Havana: A Subtropical Delirium

I felt this was a very poor view of Havana and its definitely not a travel guide. Havana was a beautiful city before the Castros and Communism took it over. Under the dictator Batista there were serious problems in Havana and the whole country, that is why the Castros were welcomed as the new savors to establish democracy. But the Castros brought nothing but Communism and even a worst government that before. When the Castros came in power Cuba had a population of 6.8 million , almost a million people left as their properties, money and homes were confiscated by the government. Pre Castro Havana, as well as all the island, was over 80% Catholic , that being the main religion in the island. Kurlansky totally skips the horrible changes that Castro did when he came into power and how the city has deteriorated since that time. Castro forbid religion and kicked all priests and nuns out of the country. How dare Kurlansky says people can talk and criticize the government when Cuba has one of the highest prison populations in the world, over 57,000 in a population of 11 million.- over 90% political prisoners. The Cuban people are not allowed, nor have the money, to enjoy the beautiful hotels and restaurants in Havana which are only for the tourists. Food is in shortage and rationed and the black market is the only way to get meat most of the time. The wages of the people are minimal, as they are governed by the state, and at least now they are allowed to open home restaurants “paladares” and work in the tourist business to make extra money. So doctor, professors, and other professionals are working on the side to support their families. Kurlansky skims over the atrocities the Castro brothers and "el Che" did to those who dare go against them. There was a wall called "el paredon", which the sadistic Che oversaw, where prisoner against the revolution were shot, many without trials. My father was taken prisoner from our house in the middle of the night various times for being suspected of being against the government. The country lived in fear of the "G-2"- the neighborhood watch people who reported all back to the government. Kurlansky totally skips all this and the fact that no one was allowed to leave the island after the 1962 the Missile crisis. Baseball players and other athletes, as well as musicians, scientists have to "defect" to the USA or other countries if they want to live and work outside of Cuba, as they are not freely allowed to leave, and then cannot return to the island. As a Cuban I was most upset and disappointed in such a bias and incomplete history of Havana and my country.

If you're having trouble getting to sleep at night, this book will do the trick. I've found Mark Kurlansky's culinary anthropology to previously be captivating, engaging and page turning. If this book is any indication, he has radically lost all of his touch. This is a complete snooze. Boring. Impossible to read. Slow.

Havana, A Subtropical DeliriumHave you ever thought of a city as a person, as someone who is alive and waiting to make your acquaintance? This is a new idea for me. It came after I started reading "Havana" by Mark Kurlansky.He begins by saying in the Prologue, “If I were ever to make an old-fashioned film noir…I would shoot it in Havana.” He goes on to talk about other writers and poets who have found Havana fascinating. It seems you have a very different impression of Havana if you first see it from the sea, rather than from land.Mr. Kurlansky tells how Habana Vieja (Old Havana), the original city, developed. The streets in this section were, and still are, very narrow and dark. The sidewalks are narrower still, all because the sun is so hot. So, when people put awnings up, they tie them to the building across the street. That way everyone passing below gets the shade.One of the more interesting things I learned is that the city was founded three times in three different places. And Mr. Kurlansky has lots of interesting anecdotes to tell about how each settlement was founded.Havana was invaded many times, always from the sea. There were the French pirates in 1538 and 1555 and different ones came again many times after that. Each time the townspeople paid a ransom and those that were still alive rebuilt. They built one fortress and then another and, over time, they added to each. It didn’t seem to make much difference. There seemed to be no shortage of pirates coming from the sea, and so, there would be another raid.Havana grew and became an important commercial port in the 1700s. African slaves were brought in around this time to do the work.Mr. Kurlansky says, “It has at times been suggested that the impact of slavery on modern Cuba is exaggerated, but so profound and fundamental is slavery to the identity of both Havana and Cuba that it would be almost impossible to overstate it.He goes on to say that there were people alive in 1980 who had known their grandparents who had been born in Africa. Imagine that!I’m going to stop here because I don’t want to give too much away. I hope I’ve inspired you to read "Havana". It’s an exciting, fascinating book that reads like a novel and the city of Havana is the main character!

If you are going to Cuba, this is an excellent read to provide a significant amount of color to the rich tapestry of this wonderfully tragic country. Kurlansky has an easy reading style weaving in history and observations in an entertaining way. It's not a travel guide but a cultural guide. Worth a read.

Kurlansky just writes great books! Every one I had read is both entertaining, extremely interesting and informative.... and typically on a subject most of the world takes for granted. It is amazing to read about these subjects.Havana is so colorful and interesting. He paints a vivid picture with words of what Havana was, and now is.Highly recommended!

Great history on Cuba and more specifically on Havana. For example, a little tidbit that I learned is the word "hurricane" originated from the language of the indigenous people of Cuba. A great read during the dark cold of winter to bring you to a warm and tropical place in one's mind!

I had this book for a while and thought it would be the perfect book to read on a vacation to Miami. I am a big Mark Kurlansky fan, but not this book. Boring! I could never get engaged in the subject. I told my husband not to bother reading it.

Karlansky’s prose is conversational and witty, and full of his own experiences as a frequent visitor there. Read the city, then go there. Or read having gone there: you are sure to appreciate Havana more after this book.

This book is a must read to all those that have a relationship with Cuba. It will give you information a plenty, while making you feel back there in the heat, warmth and love of Havana. I truly enjoyed it.

Very satisfied of this product and vendor.

enjoyable

This is a brilliant book and did arrive on time - I just made a mistake when reviewing the order thinking it was another item