So, I spent 2 years in San Juan as a small child – my parents were teaching school. I remember Puerto Rico, but I only remember stuff that I child would recall – colors, sounds, etc.

Strange to read this book – written about a San Juan many years before I got there – including all of the sordid bits I never would have witnessed as a child. I don’t know how to evaluate the truthfulness of this novel. I feel there must be some truth to it, as it reads like a novel written by a journalist – albeit a fantastical one. I can’t speak for the sordid parts, but Thompson gets the FEEL, the sounds, smells, and physical FEELING of the place – this, at least, rings true for me.

Enjoyable – not as fun as reading about Dr. Gonzo, but it had its moments.