Left behind at the Boston Hostel and taken home to register. Will be released in the future.

To be released at the Boston Bookcrossing meeting. Enjoy!
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Caught at Tues/May 2018 Meet Up to be read.

To note, about half of this book was underlined/written notes-from a prev. reader.
This was a really interesting nonfiction/memoir, stories of childhood (different stages) and stories about relatives and friends both during the eras of Baptista pre-Revolution, and after during the era of Fidel. Author wrote it circa 2000, looking back at his boyhood and leaving his home behind for the US. The story is non-linear but most of the names mentioned are followed up on, spinning stories w/in stories. Spoilers follow. There are two (2) end documents from the author: acknowledgements, and then one with apologizes to relatives where he inadvertently told some incorrect stories and/or stories w/out their permission and some gaps leaving out certain friends from childhood he later reconnected with in later life. He also weaves in snippets of being in Foster care, working as a dishwater, how he met his wife, etc. His description of a private home converted to the Aquarium of the Revolution was so powerful I looked it up, today it's Aquarium Nacionale w/ mixed reviews on Trip Advisor (dot) com. To note, his family was not part of the elite but solidly middle class and above a lot of other folks in Baptista era, his father was some sort judge/magistrate but did not seem to like Baptista, and he did not like Fidel but took no action to remove their family and later remained in Cuba w/out his wife and sons w/ an adopted son who later inherited all their valuables and/or values care-taking for the state. The author does describe steps his parents took post-revolution to distance themselves from the elite and run ins with folks from the lower/social classes. Author also notes/editorializes that many of the Cubans of Color or other nationalities, Chinese, Jamaican were also displaced economically/did not benefit from the Revolution. The book was also written/published before the death of Castro. Cubans that from developments made in formally elite neighbors, etc. probably would not agree with him on certain points. Author does make similar observances about Castro as many other authors both Cuban and foreign, i.e. the food tasting, the mandatory speeches/ongoing, etc. Recommended.

Holding for now.

Picked up at the Boston August 2018 meetup and I started it as soon as I got home. Like it so far.

I sat down to read a few pages and was completely drawn into it. Although it is nominally a memoir, he moves around and remembers the way a child does. His childhood doesn't seem all that different to a child in the 50s in the US until it comes quite vividly different. I loved his writing style and the raw emotion he shared. Wonderfully written and extremely evocative.

Planned for a stay at the work bookshelf