Customer Reviews

Last Train from Cuernavaca

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was so good I stayed up late to read it. The characters were inviting and I related to them all. Well researched and well done! Great read! Make sure you put it at the TOP of your Summer reading list!

I learned alot about the Mexican Revolution throughout the reading of this novel tho it did get a bit confusing at times. There are at least two different groups of revolutionary farmers, a group of federales, a group of renegade federales, and then some bandits thrown in here and there and after a while, I couldn't tell who was killing, looting and raping who. After a while, I started to feel every single group was in the wrong, but I did like Angela aka Angel, a woman that dons a pair of pants and a sombrero and runs with Zapata's army to exact revenge on the federal soldiers that looted her casa and captured her mother.

The problem is most of the novel, a good three fourths is about Grace, not Angel. Grace is an piano playing English hotel owner who has adopted Mexico as her country and she falls in love with Rico, a soldier. I didn't find her near as interesting as Angel and unfortunately she monopolizes almost the entire story, her and Rico. I found Angel's romance with Antonio as they ride the country blowing up trains WAY more fascinating and felt they warranted a lot more ink than they got. I also would have liked more character developement on Angel.

The last half of the novel becomes a wild goose chase between Rico and Grace as one miscommunication after another occurs.

There is all too brief part in which a woman named La Gata shows up. She is a widow leading her own group of revolutionary widows turned combatants and I was disappointed that there was not more of her as well.

Had this novel been about Angela (with more appearances of La Gata), not Grace and Rico, I would probably love it. As it is tho, I can't say I am blown away. It's not a bad book, just not what I was hoping for

Last Train is an excellent example of Lucia St. Clair Robson's literary skills. The story is history, adventure, romance and page-turning excitement that makes it hard to put down. The characters and the story line are perfect. I found myself urging the author not to let anything bad happen to Angela and Antonio! Read this one! It's great.

As always with Lucia St Clair Robson's books I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. Anyone who loves Mexico - or has an interest in it's history - will love this book. She weaves a story, history and people into a rich tapestry that brings it all to life in stunning color. I would love to see it in a movie. A wonderful read.

True to form, Robson delivers a lesson in history framed by a good story and a foundation of unlikely fact. It would be easy to dismiss Lieutenant Angel as a romanticized fiction; she's not, and her most astonishing exploits are, it turns out, based on the accomplishments of a real woman. Based on memoirs of the historic figures replaced here with Grace Knight and Angela Sanchez, Last Train gives us a sweeping account of the final days of the Zapata resistance and the sordid beginnings of modern-day Mexico. As the novel progresses, we watch Grace and her lover, Federal officer and upper-class scion Frederico Martin while they evolve from supporters of the "civilizing" necessities embodied in Madero and the government to Zapatistas, their story woven into the not so much evolving and unfolding story of the female officer who terrorized Morelos after watching her community massacred by government soldiers. The story moves fast, with romance, violence, and humor.

Robson's readers will recognize Lozen (Shadow Warrior) as Angela's spiritual ancestor, but the character is fully independent as well. Last Train is not as compelling a read as Robson's best work, but it is a rich and enjoyable way to taste a moment of Latin American history we all can profit from.

I had the honor and pleasure of becoming a friend of the author last summer. I have just now taken a break from my own writing to read others' works. Lucia is an amazing writer who weaves together a story like a fine Persian rug, luxuriant, rich and vibrant. Her dual protangonists are well developed, allowing the reader to glimpse inside their hearts and dreams and fears. Her secondary characters are interesting and add to the story considerably. Her style and pacing are superb. Her prose is crisp and descriptive. The gradual quickening of the plot and the pulse of the characters leads toward the climatic finish of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and have a second book bought to read soon.

Stephen L. Turner

I really enjoy good historical fiction, and this book meets the criteria. Set in Mexico during its revolution, it weaves a story full of action, intrigue and romance. I especially liked how the author interspersed native language dialogue and Spanish throughout the novel. The two primary female characters are strong-willed, fearless and believable. It's a good story set in the badlands during a bad time.

"...no one writes historical fiction better than Robinson."
This statement was on the cover. It is by Gayla Linds, New York Times best selling author.
Rest assured I won't be reading any of her books.
This is not good writing and there is not a lot of History that will be learned from reading it.
Maybe I was completely unimpressed by this book because I had just finished re-reading "Under The Volcano" by Malcom Lowry, who is a brilliant writer.
The one thing that I did learn from this book was never to trust kudos from a New York Times "Best selling author."

Last Train was a wonderful read and I relish reading about these real women who, without giving too much away, participated in the Mexican revolution. I had trouble putting Last Train down as I was so wedded to these characters, men and women, that I had to know what came next. Lucia's detailed, but fast moving, story made me feel as though I was right there in the action.

I read Last Train while on a recent trip to San Antonio, Texas. While visiting the Alamo, my friend and I were dismayed that there was so little history on the women and children that were at the Alamo during the siege. I'm glad to have learned more about the women of the Mexican revolution.