"Esteban, a former Sandanista guerilla, decides to start a new life and leaves Nicaragua after being hired on as an ordinary seaman to work on the ship, Urus, harbored in Brooklyn. Fourteen other Central Americans do the same and they find themselves held hostage there by their lack of citizenship and the illegal actions of the ship owners who do not pay them. Esteban decides to leave the ship and investigate the USA. "
Coletta Ollerer, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Ordinary Seaman
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 1960's-1970's
Inside culture (main char)
- Hispanic/Spanish
Other aspects:
- immigrant story
Culture clash?
- visiting a culture in other country
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society)
- American Northeast
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- infantry soldier
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Hispanic/Latinic
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 6 (an above average amount)
United States
Yes
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- Central
Water?
Yes
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Unusual Style:
- a lot of flashback and forwards
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
