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I usually read books in days, but it has taken me about a month to finish this one. I ordered this book on a whim. A drag masked as a love story and tale of self discovery. Found it non-engaging, repetitive and redundant. The author makes an attempt to give countless specific and almost insignificant details, which drove me nuts. One word. boring
Being a native of Cuba and having visited Cuba in 1999, this book brought back many memories. This shows in their love of life, music and everything else that may give them a bit of joy for the day. as if this was the last chance they would ever taste or have it again. The author captures the frustrations and often the comical way that "Cuba" makes it's own people and those who visit the island act. Bravo. The unjustice of how the Cubans are treated, in their own homeland, the constant police watch you feel wherever you go.This book points speaks clearly about the spirit of the Cubans. Some were fun and some just frustrating. Interesting is the fact that she points out that the Cubans have a need to "consume" all that is before them, i.e., rum, sweets, etc.
Even though they are frustrated, underpaid, underfed, etc. they still get up every morning and look for whatever good there is to find. A must read for anyone wanting to know the REAL Cuba and not the propaganda that Cuba feeds the media at every turn. Oh, Yes.a very entertaining read, indeed.
-- but also yearn to get out and row double-speed to Miami. Highly recommended. Here are some of the answers, and a good, twisty romance story to boot.I also bought, and the recipient of both of these books loved, I Was Cuba I Was Cuba: Treasures from the Ramiro Fernandez Collection You want photos, Gringo. A nicely written love-and-hate tale of contradictions in contemporary Cuban life. Want to know why Cubans are powerfully proud of their "Communist experiment" and their feisty independence from the U.S. Now, theeeese are photos. Cuba's past is alive, here, and you may also find glimpses of a post-Castro future.
I met Lea when she co-presented a workshop on "sense of place" at the Book Passage's Travel Writer's Conference. Once I started, I couldn't put it down -- well, until a black bear showed up on my deck looking for food and brought me abruptly out of Cuba where my mind was happily traveling and home to Alaska. I had no particular interest in Cuba, but bought Es Cuba because I liked her and wanted to support her as an author. A month passed until I got to her book in my stack. I've read a lot of travel narratives and traveled quite a bit. Lea captures sense of place as well as the best I've ever read.
If you haven't been to Cuba, it will give you insight into a courageous country with beautiful people who have survived and persevered despite the odds. This was a great read whether you've been to Cuba or not. If you have been to Cuba as a tourist, on a short visit, you'll find anomalies and things explained that you probably wondered about. I didn't want the book to end and indeed, was happy there were further exerts available on Lea Aschkenas's website. She described a painfully honest long-term visit to Cuba which revealed a proud but often conflicted culture which will make you fall in love with the land and the people.
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