Silent Wing

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Works of Fiction for 1998
Review: At first blush, SILENT WING is a torrid love story based on the life of the l9th century Cuban poet and patriot Jose Marti. At second blush, SILENT WING is a minor but altogether likeable cousin to such 19th century novels as "The Red and The Black," and "The Sentimental Education." Let Marti's tragedy be portrayed in rather pot-boiled terms--reckless choice and brash honor--but Bernardo still makes us care about him. SILENT WING is a lovely story, doing what historical fiction does best. More than the life of Jose Marti, we get a glimpse of his poetry and a touch of his anguished soul. (The above has been excerpted from the review by Thomas Curwen, Deputy Editor, Los Angeles Times BOOK REVIEW, December, 1998.) This novel was selected as ONE OF THE BEST WORKS OF FICTION FOR 1998.

Rating:
Summary: The best romantic historical novel for a long time to come
Review: Bernardo is a master in the art of making his characters human. Any reader can feel and sense the dreams, the weaknesses, the hopes, the despair--all the emotions that are part of our humanity. To say that I enjoyed reading this book very much is not enough. I was enthralled. SILENT WING is a piece of art. It deserves to be known as the best romantic historical novel for a long time to come. It so well expresses the dream of man to lead a normal life of love and fulfillment without opression. I shall always treasure my copy of SILENT WING.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Love Story: Moving and Uplifting.
Review: I have just finished reading SILENT WING, a great love story. I found the novel to be very moving and uplifting. In addition, the love poems in SILENT WING are wonderful! Last year I read Bernardo's THE SECRET OF THE BULLS, which I also loved.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent expression of love, honor, and truth.
Review: I look forward to the opportunity of meeting the author and thanking him for his eloquent expression. His book brought much reflection and analysis of the three internal conflicts that tend to haze our decisions - love, truth, and honor. I want to believe that Julian (Marti) and Sol (Maria) are . . .

Rating:
Summary: Excellent expression of love, honor, and truth.
Review: I look forward to the opportunity of meeting the author and thanking him for his eloquent expression. His book brought much reflection and analysis of the three internal conflicts that tend to haze our decisions - love, truth, and honor. I want to believe that Julian (Marti) and Sol (Maria) are . . .

Rating:
Summary: Bernardo brings Jose Marti to life
Review: I prefer my history imbedded in a good story. Jose Raul Bernardo has not disappointed me with SILENT WING; a historical novel based on the life of Cuban patriot/poet Jose Marti. Julian, Bernardo's protagonist is a romantic visionary who must choose between two forces he had always thought identical- truth and duty. The author's rendering of locale is as convincing as Graham Greene's. -Al Gowan, author, SANTIAGO RAG, a novel of the Spanish-Cuban-American War, also available at Amazon.com

Rating:
Summary: Rebel Without A Spine
Review: The book seemed like a novel that was expanaded from a TV drama pilot outline...The characters other than Julian were never delevoped and what happened to all the characters in Guatamala? The General, the Rabbi and most all Rubios. This is a case where less is not enough. Perhaps with another 200 pages, this could have been a different historical novel.