Fred Waitzkin is an American novelist and writer. His work has appeared in Esquire, New York magazine, the New York Times Sunday Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, Outside, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, the Huffington Post, and the Daily Beast, among other publications. His memoir, “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” about his son Josh Waitzkin, a chess prodigy, was made into a major motion picture released in 1993. His other books are “Mortal Games,” “The Last Marlin,” “The Dream Merchant,” and “Deep Water Blues.” His new book “Strange Love” is about an American tourist who finds himself obsessed with a young Costa Rican woman and tells a story of disappointments, unusual desires, and the things people will do when their dreams do not materialized in the ways they had hoped. It is illustrated by Sofia Ruiz, a Latin American artist.
“Strange Love” is narrated by a man vacationing in a remote village on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The story opens as he is sitting at a picnic table with Rachel, a local woman he recently met, as well as her aunt María José, a few cousins, and some other people. Rachel wanted him to meet her family and they are exchanging stories. She proceeds to tell him about how the women of Fragata are the most beautiful in the world and when men hear about the place, they arrive in their fancy cars, only to take them away. Most girls leave when they are seventeen and return when they are in their thirties. At 36, Rachel is one of the few who never left. The man is a writer who at one time imagined himself to be a novelist the likes of his heroes Philip Roth and John Updike but instead has spent thirty years working as an exterminator in filthy basements and elevator shafts after writing only one novel. Rachel grew up surrounded by poverty, loss, and trauma and has the gift of storytelling, something he lacks. She runs the Fragata Lounge, a dilapidated beach bar and tries to make a decent living, while constantly being reminded that her youth and any chance she had of escaping, are slipping away. As Rachel continues to tell her story, he becomes more involved with her, and while she thinks he will turn her story into a book, he hesitates because it might mean the end of their relationship.
Captivating works of literature do not have to be hundreds of pages long and Fred Waitzkin’s new book “Strange Love” is proof of this. This beautifully written novel is perfect for a weekend beach read and despite its small size, the bittersweet story of two similar souls lives on past the final pages. The author combines a beautiful yet melancholy seaside setting with flawed and relatable characters to create a memorable romance. Deep character development creates unforgettable characters, especially the lead couple. He is a failed novelist and when he meets Rachel, she is like a breath of fresh air, so he uses the excuse of research for a new book to keep her in his life so he can feel alive again. Rachel, who feels like her best years, like her beauty, are behind her, feels useful when she is telling him about herself and life in Fragata. Their similar stories of loss and broken dreams bind them but their fate is left uncertain. The story flows easily throughout the pages and the language is easy to understand. The illustrations brilliantly accentuate the story and make it come alive. As with most of his books, the author’s affinity for coastal living shines through and anyone who lives in such settings will attest to the beach’s allure. “Strange Love” by Fred Waitzkin is an unusual love story set by the Costa Rican shore. It is recommended for readers who appreciate complex characters and stories of embattled men and women who live in beautiful yet haunting settings.
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
SA Examiner 