Review of Havana 1995 -english version-

[Sam Ibeh]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Havana 1995 -english version-" by Ileana Gonzalez Monserrat.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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In the course of reading Havana 1995 -english version-, I felt different emotions, mainly empathy. Ileana Gonzalez Monserrat provided a voice to unspoken thoughts. She was like a herald of the Cubans' wish. Ileana Gonzalez Monserrat showed a bit of the history of the Cuban immigrants, the situations that led to such migration and the future hope, and the wish of a people torn away from their identity. This book was an eye-opener to the plight of immigrant Cubans.

I'd commend the translation of this beautiful book. The core message wasn't lost in the process; it enhanced the overall theme. With a popular language translation, it would reach a broader spectrum of readers, spreading a much-needed message and beacon of hope to the Cuban plight. The point of view used was also interesting.

The original work was published in 1991. The author watched the progression of the times since her first publication. Her metaphorical description of her thoughts gave vitality to her message. It felt musical yet engaging. You could feel the sadness and the nostalgic hope of better times. Her love for her island was beautifully displayed.

The footnotes at the end were thoughtful of the author. Numbering them inside the book created a way for readers to know what to look for, thereby creating a means for additional important information without breaking the reading flow. They provided historical perspective and understanding. Without the footnotes, it would not have been very clear.

The core theme of this book is freedom. The author summarizes everything when she says, "Cuba will reconquer its eternal spring." That statement speaks volumes of how things have been, how they are now, and how they can be. Her description of the Cuban situation is also prevalent among developing and underdeveloped countries. Governments usually have a hand in such a predicament, as is evident in Cuba. Hope is kept alive for a change. As is now commonly said in Cuba after the July 11, 2021 protest, "Patria y vida," meaning "Homeland and Life." It contrasts the original Cuban motto "Patria o Muerte," standing for " Homeland or Death." A wind of change is coming no matter how long.

Havana 1995 -english version- was a fantastic read; I loved every aspect. The author's delivery style significantly impacted me and was a source of inspiration. Therefore, I would rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to lovers of activist-based books and readers of realism-themed books.

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Havana 1995 -english version-
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[Ifesi]

This looks boring. A nice review I must say

[Shillah Andeso]

I love how you have described the book. I love Cuba and the way it's changing according to your review. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Peace10]

Your description is explicit. You highlighted the points you could notice. This is my first time hearing about the Cubans though.

[Amy Luman]

I do appreciate the story of Cuban immigrants. I don’t know a lot, as I haven’t studied the subject, but I do know that Castro made traveling difficult, both to and from Cuba.

[Sopulu Ezidimma]

Your review is well-detailed thank you for your review. It's beautiful how the core message wasn't lost in the process of translation.

[Elenimo Chembe]

It sounds like a sombre book but timely. Immigrants are the most discriminated people and I like the fact that this book touches on the plight of Cuban immigrants is fantastic.

[Uwe Neufeld]

I know the plight of the cuban exiles in America. There are still a lot. The children of those who fled after the revolution have integrated already in their new society. But there are many who fled afterwards. 1995 is now 27 years ago, things have changed a bid since then.

[Chinenye Achilike]

I never knew Cuban immigrants were having it tough out there. Thanks for this insight.

[Austin Debby]

Never heard of the Cuban history before. So this is new. I would live to read so i'll add it to my list. Your review was insightful.