The Great Divide is the story of several local people from South America who, at desperate times, jumped at the opportunity of the building of the Panama canal to better their lives. The isthmus only made them realize who they really were, home was where the heart was, family comes first, and money doesn't bring happiness.

It was a good story, I particularly enjoyed the historical facts I learned around the building of the canal and what things led to the desire to build one. It was also quite interesting to read how, as usual, it's the government that screws their own, empires do whatever they want, no matter how many people not-their-own suffer the consequences of their decisions, and how history keeps repeating itself.

It was so heartbreaking to follow those characters who trying to better their lives, to support their family, to no avail. It was a sad book, but it ended with a lot of hope. The ending was a big sight of relief.

I am only giving it 3 stars because I did not feel invested at any moment, the characters were well written but I did not get attached to any of them (my favorite onr was Marianne Oswald though, and I was disappointed by the turn of events).

There were also too many storylines. If only we would have focused on 2 storylines and dig deeper (no pun.intended lol), I might have enjoyed it more.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Incredible book about the construction of the Panama Canal. Sometimes, when I read books with huge casts, I don't feel connected to any of the characters, but that wasn't the case with the Great Divide. I was hooked from page one and loved getting to hear so many different perspectives. I highly recommend this to fans of Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng.

Beautifully written historical fiction novel of intersecting lives of people set at the time of the building of the Panama cancel. Writing was luscious. Many of the characters were interesting. Beautiful descriptions of time, place, and culture.

I was happy to read a new title by Cristina Henriquez whose Book of Unknown Americans I have read and purchased multiple times to ensure that others read it. I was not disappointed. I was instantly drawn into the story of the building of the Panama Canal as experienced through the narratives of several different characters. As in The Book of Unknown Americans, Henriquez shows great skill in bringing together disparate story lines and demonstrating how those characters are part of a unique community. I will admit that this didn't pack the same emotional punch as I had hoped for, but it brought down to human scale a project and a period of history that I know little about.

This was a slow start and so many characters to keep track of but in the end it all comes together and the connections are made. This is a lovely story of people whose lives were impacted by the building of the Panama Canal.

Set in Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal, which will ultimately divide the country, this historical fiction novel follows several characters, each of whom has a divide in his or her own life.

Christina Henriquez created characters that won my heart. They were distinctly individual. Through them I saw the beauty of pre-canal Panama and their simple way of life. I loved their stories.

Thank you, Ecco and Net Galley for sharing the advanced copy of this book.

The Great Divide was an incredibly moving story. I knew very little about the tensions in Panama while the canal was being dug, and now I feel it is important to learn more. Learning about Panama through the eyes of multiple characters coming from different places and situations, and almost all of them suffering as a result of the canal being built, gave me a powerful emotional connection to the story. As a white American, I think it is vital to hear from the people and the descendants of people who were so brutally affected by U.S. colonialism and expansionism.

I won't even dare to try and determine which storyline was my favorite as all were so moving! Omar and his father, Ada and her mother and sister, Marian, they all touched my heart! And I loved how their lives intersected. It wasn't a perfect culmination where at the end they all found out they knew each other and fell in love and they lived happily ever after. It was the reality of sometimes a person is in your life for fleeting, but meaningful moments. I really enjoyed this book, and would absolutely read more of Henriquez's work, she is a beautiful storyteller.

What a surprising breath of fresh air. Billed as a story about the digging of the Panama Canal, this is truly about family, friendship, and what we will do to overcome adversity. The first book I couldn't put down this year. Loved all the characters.

This is a beautiful historical fiction that is pitched as a book about the building of the Panama Canal but once you get into it, this book is so much more. We delve deep into the world of Panama and Barbados and intimately get to know the people who live there and were impacted by the canal's construction. The lives of the characters we follow are beautifully entwined so that each person touches another's life in some impactful way.

I found this book to be compulsively readable and finished it in two sittings. The characters are dynamic and flawed yet each of them had a profound affect on the others.

Highly recommend to historical fiction lovers!

This a story that intertwines several character during the building of the Panama Canal. I haven't read about this historical event so that was interesting. There were a LOT of characters and the story switched between them often. Take notes on each one because eventually all of their lives come together and it makes more sense. The author did a great job of intertwining everything together for a wonderful conclusion!

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Various characters are impacted by the creation of the Panama Canal aka American Imperialism.
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This historical fiction is layered, insightful, and well worth the read. It primarily takes place in Panama (but also Barbados and the U.S.) and follows various people living in Panama and affected by the creation of the Panama Canal. It reminds me of Augustown or Station Eleven in which various storylines connect in alarming and/or enchanting ways. Though not everything feels wholly relevant, the story keeps a nice pace.

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having multiple characters and multiple storylines doesn’t always work, but I found this one to be successful. Henríquez is quick to show how impactful the canal was to so many people, weaving the stories of a diverse group of people - dark skinned and light, Panamanian and Barbadian and American, men and women, younger and older.
I particularly liked the web of Lucille, Ada, Millicent, and Henry, with Ada being one of my favorites to follow from beginning to end. I also enjoyed Francisco and Omar and how they differed and were foils for each other.

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Interconnecting all of these narratives can be a tough feat, and it is not necessarily done perfectly. However, it successfully creates a final product most will enjoy. Both harrowing and hopeful, this book is like the Goldilocks of lit fic: not too serious nor light, not too simple nor elaborate, not too figurative nor literal. It’s a perfect balance to a near perfect book.
Specifically, I like her ways of listing things and going into intricate detail. Also, literary novels are often either overly dry or overly flowery (making it hard to fully engage, and I’m left in awe but not necessarily enamored), but this book manages to impeccably straddle the thin line of both refined and captivating.


Recommended to anyone seeking a beautifully-written historical fiction.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 is a beautifully written, elegantly descriptive novel about those living on the isthmus of Panama during the construction of the canal. The book delves into the backgrounds and inner workings of a variety of people—townspeople, local and foreign laborers, domestic workers, medical personnel, and their families. The narrative frequently moves among various points of view until eventually individual storylines start to come together. Be aware that this is a very character-driven story and much of the action either happens in the past or internally. I admit the slow pace and subdued plot lost me at times, but overall I found this to be a finely crafted novel exploring human divides like race, class, gender, and culture. Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez had the potential to be an unforgettable historical fiction. Set in Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal, The Great Divide follows a variety of unrelated characters as they navigate through a life impacted by the Canal. Unfortunately, the story fell short in tying these characters’ lives together to form a cohesive ending to a rather dull (nonexistent) plot. I had so much hope for this book but was greatly underwhelmed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Historical fiction being my favorite genre, I did not want to miss this novel that takes place in Panama during the building of the canal. Cristina Henriquez is not only a brilliant storyteller, but has created characters who are likable and human. She’s woven together the lives of these characters who are fishermen, doctors, the young and the old, the brave and compassionate, in a way that kept me eagerly turning pages, with an ending that is, while undesired, uniquely satisfying!

"The Great Divide" by Cristina Henríquez unfolds against one of the most significant engineering triumphs of the twentieth century—the construction of the Panama Canal. Henríquez skillfully utilizes this monumental undertaking as a canvas to explore the complexities of colonization. Within this narrative tapestry, some characters assume the roles of colonizers, while others bear the weight of being colonized. What makes Henríquez's storytelling exceptional is her ability to infuse each character with emotional depth, thus humanizing the intricate dynamics of nationhood and colonization.

The narratives seamlessly weave together, creating a rich and nuanced portrayal of the individuals involved in this transformative historical moment. Henríquez's characters are incredibly well-crafted, displaying a depth that adds layers to the exploration of the consequences of colonization. As the stories unfold, readers gain a profound appreciation for those who viewed the canal as a symbol of hope and progress and perceived it as a lasting legacy of colonization.

While the novel excels in capturing the myriad perspectives surrounding the Panama Canal, a notable criticism arises in the book's last quarter, where the pacing feels rushed. The stories of the characters from Panama, which held such nuanced depth throughout most of the narrative, risk becoming one-dimensional due to the hurried conclusion. The abrupt ending, while frustrating, is partially mitigated by an insightful epilogue that answers some lingering questions. However, the rushed conclusion remains a detracting element in an otherwise masterfully crafted novel.

Henríquez's prose, characterized by its lyrical beauty and vividly drawn characters, ensures that "The Great Divide" will captivate readers who appreciate a compelling story and those with a penchant for historical fiction. Despite the rushed conclusion, the novel remains a testament to Henríquez's ability to navigate complex themes and deliver a poignant exploration of the enduring legacies of colonization.

Thank you to Ecco and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I opted to read this book when I found out that it took place during the construction of the Panama Canal, a crossing I experienced on a recent cruise. The writing was well done, the characters were interesting...but there was no cohesive plot really. Everyone seemed to have their own storyline ( and there were lots of them!), but their relation to one another was irrelevant. Had they all been woven together, this book would have been more enjoyable to me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Most books about the building of the Panama canal are written from the perspective of those in power. This historical fiction is unique in that it is written through the lens of those impacted by the building of the canal. It is a character-driven story, primarily focused on the struggles and personal growth of those living and working within the canal zone.
Keeping track of all the characters was difficult to do at times. I would have enjoyed this book more with less of the characters background knowledge prior to their involvement with the canal.

Thank you NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely devoured this propulsive but intimate look at the lives of people in Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal in 1907. There are so many characters, including native Panamanians, Caribbean immigrants, the American upper class, and even a brief mention of Black Americans who tried to escape racism in Panama only to find it there too.

The U.S., as Henriquez deftly illustrates, essentially developed the state of Panama as a pet project that enabled them to build the canal that France had tried and failed to construct years prior. This included supporting their independence from Colombia, paying the government a lump sum, and then constructing what in practice seemed to be colonial towns to support the canal industry. It's frustrating to see how little has changed, as the Americans living there, even those working at a newspaper, didn't bother to learn Spanish.

The conditions of the actual construction were backbreaking, and while the workers were ostensibly paid, it was certainly not a fair wage for the type of work they were doing or the conditions in which they did it.

While there are a lot of characters, they interact and intersect a lot, so I didn't have trouble keeping track of who was who. I really enjoyed the glimpses into the future we get, such as saying a horrible jerk of a doctor would return to France and die in WWI, or that a kind, honest young man would end up building generational wealth for his family.

I felt tense towards the end of this book, and it felt like things were ramping up to a terrible tragedy, but it ended in such a gentle and optimistic way, despite the circumstances of history taking place.

Truly wonderful character building, and a wonderful example of what historical fiction can do. Cannot recommend this one enough.

I liked this so well, I read in two formats. . .and am putting this on my re-read list, because I think there is more here than one can get in initial readings. A good ponder needs to be put on it, like warmth and a good quilt benefits that which it covers (which brings to mind Millicent and her wonderful snapping quilt in this book).

Building the Panama Canal involved 2 continents, a number of nations, centuries, unnumbered ideas, and then all the bodies that lived, bred, died, experienced that joy of life we all claim as humans - all those who had the unfortunate address before, that would become the parts and pieces of what was the Panama Canal after: a very BIG topic to take on. It is to our advantage that Ms. Henríquez took her pen to it, and the result is a bustling, well-researched, deftly-told tale. While arching narratives were necessary (after all, it is a canal being built over land and communities already long established, and cures for malaria being sought!) and took up pages to cover and educate a reader, she always comes back to her people, her characters and provides each a satisfactory way out or parting from their engaged readers.

This read is educative, wide-horizoned and broad-shouldered - you'll want to go see this earth-changing project, maybe get a Panama hat of your own (remember they come from Ecuador!), or at least pull up a map or two.

*A sincere thank you to Cristina Henriquez, Ecco, Harper Audio and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #TheGreatDivide #NetGalley

The only fictional account about the Panama Canal and its construction that I've ever read - about the natives, the immigrant labor force, the white Americans, all coming to a head. I loved the characters, and the novel is heavily laced with characterization, very little dialogue, a lot of exposition. Henriquez's writing slides by, with such smoothness and wit, even when no action is really taking place. Depicts many complicated relationships and the way humans fall short.