An Island Away [Paperback]

Daniel Putkowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 2008

In Aruba, far from the sparkling beaches and glamorous hotels, lies a waning refinery boomtown of barroom brothels, flexible morality, and one tourist trap known as Charlie s Bar. Luz, a young Colombian mother works as a prostitute to pay off her family s debt. She encounters Sam, an American expatriate looking to perpetuate his flamboyant youth. Together they find Captain Nathan Beck, washed ashore and barely alive after his tugboat sinks in a storm. For each of them, San Nicolaas provides hope amid desperation as they live dangerously in pursuit of their dreams. Through it all, Charlie s watchful eye sees the best and worst, knowing that on his desert island you have to improvise. ///// "Insightful tale of Aruba's refinery heyday. A great beach read!" (Susan Campbell, ARUBA NIGHTS MAGAZINE) ///// "Characters so finely drawn they leap off the page. A terrific read." (Patti Wheeler, WDXB 102.5 FM, Birmingham, AL) ///// "A no-holds-barred look at Aruba. A must-read for those who plan to visit." (Arthur D. Jensen, LAGO-COLONY.com) ///// "Reveals aspects of island life that few visitors ever know." (THE NEWS ARUBA SUNDAY EDITION) ///// "As the story unfolds, Putkowski makes one thing clear ... he is a keen observer of the human condition." (ARUBA.com)

Editorial Reviews

Review

PARADISE, BUT NOT FOR AMATEURS. It's no secret that the tiny island of Aruba, which boasts the most repeat visitors in the Caribbean, has a cult following of Americans who, year after year, have lazed away vacation days on her soft, sugary-white beaches. But lately, these Aruba-philes are talking about more than Balashi Beer and divi-divi trees. Many are lining up to meet the author of a popular book which is set in Aruba's refinery town of San Nicolaas. In his novel An Island Away, part-time expat Daniel Putkowski reveals the flip side of paradise, much to the delight of long-time visitors. From the first sentence of the book, readers discover that San Nicolaas, Aruba, is a stark contrast to the pristine beaches and hotels on the other end of the island. In this town, there are a variety of brothels operating within a Zone of Tolerance. It is here that the lives of Putkowski's characters intertwine and venture down paths none of them planned. The choices they make are sure to spark much heated debate among readers. "Like it or not," Putkowski says, "This part of the Caribbean is rarely seen. It may not be pretty, but it is authentic." The author is not afraid to delve into difficult social issues, most notably prostitution, a topic which never seems to fade from the headlines. His protagonist is a young Colombian woman who works in Aruba's red light district to pay off her family's debt. Through his characters, Putkowski reminds readers that the skin trade is not an abstract, victimless crime. "Too many people are quick to dismiss the motives of the men and women who engage in this activity," the author states. "I challenge them to look deeper, to see what's really happening behind closed doors. Many will be surprised." --Hawser Press

So real ... it can't be fiction. --Robert Gibson, Owner Aruba Eloquent, Savaneta, Aruba

A brilliant read. Reveals a part of the island most tourists never see. --René Koppejan & Harold van den Burg, Owners, Astoria Hotel Bar & Restaurant, San Nicolaas, Aruba

About the Author

American author Daniel Putkowski, captivated by Aruba's cultural diversity, divides his time between the island and a suburb of Philadelphia. He is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. A sequel to An Island Away titled Under a Blue Flag will follow Putkowski's next release, Bonk's Bar, due June 2009.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Hawser Press; 1st edition (May 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981595901
• ISBN-13: 978-0981595900
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In 2008, Daniel Putkowski's debut novel, An Island Away, became the #1 bestselling book in Aruba. The island boasts the most repeat visitors in the Caribbean and those loyal fans quickly made the book a favorite among Arubaphiles. This popularity prompted a 30-date, year-long book tour. The novel is still generating positive reviews and press. The 2010 edition of Aruba Nights Magazine says, "An Island Away is an insightful tale of Aruba's refinery heyday and a great beach read."

Putkowski's second book, Bonk's Bar, is based on an establishment of the same name in the Port Richmond area of Philly. Philadelphia City Paper wrote, "Putkowski paints his version of the place as the quintessential river ward tappie, a place to watch the boys swing for the fences while drowning the day in suds and Jameson. File it under realistic fiction."

Universal Coverage, Putkowski's third novel, takes on the health care debate in the United States. Putkowski turned to fiction to highlight what medical services might look like in America's future. The book received rave reviews from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine Steve Forbes, and many others.

As promised, Putkowski's latest book is the long-awaited sequel to An Island Away, titled Under a Blue Flag. An extended book tour in Aruba will begin in February 2011.

A graduate of New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and Stern School of Business, Putkowski lives with his wife and cat in Philadelphia and Aruba and travels frequently to Spain. A private pilot, he blogs regularly about flying, his travels, and the writing life at The Bent Page (bentpage.wordpress.com). To learn more, visit danielputkowski.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Island Away, May 29, 2008

By 

Diane M. Protivnak "deedee" (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Island Away (Paperback)

An Island Away left me with soul-searching questions. I suppose the biggest one is, "How far would you go to give your child a better life?" But there are others, too. Who can you trust? What is the truth? When is enough enough?
The book is mostly the story of a young mother from Colombia who comes to the town of San Nicolas, Aruba, where she works as a prostitute to support her family. There are scenes from the upscale tourist areas of the island, but the majority of the book takes place in San Nicolas which is a refinery town full of bars/brothels. Here Luz meets a rambunctious American expatriate named Sam who loves the island and wants nothing more than to live there for the rest of his life. One night they are on the beach together and discover another American, this one a tugboat captain named Nathan Beck whose boat was sunk in a storm. The interactions between these three characters, in a setting that is full of duplicity, surprises, and somtimes comedy, reveals the tough decisions each of them has to make in life. There are light hearted moments, which are a welcome relief to some of the more heartbreaking scenes.
Anyone who has been to Aruba will find this book a "must read" because it goes beyond the veneer of tourism and into a reality they may not know exists.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, August 5, 2008

By 

Elaine Scholl - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Island Away (Paperback)

As someone who has been traveling to Aruba for the past 15 years, I loved An Island Away. Daniel actually made me feel like I was right there while the story was being told.

I look forward to the sequel... and, can't wait to see what happens to my two favorite characters ~ Luz and Captain Beck! Hurry Daniel, I'll be back in February, and would love to read the new book while on island.

Thanks for a great story!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read For All Arubaphiles, August 4, 2008

By 

D. Seltzer "Arubaphile" (The Commonwelth of Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Island Away (Paperback)

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I am a 17 time visitor to Aruba and this book put me right on the island. It is not the Aruba that we are used to seeing. It is the dark side of the island. An Island Away details the lives of four people and how all their lives cross. Charlie is an artist and a bar owner. Luz is a prostitute working for 90 days on the island. Sam is a transplanted Aruban who made his fortune in Miami and is returning to retire and live on the island. Beck is a tugboat captain whose boat goes down in a storm and washes up on Aruba. This is a very real story of survival, romance and "how it used to be" in modern day Aruba. An Island Away takes you on a tour of the seamy side of paradise detailing the lives and loves of the aforementioned characters who are painted as colorful and resorceful survivors in a world where the weak get swallowed up and spit out