Travel to Central America

Still Love in Strange Places: A Memoir

Format: Hardcover
Author: Beth Kephart
ReleaseDate: April, 2002
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Rating:

mixed reaction
She wants to make herself part of his early life and to be able to pass this culture on to their son. A memoir of a woman's attempt to understand the history and culture that shaped her El Salvadorian husband. While she provides a good basic introduction to El Salvador, including history, the economy, and geology, her search for understanding seems half-hearted. As an engaging portrait of her life or of the people of El Salvador, it's disappointing. However, there is not a lot of information out there on this country, so those planning to travel there might find some of the descriptions interesting.

Reflective and Multi-layered
Kephart is really asking the questions, To whom do memories and stories belong? and How are cultural legacies passed down to a child. Still Love in Strange Places takes readers on an exquisite journey to a foreign place (El Salvador) and also deep into the heart of a marriage, into questions of identity and place. A fascinating book.

ultimately ineffective
Sad, since I was looking forward to reading this, based on the jacket copy. This is the kind of book where you realize early on that the writer isn't talented enough to pull off what she's set out to do. Oh well. This reviewer recommends that others look elsewhere for a compelling read.

Related products:
click image or link for details on these Central America travel books.

	The Rough Guide to Guatemala 3 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
	Lonely Planet Guatemala