The first book I read in Nicaragua was The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin. I had no idea what it was about when I picked it up but it turned out incredibly pertinent to Nicaragua's recent political history. Although not violent anymore, we could really feel it while there. In 1979, a socialist revolution overthrew the Somoza dictatorship in a long overdue and incredibly bloody fight. Regan didn't dig on the new 'commies' taking power so he funded the Contra's (Counter-Revolutionaries) for a number of years (ever heard of the Iran-Contra scandal?). It's been concisely and aptly described as 'poor Nicaraguans killing poor Nicaraguans'. The veterans of these bloody years now live on the same streets and drink in the same bars. The division of sides seemed to be as arbitrary as whether you were holding an AK-47 or an M-16. Le Guin's book turned out to be a great way to look at both sides from the most extreme point of view possible. Highly recommended. I've got lots more to write in this vein but not the time.
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