Oscar Hijuelos's 1989 novel, "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love," tells the story of the rise and fall of Cesar and Nestor Castillo - two brothers who emigrated from Cuba to New York City in the 1950s, hoping to make a name for themselves playing Latin music. They struggled for years, but their high point came when they appeared in an episode of "I Love Lucy," performing their most popular song: "Beautiful María of My Soul." The song was an ode written by Nestor about a woman he loved who married another man.

The novel begins at the end when Cesar is a lonely old man, looking back on his life and clutching to his moment of fame years earlier. The author then takes us through the events that led Cesar to his current place.

The brothers were very different. Cesar was a swaggering womanizer, while Nestor was quiet and thoughtful. But they loved each other and tried to be there for one another.

Hijuelos gives us a picture of family life and the struggle for success and respect in a new land. "Mambo Kings" is a story of loss - the loss of a woman once loved, the loss of a sibling, and the loss of potential fame and fortune. But it is also a story of hope and resilience.