The Last Flight Of Jose Luis Balboa

Set in vibrant, multicultural Miami, The Last Flight of José Luis Balboa is an absorbing debut collection of short stories from a gifted writer. Gonzalo Barr captures this international hub city in all its roiling guises, from the opulence of South Beach to the ferocity of Little Havana. Barr introduces us to unforgettable characters -- an unscrupulous newscaster, a Lincoln Road bar manager, a beautiful but cruel teenaged heartbreaker, and the title character, a suicidal Latin pop star -- in situations that teem with humor and brutality, absurdity and poignance. This remarkable debut offers a vivid portrait of a city defined by a blur of cultures.

"Captivating . . . .stories that can't be stopped, that need to be told." --Julia Alvarez, author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and Saving the World

"A mesmerizing collection of the first order. It's hilarious and it's harrowing. The stories here are exhilarating to read; some are breathtaking and achingly beautiful. This is a dazzling literary achievement." --John Dufresne, author of Johnny Too Bad

"Something about Gonzalo Barr's pitch and timbre is absolutely perfect for his characters and their often out-of-control lives." Los Angeles Times

"Many of the stories sparkle with daily ritual, along with the bonus (beyond pleasure) of a spirit-cleansing kindness, patience and tolerance." Los Angeles Times

"Barr demonstrates fine storytelling with a good ear for nuance." Publishers Weekly

"Captivating. Gonzalo Barr's ear for dialogue and eye for character are unfailing. Each story illuminates yet another corner of the human heart." --Julia Alvarez, author of Saving the World

"Engaging, funny, highly enjoyable . . . With their deceptively modest authority and just as deceptively easy charm, these stories draw you in." --from the foreward by Francine Prose, author of A Changed Man