Review of The Last Cigar
Posted: 01 Dec 2022, 18:14
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Last Cigar" by Thomas Mello.]
Thomas Mello's novel The Last Cigar is a fictional story about multiple generations of a Portuguese family. The book opens in Portugal in the mid-1800s with Francisco Azevedo's life and follows the paternal line of the family down to the youngest member, Brian, in modern-day America. Francisco was treated poorly by his father as a child and sought to raise his son more respectfully while maintaining meaningful family traditions.
The most significant Azevedo family tradition is the smoking of cigars during important meetings. This tradition allows participants to relax and gather their thoughts before discussing crucial matters. Francisco imparted this tradition to his son, Angelo, on his eighteenth birthday. Angelo crossed the ocean to America and raised his family in New England. Multiple generations of Azevedo sons were born and raised in America, each passing down the cigar tradition to their children. Each also passed on Francisco's value of treating children fairly.
Before reading this novel, I was unfamiliar with Portuguese traditions or history. The author was able to envelop the reader in the story with his imagery and stylistic repetition of ideas. Each son sought to improve their children's lives while maintaining the connection to their Portuguese roots. The cigar may be a small and insignificant portion of each character's story. However, the significance of passing on traditions and the importance of family is touching.
Some readers may find each of the son's stories to be repetitive. However, I find significance in the similarity of each generation. Though many characters in this story never lived in or even visited Portugal, the culture and traditions were religiously passed down and maintained through the centuries. I, and many other readers, do not have family ties to the level of the Azevedos. The author made me realize the significance of instilling positive values and traditions in my children.
I found nothing to dislike about this novel. I wholeheartedly enjoyed the multigenerational aspect of the story. I learned about Portuguese farms and wineries, boxing, business, and the importance of traditions. I found two borderline mistakes in the book, but these did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
I rate The Last Cigar 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the author's writing style and the inclusion of facts throughout the story that helped the reader maintain context. The two minor errors I found in the text did not detract from the overall score. The book was exceptionally written and well-edited. The author kept the storyline organized, and I had no issue following the plot, even with multiple generations of characters in the same family.
I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy multigenerational plots, Portuguese-American history, and the value of tradition and family. This book will appeal to readers of all backgrounds and religions. I caution young readers, as there are scenes of violence throughout the book and some discussion of sexual assault.
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The Last Cigar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Thomas Mello's novel The Last Cigar is a fictional story about multiple generations of a Portuguese family. The book opens in Portugal in the mid-1800s with Francisco Azevedo's life and follows the paternal line of the family down to the youngest member, Brian, in modern-day America. Francisco was treated poorly by his father as a child and sought to raise his son more respectfully while maintaining meaningful family traditions.
The most significant Azevedo family tradition is the smoking of cigars during important meetings. This tradition allows participants to relax and gather their thoughts before discussing crucial matters. Francisco imparted this tradition to his son, Angelo, on his eighteenth birthday. Angelo crossed the ocean to America and raised his family in New England. Multiple generations of Azevedo sons were born and raised in America, each passing down the cigar tradition to their children. Each also passed on Francisco's value of treating children fairly.
Before reading this novel, I was unfamiliar with Portuguese traditions or history. The author was able to envelop the reader in the story with his imagery and stylistic repetition of ideas. Each son sought to improve their children's lives while maintaining the connection to their Portuguese roots. The cigar may be a small and insignificant portion of each character's story. However, the significance of passing on traditions and the importance of family is touching.
Some readers may find each of the son's stories to be repetitive. However, I find significance in the similarity of each generation. Though many characters in this story never lived in or even visited Portugal, the culture and traditions were religiously passed down and maintained through the centuries. I, and many other readers, do not have family ties to the level of the Azevedos. The author made me realize the significance of instilling positive values and traditions in my children.
I found nothing to dislike about this novel. I wholeheartedly enjoyed the multigenerational aspect of the story. I learned about Portuguese farms and wineries, boxing, business, and the importance of traditions. I found two borderline mistakes in the book, but these did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
I rate The Last Cigar 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the author's writing style and the inclusion of facts throughout the story that helped the reader maintain context. The two minor errors I found in the text did not detract from the overall score. The book was exceptionally written and well-edited. The author kept the storyline organized, and I had no issue following the plot, even with multiple generations of characters in the same family.
I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy multigenerational plots, Portuguese-American history, and the value of tradition and family. This book will appeal to readers of all backgrounds and religions. I caution young readers, as there are scenes of violence throughout the book and some discussion of sexual assault.
******
The Last Cigar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon