At first there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but then their stories started flowing together and wove into a rich tapestry of life in Panama at the time of the canal construction. In spite of some sad and violent events, some of the story threads that I expected to evolve in a dramatic way had rather a gentle ending; one might consider them a bit anticlimactic, but I appreciated the hopeful trajectory. At the same time, the book did not shy away from portraying f the abusive and exploitative behavior that took place in the course of the canal building, and that clearly is still an issue for all humans today.

"The great divide" is a metaphor for the divides between and within people, the gulf that we dig through being disconnected from our deeper selves and our longing for true communion with one another. In various ways, all the characters had to deal with such a divide, and came through it, usually to some degree of healing. It's a story that cannot be told often enough.

I loved each and every one of the characters in this story. A group of people in the 1900-1910’s, each affected in some way by the creation of the Panama Canal, and each connected to the other, their stories intertwined as history unfolds. The novel is rich in historical detail and includes vivid descriptions that sets each plot line distinctly apart. Even with so many stories at once, I never lost track of what was happening. Much like “The Book of Unknown Americans,” the reader experiences close ups of the lives of ordinary people throughout a major historical event and covers multiple perspectives. I enjoyed reading this and learned a lot of things I didn’t know before. Very well researched and feels authentic.

The Great Divide is primarily set in Panama, during US construction of the canal. Despite having traveled through the locks of the Panama Canal in college (shoutout to @semesteratsea), I had forgotten a lot of the history of its construction. Henriquez illustrates the impacts of the canal (along with impacts of globalism and capitalism) through a web of characters from the US, Barbados, and Panama. Each individual was drawn to (or repulsed by) the canal for their own reasons - money, prestige, purpose, escape. Henriquez is a master at character development and was able to really draw me in — I finished this in just a few days. Lovers of historical fiction, particularly novels that span multiple time periods and are written from many different perspectives, will love this when it’s published in March 2024.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advance copy to review!

The Great Divide tells the story of the human cost of creating space where there had been none and gives voice to the thousands of motivations that converged on Panama to the build the canal that changed the course of history. Some characters were drawn to Panama for personal and nationalistic glory, while others were fighting to preserve their way of life. Still, many more were trying to live under the exigences of globalism and capitalism and looking for work- work that took an unfathomable toll on human bodies.

Similar to The Book of Unknown Americans, The Great Divide is a masterpiece of character development. Cristina Henríquez’s characters lead full and meaningful lives, separate from the role that they are cast into by the grand historical narrative. The story zooms in and out of the interior of their lives, providing context through the perspective of family and friends. Henríquez captures the complexity of what it means to be human, and how our ordinary lives constantly intersect with the powerful course of history.

This story can be enjoyed on many levels. I was most drawn to the ways Henríquez interweaves the history of colonialism into her plot lines, but readers will also get stories about love and the many conflicting forms it can take. They’ll also get stories of sacrifice and what it means to be a part of a family- where silence can communicate the hopes and fears that we do not have the language to fully articulate.

Although there is no true protagonist of the story, I found myself most intrigued by the story of Ada. She moved between worlds- her family home in the Barbados to the position as caretaker for an American scientist’s ailing wife. As the story moves through different perspectives, we unravel the true Ada from the Ada represented in the minds of others. Each choice she makes carries risk and we get to read as she navigates the consequences of those choices. I also enjoy reading stories where the character is compelled to take action in the face of crisis, but in a very human way, rather than as some kind of martyr.

The Great Divide is one of those books that can move through time periods, sometimes pausing to provide a glimpse into the character’s lifeline. It’s both a great literary device that provides a more satisfying ending to their stories and also an incredible tool for offering more insight into the consequences of making history.

I am recommending this book to anyone who enjoys character studies and historical fiction, as well as anyone who is interested in American imperialism and colonialism. I also recommend Henríquez’s work to teachers. Her characters provide windows into so many histories and cultures, each one can be the entry point into researching and learning more about our interconnectedness.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Epic story of one of the Panama Canal, one of the greatest engineering feats in history, reminiscent of Pillars of the Earth. We follow various characters involved in the building of the canal, how their actions and interactions and the building of this epic project affect their lives. Beautifully written, fascinating characters, astonishing feat. Excellent story. I definitely recommend this if you enjoy sweeping historical fiction!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve been looking for a historical fiction book set in Panama for quite a while and this one did not disappoint! The story does a great job of covering the diverse groups of people that were involved in the construction of the Panama Canal, as well as the issues that accompanied it. Nearly all of the history that was covered when I visited the Canal recently was also included in the book, and Henríquez added quite a few small details of Panamanian culture that made her story feel authentic.

I also really enjoyed the way this novel was written and the fact that it came from so many different characters’ perspectives. I think every character that was mentioned had at least one section that was written from their point of view. This could have easily become overwhelming to the reader, but was done so in a way that was easy to follow. The choices Henríquez made about word choice and sentence structure enhanced the reading experience in a way that I don’t recall having noticed in books previously.

Overall, I highly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in history, Latin America, or the construction of the canal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully written historical fiction novel about the creation of the Panama Canal and how it affected the lives of people from all walks of life.
The way the author connected the characters was very well done. I especially liked reading about how the experience in Panama shaped the future of each character as well. The author’s description of being in the cut was intense and made me feel like I was right there too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved The Great Divide. I went into this book thinking it was a fun premise, and it was such a nice surprise to discover such gorgeous, literary writing! The author does a remarkable job of bringing us into each character's world, including their innermost thoughts and feelings. The prose is so lovely, and each scene is evocative and immersive. I was spellbound in the best of ways. The canal zone is brought to life, and these characters feel like real people.

I look forward to Henriquez's next book, and will eagerly dig into her backlist.

I received an e-galley from the publisher; all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this historical fiction about the excavation of the Panama Canal. So many wonderful characters to tell the story through their point of view. Beautifully written!

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

I loved this book! This story follows a cast of characters for a short time as they go through their lives against the backdrop of the building of the Panama Canal. The lives intersect in different big and little ways. What I enjoyed most about the story is how it highlights the human goings-on while this massive history-making project is happening. Each character has their own own private yearnings, joys, sorrows, prayers and the ripples of their lives go outward. I read and enjoyed The Book of Unknown Americans, but Henriquez really upped her game in this book. 5 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and Ecco for an ARC of this book for review purposes.

I enjoyed this novel about the building of the Panama Canal and the stories it told about the different people who were involved and how it impacted their lives. I liked the characters. I liked the storylines but for me there was something missing that kept me from loving it and being fully absorbed. For me it lacked something to make it memorable. If you like historical fiction I would recommend giving it a try.

An enjoyable read! Though I'll be a bit blunt and say that what I loved about this by far is probably the book's most obvious feature - its unique setting. I know that I'd never be able to even conceive of the Canal Zone (well, Canal Zone-in-progress) as a place for a novel, making me all the more glad that Henriquez could. This is genuinely my favorite kind of historical fiction novel - one that lets me travel to a time and place that I've literally never been to before in any book (or any form of media for that matter) and lets me feel like I'm right there, albeit just for a little bit.