana and he has brought her to Florida for their honeymoon. Mirta knows almost nothing about Antonio other than he’s a rich American mobster, but she’s determined to make the best of her situation.
I don’t know what exactly I expected from this book. I don’t even remember checking it out from the library so it must have been another sleep-deprived acquisition. I’ve got to stop doing that. But I do know it got rave reviews and it features a natural disaster, and I freaking love natural disaster movies and books. Is it wrong to say this book didn’t have enough hurricane? The hurricane felt more like a metaphor for the women’s lives than an actual historical event. I really wasn’t crazy about this book so I’m not sure why I finished it. All of the women’s lives were sad and, in the end, were improved by the love of a good man (vomit). The ways their lives intersected during and after the hurricane were completely unbelievable. I wasn’t even impressed by the writing. It was a pretty fast read, so that’s something. I guess I can see why some people might like it, but it’s a big thumbs down from me.
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