Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Great Divide
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
An epic novel of the construction of the Panama Canal, casting light on the unsung people who lived, loved, and labored there, by Cristina Henríquez, acclaimed author of The Book of Unknown Americans
It is said that the canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built. For Francisco, a local fisherman who resents the foreign powers clamoring for a slice of his country, nothing is more upsetting than the decision of his son, Omar, to work as a digger in the excavation zone. But for Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection.
Ada Bunting is a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados who arrives in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work. Alone and with no resources, she is determined to find a job that will earn enough money for her ailing sister’s surgery. When she sees a young man—Omar—who has collapsed after a grueling shift, she is the only one who rushes to his aid.
John Oswald has dedicated his life to scientific research and has journeyed to Panama in single-minded pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But now, his wife, Marian, has fallen ill herself, and when he witnesses Ada’s bravery and compassion, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Searing and empathetic, The Great Divide explores the intersecting lives of activists, fishmongers, laborers, journalists, neighbors, doctors, and soothsayers—those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
Sharpeipup
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image

I walked a 1/2 mile in the cool morning weather to take advantage of early voting.

AmyG 👊🏻🙌🏻 3w
Aims42 👏👏👏 3w
Cuilin 👊🙌👏 2w
32 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
NovelNancyM
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image
Pickpick

An interesting story about building the Panama Canal and the cost to human life and lives it affected. Complete with love, power, betrayal, friendship, poverty, wealth - a true reflection of the human experience.

29 likes1 stack add
review
Auntynanny
Great Divide | Cristina Henrquez
post image
Pickpick

I really loved this book! I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've read that was set in Panama. It's historical fiction, set in 1907 during the building of the Panama canal. It interweaves the stories of several people working on and around the canal, including an American doctor who is trying to eradicate malaria. I look forward to reading more by this author.

7 likes1 stack add
blurb
wen4blu
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image

Current read - I thought this was the story of the Panama Canal, but it‘s really about the different types of people involved in the project.

30 likes1 stack add
review
BookBosomed1
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image
Pickpick

This is a character-driven historical fiction book.
The author‘s prose is immersive and engaging. I enjoyed learning about aspects of the Panama Canal that I did not know otherwise.

While some of the story‘s characters are particularly enveloping, other characters feel underdeveloped. I was left wanting more at the end of the book. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5990298220

review
Hooked_on_books
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image
Pickpick

This book follows a cast of characters in Panama as the canal is being built. You only get a glimpse of the building itself; this is really about people‘s lives and how they are impacted by this huge project. I really liked this one. Plus the audio is narrated by one of my faves, Robin Miles. 🤩

61 likes4 stack adds
review
janeycanuck
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image
Pickpick

I love a historical fiction novel that centres around a major but less attention-grabbing event - in this case, the building of the Panama Canal. I liked how Henríquez gave us back story and glimpses of the future tucked around the main plot but I would have liked a slightly smaller cast of characters.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Great cover 💛❤️ 7mo
45 likes1 comment
blurb
janeycanuck
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image

Why does this keep happening to me?! Thank goodness this weekend is a long one.

ShananigansReads I swear library holds are all or nothing 😂😂 7mo
janeycanuck @ShananigansReads Yes! And the minute you get home, one more arrives for you. 7mo
AmyG Ha! When it rains, it pours. I have the same problem. 7mo
kspenmoll All so true! 7mo
42 likes4 comments
review
marleed
The Great Divide | Cristina Henríquez
post image
Pickpick

The Book of Unknown Americans is among my favorite fictional immigrant stories so I couldn‘t wait for this one. I liked it but did myself a disservice sans my own physical copy. This is a character driven story with each character representing a different facet of the personalities living in and coming to Panama during the building of the canal. It was just really hard to keep track of everyone so I focused on Omar and Ada.

74 likes1 stack add
review
Karisimo
Great Divide | Cristina Henrquez
post image
Pickpick

This was an engaging historical fiction story about the building of the Panama Canal in the early 1900s. Told from several perspectives that come together in satisfying ways. Gives voice to the people of Panama. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Libro.fm's ALC program for librarians for the early listen!

27 likes1 stack add