The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez

Our third book picked from the Winter Reading program at bookshop Santa Cruz.

We meet outside at Beer Thirty, seating is covered and there are heaters but dress warmly.

This Review Summarizes it well:

THE GREAT DIVIDE is a smart, moving, and wonderful novel. And while the title ostensibly refers to the Panama Canal, the real divide -- and this is the brilliance of Cristina Henriquez -- is between the Americans who want to build the canal and the people who are supposed to carve a passage through the isthmus. With meticulous care, Henriquez brings her characters to life, and reminds us of the human cost of the massive construction project.