The Country Under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War by Gioconda Belli
2002/369pgs

An inspiring biography about the revolution in Nicaragua. From the rebellion against the dictatorship that reigned over the nation from 40 years to the final fall and take over of the government to the creation of the social programs within Nicaragua.

The story is told from the eyes of Goiconda who at the time was a young revolutionary who, like a modern day superhero, was during the day a loving wife and mother and at night a freedom fighter who kept the secret from her family until she couldn’t anymore. It moves from lover to lover as she goes through the challenges of her first husband who is a recluse and quiet man to the the lover that for her family was everything she wanted.

Also, it shows the revolution from another view that American’s who only got the story from the news that according to President Reagan was illegal and part of the evil communist world. However, the novel shows this from another angle that keeps the saying, there is always two sides to every story, true.

Another novel for my Graduate degree, it was a slow paced reading, not boring by any means, but not something that would grab a hold and keep you until it’s complete.

Lopaka