In short essays based on his sporadic periods of residence in Nicaragua during the 1980s, the author describes the quotidian results of the new Sandinista government. Colburn is even-handed and remarkably non-judgmental: he notes the material shortages and inflation under the piecemeal socialism of the Sandinistas with the same disinterested clarity used when he describes the widespread jokes about former dictator Anastasio Somoza. Things were rough under the Somozas; different things were rough under the Sandinistas. But Colburn takes great pleasure in the country and its inhabitants, including the gregarious hitchhikers he conveys in his decrepit car, itself a notable possession in fraying Managua.… (mehr)
Not a bad little book. A quick and entertaining read. These short vignettes on life in Nicaragua give the reader a feel for everyday life in that country after the revolution (it was written in the late 80s) This book does not have discussions of the different Sandinista factions, but rather, what jokes people tell about politicians or how hard it is to get a permit for a car. If one has a passing interest in Central America or Nicaragua specifically, I'd recommend this book.
Whenever we have people visiting us in Nicaragua, I always recommend this book plus "Sandino's Daughters Revisited" and "The Best of What we Are" to get a sense of the sandinista revolution and the people who made it happen. My Car in Managua is a funny, easy to read, and a candid portrayal of life in Managua during the 1980s.
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