Books about Cuba
I received a comment today informing me of a book written about Cuba by a cycle tourer, The Handsomest Man in Cuba by Lynette Chiang. This has prompted me to conduct a brief search on Amazon, which has revealed a great number of books on Cuba.
Unsurprisingly, there are numerous guide books for the independent traveller to choose from and countless books on Cuba’s rich history, although time period and subject are predominated by the revolution and the people who took centre stage in this act.
There is however a significant amount of literature originating from Cuba and also by visitors to it’s shores. The books which interest me the most are those about the people. It may be true to say that the revolution helped shape the Cuba of today, but it is the Cubans of today who will shape it’s future. Only by catching a glimpse into their lives is it possible understand the decisions they will make tomorrow. I feel that Cuba is in the throes of change and it is the people, like those I met during my three weeks there, that are part of this change and are shaping what will be Cuba 20 years from now.
I am no literary expert and I don’t claim to have read widely on the subject of Cuba. However, I thought I might start to make a list of some books on or about Cuba that I hope I will get round to reading and may be of interest to others…
If you have read a book on Cuba which you feel deserves a mention, why not leave a comment with the title, author and a brief synopsis.I will endeavour to collate them together.
I will start the list with one book I can highly recommend, which I read while in Cuba having chanced upon it in the airport bookshop having just checked in my bike: Dirty Havana Trilogy – Pedro Juan Gutierrez Cuba and the Night – Iyer Pico Waiting for Snow in Havana – Carlos M.N. Eire Before Night Falls – Reinaldo Arenas Our Man in Havana – Graham Greene The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway The Island that Dared: Journeys in Cuba – Dervla Murphy The Handsomest Man in Cuba – Lynnette Chiang Enduring Cuba – Zoe Bran
Cuban Literature
20th Century Classics
Travel Writing
To be continued….
Hi Helen
I am leaving next week to join my daughter in Havana. She and her boyfriend just did a 2 week trip in the orient, now he has returned to Ottawa, and when I arrive my daughter and I will do the same trip in Central Cuba that you did. When we leave Havan we will go to Santa Clara, and start the cycling trip from there, I think going clockwise. Do you have anything from to add to your journal that would be helpful? You mentioned your packing list – was there anything that came up that you wished you had brought and didn’t? I was given an inexpensive mountain bike that I can leave down there, while my daughter has her own bike with her. Not sure about taking the bus from Havana to Santa Clara – hope there is no problem getting tickets and getting the bikes on the bus. My daughter doesn’t not have a bike box anymore – she will use mine for the flight back. I think your casa particulares were Hostal Paraiso in Sancti Spiritus, Casa Amalia in Havana, Casa de Julieta in Cienfuegos, what about Trinidad, and Remedios? Would you recommend them?
thanks
Lin