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| The Cuba Reader History Culture Politics The Latin America ReadersPosted on September 19, 2010.  Cuba is often perceived in starkly black and white terms—either as the site of one of Latin America's most successful revolutions or as the repressive regime that is the world's last bastion of communism. The Cuba Reader multiplies perspectives on the nation many times over, presenting more than one hundred selections about Cuba's history, culture, and politics. Beginning With The first Plantagenet account Of The island, penned by Christopher Columbus in 1492, The Selection assembled ici track Cuban history From The colonial période Through the ascendancy of Fidel Castro To The present. The Cuba Reader combined songs, paintings, photographs, poems, short story, speeches, cartoons, Government Reports and proclamations, and Piece by Historians, journalists, and others. Most of thesis are by Cubans BOTH ON and off the island And Many APPEAR pour la First Time in English. The writings and speeches of José Martí, Fernando Ortiz Fidel Castro Alejo Carpentier, Che Guevera, and Reinaldo Arenas APPEAR ALONGSIDE The Testimonies of Slavic, prostitutes, Doctors, travelers, and Activists. Some selections examine santé, education, Catholicism, AND Santería; Others celebrate Cuba's vibrant dance, music, film, AND literary cultures. The rooms are Grouped Into chronological Sections. Each section and Individual Selection IS preceded by has brief introduction By The editors. The volume presents A Number Of pieces tailpiece Twentieth-Century Cuba Including The Events Leading up to and followings Castro's January 1959 announcement of revolution. It provides a look at Cuba in relation to the rest of the world: the effect of its revolution on Latin America and the Caribbean, its alliance with the Soviet Union from the 1960s until the collapse of the Soviet bloc in 1989, and its tumultuous relationship With THE UNITED States. The Cuba Reader aussi Describes Life in the periodo especial followings The cutoff of Soviet aid And The Tightening Association of the U.S. embargo. For students, travelers, and all those who want to know more about the island nation just ninety miles south of Miami, The Cuba Reader is an invaluable introduction. CommentsMaud Blaszczyk says... I enjoyed reading this book and using it as a background to an international relations grad paper. Thank you Julia Sweig! It is an accessible history that puts Cuba into historic context, and not merely in terms of Cuban-US relations. Another words, it's not jusst about where Uncle Sam fits into the equation. The story ends as Raul Castro takes over and Fidel fades into the background. Sweig's Cuban history and reality is well-written, well organized and explained. I enjoyed it and would have read it even if I didn't have to! Posted on September 19, 2010 Jeanmarie Leonardis says... If you're an American traveling to Cuba, this is the book to read from the beginning to the Appendix. The question and answer format makes it easy to follow along and tends to predict the next question on your mind. Although it has a complete appendix, I did not reference it once throughout the trip. It also does not cover history, or give you great trip planning advice. I'd bank on Lonely Planet for that information. Throughout my trip there were several moments where the expectations the book had set were precisely met. For example: * The book prepares you to expect a strong reliance on queues in Cuba. I was not surprised to see the men in yellow suits managing the lines at bus stops. * Jinitera/o were exactly as prevalent as the author describes. I set the expectation to be hustled in all the major cities and therefore did not feel surprised. * Hitchhiking is very predominant in Cuba and the author hits the nail again right on the head. In my travels I used my rental car to give several Cubans rides. It was a safe a very pleasant experience. One I would have perhaps forgone had I not been prepared from the information in this book. Those are just a few examples, but time and time again, the situations described in the book came to fruition exactly as described. If it's your first trip to Cuba, it is totally worth a thorough read. Use other books as travel references while you're there. Also if you are an American, the customs/immigration process was a cinch. Posted on September 20, 2010 Gustavo Bucknell says... I have always been interested in Cuba, but I have tended to focus on the Health System there and have learned very little about Cuba before Castro and the revolution. This book gives an overall picture of Cuba as it developed through the years from all different perspectives, both positive and negative. Even though the different sections are simply short excerpts from different works, the editors have been able to put everything together in order to show all different aspects of Cuba and its history. Posted on September 20, 2010 Love Fyock says... I have been traveling back and forth to Cuba since 1974 - that's more than 35 years now.I thought I knew a lot about Cuba - that is until I read Julia Sweig's book. So readable and understandable. For anyone who has never visited Cuba or for those who have made such a trip, reading this book will not only increase your knowledge of Cuba but an understanding of why and how things happened.Without hesitation, this is a must read. Posted on September 21, 2010 Emogene Hebron says... One of the most concise travel manuals I have ever come across period!Not only does Michael Bellows offer the most complete information available on travel to Cuba hands down, he also gives a sincere and insightful account of the state of affairs in Cuba in a completely unbiased way. A must for people traveling to Cuba but also for people who would like to know anything at all about Cuba and its incredible people. Posted on September 22, 2010 Ariane Smedes says... I couldn't put the book down. Perhaps because I miss my country so much. The book is so accurate I actually traveled back in time. I totally recommend this read especially to those whose nostalgia for the old country continues to glow. Andrew J. Rodriguez Award-winning author: "Adios, Havana," a Memoir Posted on September 22, 2010 Towanda Kalina says... My busband and I are hoping to participte in a sailing regatta to Cuba and this book was recommended. It is very helpful to us for planning for our brief stay in Havana. Posted on September 22, 2010 Concha Menasco says... This is the best documentary history of Cuba printed recently. It has not only documents, but also pictures, songs, etc. As Cuba is a controversial subject, the authors give broad swath of documents to present Cuban history. Posted on September 23, 2010 Jon Piedrahita says... I acquired this book right before my recent trip to Cuba and concur with the other reviewers:This book is terrific.Bellows tells it like it is.I read long sections of it out loud to my fellow travelers when we didn't have a Cuban hitchhiker in our rental car (another great way to find out more about the country, especially if you speak Spanish) and we all learned a great deal.I hope this book will encourage more Americans to dare to flout the ridiculous restrictions on travel to Cuba.As Bellows affirms, it is a wonderful country, warts and all - and the Cubans are very welcoming.Read this book before going and it will dispel your worries about the repercussions of "trading with the enemy." Posted on September 23, 2010 Dawna Persyn says... Besides the really beautiful photography in the book, it was exactly what I needed for travel in Cuba. It has all the little details of things you really need to know when traveling there. I had so many questions and this book answered ALL of them- even the most random things like being a vegetarian and where to eat. I feel truly prepared for trip and will carry it as my bible while there. It has emergency info and even what not to talk about with people that would cause offense.This book is WELL WORTH having if you need to know ANYTHING about Cuba. Thank you Michael Bellows for this incredibly great, easy to read book. Posted on September 23, 2010 Leave a Comment |
