Zapatista

By: Blake Bailey

Narrated by: Michael Bower

Zapatista is faithfully based on the facts of the 1994 Chiapas Indian uprising in southern Mexico. Whether you are looking for adventure or a deeper glimpse into the real drama of a people's revolution, Zapatista draws you into the middle of all the struggles, glory, and grit through one man's unexpected participation in survival.

Peter, the protagonist, running from devastating life events and the associated guilt involved, finds himself at the heart of the Sierra Madre, hoping to drink, write, and find adventure in that order. But Peter gets more adventure than bargained for through a series of whirlwind circumstances that hurl him into the middle of a life and death struggle for a revolutionary cause and the love of Lexil, a revolutionary woman, with catalysts that forever change Peter's life.

©2023 Blake Bailey (P)2023 Blake Bailey

Nonstop adventure on the search for love and meaning

This is a really fun adventure story. I knew little to nothing about the Zapatista rebels before reading this book. Even within the context of a work of fiction, I feel I understand better who they were and what their struggle was about. It is an interesting juxtaposition between the Zapatistas themselves in this story, who seem incredibly realistic, almost photographically so, and the other characters and story elements which are more fantastic in their portrayal. The protagonist of this story and his chaotic search for purpose is one I think anyone who grew up a fan of Hollywood would relate to. Quips and one liners abound, you can almost hear the smirk! The pace is brisk throughout. My favorite facet of this novel is that it is wonderfully, vividly descriptive. This book is like a character from Suits blundered into the set and script of a Dwayne Johnson jungle adventure which was being filmed in deep cover by a Vice documentary crew embedded in a war zone. It’s nuts!