The Night Travelers

The Night Travelers by Armando Lucas Correa 368 pages

 

This is the story of four generations of women that spans from 1931 and 2015. It covers the majority of the major world events yet stays focused on these four women.

 

First is Ally, a published poet with a bright future, in 1931 Berlin. White Ally is dating /living with the Marcus, a Black musician. The novel opens on the night their daughter, Lilith, is born into a world demanding racial purity. Marcus is long-gone, fleeing from Hitler’s madness. In order to hide Lilith, Ally only takes her out at night, when there are fewer people out to discover Lilith’s heritage. Ally continues to write and composes a poem just for her daughter.

 

As Lilith reaches school age, Ally understands she must send her away. She obtains false papers and sends the girl to Havana with an older Jewish couple who are also fleeing Germany. Ally tucks the poem into her travel bag. Lilith becomes their adopted daughter.

 

Lilith, now an adult, has few memories of her mother. The poem, “The Night Travelers,” is her most prized possession. Her husband, Martin, is a close associate to the Batista Government. To them is born a daughter. As the Cuban Revolution begins to take shape, The family is in constant danger. Martin refuses to leave the country, and Lilith vows to stay by his side. While they are willing to face the consequences, they will not put their newborn daughter, Nadine, in any more danger. Lilith arranges for her daughter to be sent to America and raised there. Natalie sends her treasured poem with her daughter out of fear of what could happen to her and Martin.

 

Nadine is raised by a Catholic couple with the belief that her parents are dead. Life seems simple and easy going for Nadine. She meets wonderful boy, they fall in love, marry, and have a daughter they name Luna. When Nadine’s mother-in-law is accused of Nazi war crimes and is returned to Berlin.

 

Nadine becomes a well-respected scientist in Germany. But as Luna grows, she develops a fervent desire to writer, much like her great-grandmother Ally. Luna also wants to know more about her family’s past. Researching her family’s history doesn’t come without consequences. She learns things that she cannot unlearn.

Excellent writing makes The Night Travelers a book to be read slowly and enjoyed. However, given what is happening in the world around them, readers won’t be able to put down their story. It did drag in a few places, but once author Correa got back on track, the tension increased. The Night Travelers receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.