BEAUTIFUL MARIA OF MY SOUL

Oscar Hijuelos introduced the world to Cesar and Nestor Castillo in THE MAMBO KINGS PLAY SONGS OF LOVE (1989). Now, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author tells the story of the beautiful Cuban woman who inspired Nestor to write a haunting bolero, “Beautiful Maria of My Soul,” about the girl he left behind but never forgot. Armando Durán’s interpretation couldn’t be more sensitive, more evocative, or more erotic as he tackles the complexities and contradictions of Beautiful Maria, who leaves her peasant origins to find love and glamour in 1950s Havana. Durán maintains a narrator’s objective distance yet creates unforgettable characters brimming with passion. In the novel’s amusing last section, a sheepish Hijuelos appears, finally meeting the flesh-and-blood Beautiful Maria. Durán’s sensual performance will melt your earbuds. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2011 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2010]