La Americana is the story of Melanie Bowden SimΓ³n, who, at the age of twenty-five, left her job at Tina Brownβs Talk magazine following the death of her mother and decided to take a vacation in Havana, Cuba, with a friend. Little did she know that she would meet and fall in love with a Cuban man named Luis and dive headlong into a culture defined by beauty, humor, and grace within the unnerving realities of communism.
In this memoir, SimΓ³n details her fascination with Cuban culture as she grapples with the death of her mother. She also covers the struggle to get in and out of Cuba at a time when the country is labeled a pariah state. Yet over and over again, SimΓ³n manages to overcome international barriers and overcome language and cultural obstaclesβall in the name of her love for Luis.
This book makes a great read for those with an interest in Cuban history, a zest for romance, or a passion for travel.