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Let me be honest. I didn't really know anything about Cuba before reading this. I'm pretty US-centric most of the time, though I want to believe it's truly unintentional. So when I saw this ARC, I jumped on it. Finally, something to read about Cuba by actual Cubans and not just random white journalists on the internet! Now, let me be frank. It was great. I learned so much about the culture, the rise and fall of the government, about Havana, about taxi-drivers and coconut collectors and bo...
Very informative and very glad I made the time to read it.
Such an interesting book for those who like me don’t know much about Cuba outside of what heard from media.This book includes twelve pieces about Cuba/Havana from two different authors. Some of them are Cubans who never left Cuba, some have left and the others are visitors. This strange combination gives the reader a big window to look into this nation of beauty and suffer. About the revolution and living through it and now the new lifestyle!Totally recommended!!
I wasn’t able to completely finish this book before I was leaving for school (one or two essays left), but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I learned a lot of Cuba from the diverse perspectives of the authors - some have lived in Cuba their whole live, some flees Cuba during and after the revolution, travelers to Cuba. The book is a collection of 12 essays about Cuba since the warming up of relations between Cuba and the US. The essay that stuck with me the most was the essay about women’s rights and ex...
This was a good synopsis of life in Cuba from the standpoint of twelve different writers. I learned a lot about the living conditions in the backdrop of the "Special Period" that brought about economic hardships due to the loss of the Soviet Union as a trading partner. But also the lifestyles of Cubans who are resilient and have learned to make the best of their situations in a country that is filled with beauty despite its hardships. The book made me want to visit Cuba, as I have known others h...
DNF. Cuba on the Verge isn't *bad* but it's not great, either. I made it through four stories, skipped another, and half-finished a sixth. This was a library book and I didn't feel particularly compelled to renew and finish reading. I did enjoy the four stories I read, though. Cuba is a fascinating place that has always interested me and it's great to hear about a variety of experiences.
I received this book in a giveaway, with the request for a review. I found the stories very interesting, and enjoyed learning about a country that for so many years seemed like a taboo subject. While not a book I was able to really get into, and read quickly, it was nice to hear the stories of those who have lived and/or visited. As well learn more about the dynamics of the culture.
Excellent collection of 12 stories and essays with a perspective on Cuba today. Variety of topics including the lottery, Santeria, diplomatic relations with the US, Tropicana dancers - all with a fresh, current, personal approach.
A series of essays depicting Cuba from 20th century to the present. Some were good. Some not so much. A few went very long and didn’t seem to say anything. I read because I’m interested in Cuba and her history, but I feel this book misses the mark.
Eh... I think I'm just not in the mood for this. I liked the first essay, then felt bogged down by the next two and more and more lately I'm realizing that life is too short to keep reading mediocre books.