Caribbean Books

Being an old Naps girl myself I might be a little biased but seeing that I have the old version (which is now well-worn), as well as the updated book, I can honestly say it is worth every penny (pence, yen, whatever your currency).

On a recent trip to Trinidad I brought back a couple of books for some homesick Trinis. One didn't know whether to make Alloo & Channa first, or currants rolls. I think every Trini who lives abroad should have one in their pantry, right next to their curry powder and char sui sauce. Happy cooking all!!

When visiting my mum and family in Florida, they always cook Trinidadian dishes for me and when visiting one of my aunts and commented on her 'cook up' she told me that she was fed up of asking and not remembering how to cook food from Trinidad (she is in her sixties). So to help her remember, her daughter brought over from Trinidad, the original to this cook book, which was quite tatty and beaten up, but you could still read. When ariving back from Florida, I immediately went on line to find this cook book and with a little research, found it on this site. I am so pleased that I got it and it takes pride of place in my kitchen, and when I got my Tawah, there was no stoppping me and now I am queen of roti!!!! Excellent receipe book with clear instructions on how get the taste. My dad actually sat for half an hour going through this book and I am secretly getting him one, as I know he will appreciate it. Well recommended.

Highly recommended. Perfect for those homesick for the Caribbean. It took me months to decide whether or not to buy this book because of its high price, but I finally bought it and it was well worth it. It has everything...currant roll, coconut roll/salara, black cake, coconut drop, sweet bread/buns cake, guava stew, macaroni pie, samosa, jamaican beef patty, jalebi, kurma, buljol, sausage roll/vienna sausage or salami roll,cheese straws, gauva jam, fish and chips, ketchup (caribbean ketchup is different, eh), white bread, hops bread, cheese pinwheels/cheese roll, pone, vinegar candy/taffy/gatta, green seasoning, paimie, paleau, souse, curried eggs, dal, flying fish, fish broth, calalloo, pholorie, breadfruit chips, lo mein, sorrel, ginger beer, etc...it's a good book. My mom, who wouldn't pay more than 10 dollars on a book, wants to buy her own copy of this book, after browsing through mine...yeah, it's that good. It is well worth the high price. My only critisism is for the peera, goolab jamoon and ras gulla recipes;they are the Trini version, the other islands make them in the tradional Indian way, whereas Trini's have created thier own versions, so I think they should have included both versions for those 3 recipes, considering the title is Multi-Cultural Cuisine of Trinidad & Tobago AND THE CARIBBEAN (although the Trini versions do look tasty) but other than that, it's a great book.
P.S- As for the peera, goolab jamoon, and ras gulla recipes, I found out that 'Caribbean Desserts' by Dr. Betty 'K' has those recipes, I havent purchased the book, but I think it has the non-Trini version since the author is Guyanese. So, you can purchase both books if necessary.

This is a wonderful cookbook! It has every Caribbean recipe imaginable, and the directions are clear and concise.

It's the type of cookbook with which one cannot go wrong. There are different types of recipes reflecting the diverse ethnicity of Trinidad and Tobago. There are also recipes for diabetics and weight watchers. The colour photographs add a nice touch and allows one to see what the end product of the recipe looks like.
It's definetly a good buy.

Luis Poirot is one of my favorites photographers. This book about Pablo Neruda is great, not only for the quality of the beatiful images, but also for the investigation with the people who knew Neruda well.
Absolutamente recomendable!!!!

I saw it first in my college library, subsequently I bought it. Neruda's zest for life is enviable. The book makes me want to know more and more about him and his writings. It has been a year now, and I go back time to time, to read something or the other from the book, again and again. The photographs of Neruda's homes set the context for the poetry contained side by side. Translation is comforting for me.

I understand very little about literature but poetry is now my one of the serious love interest thanks to his poem titled 'Poetry': "It was the age when it arrived in search of me.......I was there without a face and it touched me".

Bravo! Why ? This is what I found his book, and a new word "wakefulness" :))

" It is very appropriate, at certain times of the day or night, to look deeply into objects at rest: wheels which have traversed vast dusty spaces, bearing great cargoes of vegetables or minerals, sacks from the coal yards, barrels, baskets, the handles and grips of the carpenter tools. They exude the touch of man and the earth as a lesson to the tormented poet. Worn surfaces, the mark hands have left on things, the aura, sometimes tragic and always wistful, of these objects, lend to reality a fascination not to be taken lightly.

The flawed confusion of human beings shows in them, the proliferation, materials used and discarded, the prints of feet and fingers, the permanent mark of humanity on the inside and outside of all objects.

That is the kind of poetry we should be after, poetry worn away as if by acid by the labor of hands, impregnated with sweat and smoke, smelling of lilies and of urine, splashed by the variety of what we do, legally or illegally.

A poetry as impure as old clothes, as a body, with its food stains and its shame; with wrinkles, observations, dreams, wakefulness, prophecies, declarations of love and hate, stupidities, shocks, idylls, political beliefs, negations, doubts affirmations, taxes."

This collection sets a wonderful selection of Neruda's poetry and anecdotes into a the photographic setting of his life. It is a beautiful book.

I love looking at the pictures and reading his poetry. I also love knowing the little tidbits of information. I have been to his three houses in Chile that are pictured in this book. When I look through it I have this rush of emotions and a pleasant rememberance of being there.

Neruda is a poetry god. And interest in the Chilean writer's work is growing again thanks to Il Postino (The Postman), the Oscar-nominated film in which he's a character.

This coffee table compendium presents some of his most exquisite verse coupled with warm, full-page photographs of, among others, his ocean front home, Ilsa Negra, with its nautical knick-knacks. The man's presence pervades the volume and includes personal accounts from those who knew him. Translator Alastair Reid has chosen works that suit the pictures and work well as whole. It's a delightful introduction to one of the centuries greatest wordsmiths.

I had the pleasure of meeting Anthony Winkler and his wife at the 2007 Caribbean Literary Festival held in Antigua. The author has a wry humour, a very intriguing outlook and philosphy on life, and an obvious love for his homeland. Winkler has brought these together in a deeply engrossing novel about a poor and defornmed fisherman Zacariah, and his life. The story is moving, humorous, telling as to the vagaries of human nature and insightful about the Jamaican, of an earlier era. I heartily recommend this novel. It's very well done.

This book is a real gem and deserves a much wider readership. It focuses on a poor, ugly Jamaican fisherman named Zachariah Pelsie who has a jaw disfigured from disease. Zach is an exceptionally proud, stubborn, honorable and determined man. His wife, Carina, is strong, rash, and passionate about her husband. The other major character in the book is Archibald Richardson, a British medical doctor who serves the rural poor. Other notable characters include the pompous parson, the compliant constable, the resentful nurse, the antagonistic Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, and a relentless hammerhead shark. They are all very strong and memorable characters. Lucy P - the painted canoe - could be considered as a major (albeit inanimate) character too.

The Painted Canoe is more serious and not as relentlessly humorous as The Duppy or The Lunatic, also by Winkler, but clearly his best (and first) work. The middle section, when Zach is lost at sea, is a masterpiece of epic drama. I was uncomfortable with the binary opposition between Zach, who loves life, his wife and children, his canoe, and his livelihood, and the cynical, pessimistic white doctor who wants a divorce from his wife, abuses his black girlfriend, and sees no reason for him or anyone else to live.

My edition of the book was published by Macmillan Caribbean. I was surprised by the many misspelled words, and some misused words - "emancipated" rather than "emaciated" body, for example. It needed an editing.

The Painted Canoe is a wonderful introduction to rural Jamaican life. It will be enjoyed by everyone and loved by many.

The painted canoe is excellent reading with emotionally gripping chapters to hold your interest. The scenario is Jamaica 1970?s and a poor Black fisherman named Zacariah who is deformed UGLY. Poor Zachariah , who?s name means ?God remembers?,ends up lost at sea where we learn many things about him and ourselves. In this book the human spirit is exposed and the traits that define it explored. In addition, we see Jamaica from a poor citizens view and experience exactly what that means. There is a quote by Calvin Coolidge that I thought of after reading this book:
? Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.? Great book.

This book is a great read. The Jamaican fisherman, Zachariah, reminds us how an eccentric nature can lead us throught life and how the human spirt will fight to survive. There is more to life than what we can see in front of us because there are times when we must step out on faith alone, as Zachariah did.

As a native of Jamaica, living in the USA, this book brought back fond memories of the Island. The main character, a fisherman is typical of the "older' Jamaican native in his beliefs and value system. He exhibits a trait rare in my adopted homeland, but common in Jamaica, where ones personal circumstances are not allowed to dictate your inner personality. A great read for both Jamaicans and non Jamaicans. Also a good intro to the native language and culture.

I love this book because it is so positive and shows the beauty of the people and places of Haiti. The combination of photography and poetry is striking and really draws you in. Every time I open it, it's like being back in Haiti again. Best of all, the proceeds go to International Child Care, a non-profit health development organization that is working to help children and families in Haiti live better lives. What more could you want from a coffee table book?

I am the adoptive mom of a little Haitian girl. The other night we went to a church to hear a missionary speak about Haiti, and this gorgeous book was on the missionary's display table as a way of showing Americans the beauty of the people in that desperate land. Though we have plenty of photographs ourselves from my husband's trip there in 1997 (to finalize the adoption and bring our daughter home) we were deeply moved by the professional photography in this book. It shows the poverty, yes, but it also shows beauty and community, the natural splendor of the land and the warmth of a people so ravished by the cruelty of their government, but still able to smile. This is a book of hope, and a book of brilliant color, and a book which shows the strength of the Haitian people. Each gorgeous photo has an accompanying poetic verse in Creole and in English. A truly lovely book....

This book provides powerful, beautiful photography, sensitive narrative, and original poetry. It respects the country, its culture and its language. It has a depth not expected in "table top" books. It is the number one book on my gift list this year! (not found in most book stores). Wonderful -

I lived in Haiti for 18 years and I must say that this book does a wonderful job of portraying Haiti. If you've ever traveled to Haiti or lived there, this book will bring back fond memories. If you've never been to Haiti, you might find yourself longing to visit. This book will help you see why so many people who visit Haiti end up falling in love with it despite the fact that it's one of the poorest, most destitute countries in the world.

The photos and text of this book are truly amazing. As soon as I opened the book, it was as if I were back in Haiti once again. Smelling the smells, hearing the sounds, seeing the sights.

A wonderful gift for someone who has been to Haiti and was touched by the beauty and simplicity of a country so close to the U.S. in proximity and so far away in reality.

I've collected many books on PR history over the years in both English and Spanish. This is by far my favorite. A must to have for any Puerto Rican looking for a good start to learn about his/her history, but not just for amateurs or beginners.

The authors do a wonderful job of describing the history of Puerto Ricans on the island from the time before Columbus to the 1970's. They do a unique job of pulling from official transcripts which paint a very accurate picture of various subjects from the life of a "Xibar/Jibaro" to the arguement in cogress on whether to include Puerto Ricans in the military draft of the 1960's. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know about the history of the island and it's people.

It is a very well documented book, and provides proof or evidence of each historic event. It is objective and is not biased toward any political view. The best thing of the book is that it fills those empty spaces I had from my years studying PR history. With this book, I was able to see the "whole picture" or in other words "tie those loose ends".

A real gem, in my opinion. I still refer to it a lot. When my kids have questions about Puerto Rico, I read passages from the book to them. I absolutely recommend it.

There is one recommendation I would like to give to the editors. Given the number of significant historic events about the Puerto Ricans that have happened since the book was last published in 1994, I recommend the editors to revise this wonderful documentary to bring it up-to-date.

"A pleasure to read. . . . Each page provides a fresh glimpse into the unfolding story of a people. The book captures the human and personal component of . . . sweeping historical changes." -International Migration

This book was amazing. I love the format the author used. Unlike other history books the author uses actual documents from Puerto Rico's history to tell her story. After reading this book, I now have an understanding of where my family came from, and more pride in us. Thank you Kal!

This collection of Marti's essays and letters are excellent reading for Marti scholars and beginners alike. The works are in chronological order and cover the most pivotal periods of Marti's life. Both of Marti's strongest qualities, the poet and the freedom fighter, are represented with conviction. This book is a definite must read for anyone looking to explore the mind one of the greatest literary figures of all time.

Marti was a prodigy, a genius, yet he is little known in the U.S. either for his prose or poetry. Those who have heard of him may associate him with Radio Marti or know him as a Cuban revolutionary.

While this beautifully rendered translation includes a broad spectrum of Marti's works, some not previously translated, his descriptions of America in the latter half ot the nineteenth century are by themselves sufficient reason to buy this book.

Marti, coming from a different culture, sees things about America that we do not, and he describes them with a passion lacking in the reportage of his North American contemporaries.

Here at last--in English--is a comprehensive selection of Martí's writing, translated by a masterful hand. It leaves all other attempts at this task far behind. Esther Allen meets the challenges of Martí's exuberant and complex style with extraordinary success. This book will be a landmark text for college courses on Martí as a Latin American and Latino writer, and is an excellent introduction for the general public. Bravo to all involved in this effort to bring Martí to American readers!

Jos Julian Mart y Prez was born in Havana, Cuba on January 28, 1853. He is one of the most renowned writers in the history of Cuba and Latin America. In 1874 Mart earned a Law degree from the University of Zaragoza in Spain. He essentially devoted his life to the cause of independence and to the foundation of a new Cuban nation. As we perceive in the Montecristi Manifesto, Mart was a talented humanist, born out of time; an idealist and martyr that left a legacy on Cuban affairs.

As a philosopher, he attempted to navigate through the intricate mountings of thoughts. "Mart embarked early in life on a mission of political struggle and literary achievement. At fifteen, he wrote an epic poem in praise of Cuba's war of independence against Spain. At seventeen he was imprisoned and sentenced to hard labor for his political activities. For the rest of his life he wrote about and worked unstoppably for the freedom of Cuba. He founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party. His political involvement was accompanied and complemented by a constant and relentless outpouring of poetry, literary prose, journalism and political writing. In 1895 he returned to Cuba with a military force to embark upon another revolution and soon thereafter encountered a suicidal heroic death in battle."

The final battle of his life came in 1895 on Cuban soil, in a place called Dos Rios, after going to the enemy front lines, fighting against the Spanish domination in his beloved land. The expedition that brought the continuation of the war of independence into Cuba commenced in and departed from Florida and passed through the Dominican Republic, on its way to Cuba. Before departing to the east of Cuba, Jos Mart and the General Mximo Gmez, Commander in Chief of the Liberating Army, made public a document in the town of Montecristi, a manifesto exposing the goals of a revolutionary war about to begin. This was an important document that provided the guiding principles for a new Nation or a Republic, as Mart had dreamed.

The Montecristi Manifesto, as it is known in Cuban history, declared the revolution began not in 1895, but 1868, when the Grito de Yara was proclaimed by Carlos Manuel de Cspedes and the Ten Years War (1868-78) against Spanish domination took place. In this manuscript Mart pointed out interesting principles related to Cuba and Latin America, and even of a global undertone. It says: "The war of independence in Cuba...is a far-reaching human event and a timely service that the judicious heroism of the Antilles lends to the stability and just interaction of the American nations and to the still unsteady equilibrium of the world."

The humanistic undertaking of the Manifesto is rooted on the idea of a fully and stable constituted republic with freedom of thought. That republic was to be, not the triumph of one Cuban party over another, but the victory of all elements of the society. Here he establishes the significance of necessary sacrifice for a sublime purpose as the transformation of the old colonial system, a call for harmony and wisdom, and the mandatory establishment of human rights. It denounced the corruption of the metropolis: "The revolution makes use of this language without fear because the mandate to emancipate Cuba once and for all from the irremediable ineptitude and corruption of the Spanish government." Spain was not the only preoccupation on Marti's thoughts; the forces pointing to an annexation of Cuba to the United States were rampant and seemingly viable.

Marti saw in the liberation of Cuba the angular stone to stop the expansion of the North American imperialism. In his last and unfinished written letter to his longtime friend Manuel Mercado, then the Mexican undersecretary of the Interior, he pointed: "Every day now I am in danger of giving my life for my country and my duty-since I understand it and have the spirit to carry it out-in order to prevent, by the timely independence of Cuba, the United States from extending its hold across the Antilles and falling with all the greater force on the Lands of our America. All I have done up to now and all I will do is for that."

The United States was expanding his dominion and influence around its neighbors. The Monroe Doctrine declared by the U.S. President James Monroe in the seventh annual address to Congress, on December 2, 1823, became the United States' policy regarding Latin America, limiting the rights and activities of the European powers in the western hemisphere. In the beginning, it was merely a declaration of policy, but within years, the idea of annexation of the so called backyard (including the Antilles) was supported by Cubans inside and outside the island, thinking that the annexation of Cuba to the Union would be a benefit; even today, such a concept is not a dead thought for many.

Mart, a secular visionary, had the ability to see beyond the horizon in the entrails of the North American monster. In the same letter to Mercado he wrote: "The nations such as your own and mine, which have the most vital interest in keeping Cuba from becoming, through an annexation accomplished by those imperialists and the Spaniards, the doorway-which must be blocked and which, with our blood, we are blocking-to the annexation of the people of our America by the turbulent and brutal North that holds them in contempt." This so called monster, the United States, had seen in its Latin-American backyard a fertile campground to extract raw materials, dreaming one day, maybe, to be able to add more stars to the American flag.

This monster has not changed too much since then. Its Transnationals, under the concept of democracy and prosperity, can annexate the innocent intentions of a nation. Today, Mart's concerns are incredibly up to date. Is that monster ready to conquer the Latin American lands? As it refers to a military occupation, that is perhaps and most certain a utopia. But things actually have not changed. The United States of America exhibits the same power thirst for money, wherever the possibility arrives. Within the Cuban exiled population, new modern oligarchs see the opportunity of enrichment, possibly after an overturn of the actual political system in the island. Cubans from both outside and inside the island must take Marti's flag again and fight with dignity for a better Cuba, for the principles of justice, and not a mere copy of the savage capitalism that monopolizes even your will, and all that money can buy.

After the 1959 revolution, a new revolution is obligatory. That revolution brought a real independence to the island, but soon the egoist and dictatorial way of the government chose to incline the heart of the country to the red European bear. The Soviet Union made of Cuba a mere atheist puppet, a satellite of the communist interests in the world, an idle society, permanently dependant and attached to its belly button, through an umbilical square line of thought imposed on every Cuban. The Cuban Nation needs no more umbilical lines or written schemes of imported societies from the north, east, west, or south political science books. Our Judeo-Christian values had nothing to do with the reign of the dollar, the euro, or the peso. A mature society based on freedom and equality, justice for all, and dignity that embrace a brilliant future must to be built in godly honesty, sincerity and temperance.

The times of Cuban legends must be buried in the deep sea that surrounds the archipelago. Martyrs, heroes, caudillos, and good-looking stars are enjoyable in the history books; hence, the history of the island should be written in present time. Cuba has no need for last names or bank account numbers to be counted as the many stars in its national blue sky. It is necessary to proceed in a peaceful but profound continuance of the transforming revolutionary process that began in 1868; Cuba has enough heads and hearts to build a society as the Montecristi Manifesto proclaimed: "A country must find a manner of government that can satisfy both the mature and cautious intelligence of its literate sons and the necessary conditions for the assistance and respect of its other people...From its origin, the patria must be constituted in viable forms, forms born of itself."


Nac en un Archipilago
rodeado de azules mares
donde el disentir
se silencia con deshonra

All me impusieron al abuelo Lnin:
destructor,
apstata cegado
y mediocre constructor de un porvenir atascado

Ahora vivo en Troya
y conozco al Caballo desenfrenado.
Se afana mirando al tablero
donde las carreras se apstan
y el dollar se amontona
para agasajar al incrdulo

Hacia dnde vas
Caimn que te escapas?
Quin te lleva, florido ensoador?
Has dejado de contar tus palmas reales;
desmantela el oro,
ese que te pertenece,
no el que en el Atlntico profundo
tus colonizadores sepultaron.

Alejandro Roque.

One of the most amazing writers, and a wonderful small volume, showing the diversity of his talents through many years in a great translation (the poems include the Spanish and English texts). "Our America" is an essay on the cosmopolis that is Latin America, and essays on Emerson and Whitman are among the best that exist. Furthermore, one can forget that Marti spent perhaps more time in New York than anywhere else in his life, and his writings on some of the everyday things there, particularly "A Chinese Funeral," my favorite piece in the book, give one a great sense of the city from a unique and often unrepresented perspective. There is no American literature without Jose Marti.

Caribbean foods and their recipes are versatile and different. I have tried many Caribbean recipes but this book had some more surprises for me. I like this book because it has some very nice recipes, has some interesting inforomation about the recipes and background to them and they are pretty simple to make. Recipes I have tried are" chicken in lime sauce (9.6/10); butternut squash in lime (9.4/10); fried tomatoes (9.4/10); banana grumby (9.4/10)Singapore scallops (9.6/10); curry tuna creole (9.4/10). I have many more to try (there are 350 recipes). You'll be glad you will have tried some of the recipes of your choice.

Having lived in the Caribbean, I am hard to please when it comes to our dishes...they have to taste "just right" and be authentic. This cookbook definitely has many recipies that are very familiar to me. True island cooking at its best! You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Gwaan an enjoy it!

My wife loves the fact that I like to cook. Our kitchen shelves are filled with cookbooks and most have a few recipes that I like. Tropic Cooking is one that I consistently use and everyone, including my kids, loves the results.

The Florida Avocado Dip is wonderful, I usually leave off the olives though.

Pork Chops Negril is a sweet treat that just takes a few minutes to create. It's perfect for an evening when you're strapped for time.

Potatoes Bonaventure is always a hit at pot lucks, I think it's the pastrami that catches peoples attention as well as tickles their tastbuds.

If you can get fresh ripe tomatoes that don't taste like cardboard then one of these two recipes are wonderful.

Broiled Tomatoes with Mushroom Bits.

Fried Tomatoes.

I wish I was more of a dessert person because some of these sound wonderful. Cicely's Baked Bananas was an experiment once for a dessert party and it was very well received. I took home an empty plate which is always a good sign.

I highly recommend Tropic Cooking!

I have a libary of cookbooks and "Tropic Cooking" is the one I constantly use.

Love this cookbook. Recipes are from the Caribbean, as well as a number of Florida's best restaurants. I use this book all the time and have for years. It's fun!

Academia claims that the basis for intellectual advancement is the un-biased pursuit of the truth. However, when it comes to events that challenge leftist and liberal views, there is a vacum of "openess and understanding" to opposing realities. This is the case with the study of Cuban socialism and the Cuban exiled community which opposes it. Academias' cover up and blatant manipulation of the exile point of view is a classic example of brainwashing in a massive scale.

Anyone wishing to break away from Academia's stranglehold on the minds of the young, should read this book. You will begin to see the truth about what has happened in Cuba, and how it has been covered up in the US by the liberals and the left.

A concise, but comprehensive look at anti-Castro resistance by Cubans inside and outside the island from 1959 to the present. Encinosa tells an important story that is rarely known outside of the Cuban exile community, as such it is an invaluable study for serious Cuba watchers.

Of special interest, from a military history perspective, was the chapter on the mid-60's anti-Castro guerilla campaign centered in the Escambray mountains of central Cuba. This story is virtually unknown to the outside world, yet captures the courage and defiance to Communist rule, while detailing the uncompromising and brutal tactics Castro used in putting it down. I only wish that a more detailed examination of the Escambray campaign could someday be published. The book flows easily through the various decades, using numerous first-hand accounts of the bravery of those who resisted and the savagery of those who repressed them. Readers will also realize that many of those who took up arms against Castro, had previously supported him. Encinosa also details little known facts about Cuban domestic opposition to their overseas wars. Lastly, a discussion on resistance in the last decade brings to light the viciousness of the Castro regime, best captured in the comments of an individual who tried to set up an 'independent library'.

This book is a great eye-opener that reveals the regime for what it is - repressive and unpopular. Very necessary in light of the constant, and effective propaganda that comes from the island as it tries to influence the more gullible and economic minded sectors of the US. A relevant read given today's developing events.

This book will likely be dismissed by the Castrophiles on the academic left who paint the Cuban exile community as a collection of ignorant fascists. Those who approach the text with moral sobriety and decency, however, will be moved by Mr. Encinosa's tribute to the Cuban martyrs who were either murdered, or suffered in Castro's gulags, while having been ignored by the world press. The romantic delusion that Cuba represents a good faith attempt to create a socialist society while defending itself against evil capitalists has been refuted over and over again by the brutality and mendacity of the system. Like Che Guevara's false archetype of the saintly revolutionary, the revolution itself was a pathetic lie and Cuba eventually became the playground for Castro's egocentric fantasies. I should know. During the revolution my father fought against Batista in the Escambray front and my maternal grandparents ran one of the largest safe houses on the island, which offered refuge to many who later became ranking members of the regime. Fortunately, my family recognized the nature of the beast early on and we fled paradise in 1965.

Among the many stories that Mr. Encinosa recounts, one that Americans should become familiar with is the imprisonment of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, an Afro-Cuban physician who is currently wasting away in a Cuban prison. While the left is busy denouncing the detention of Islamic radicals at Guantanamo, Dr. Biscet, a Christian pro-life activist and advocate of Dr. Martin Luther King's teachings of nonviolent resistence, is serving a 25 year sentence. He previously served a three year prison sentence for holding a Cuban flag upside down during a press conference. After his conviction on April 7, 2003, Dr. Biscet was placed in solitary confinement in a tiny cell where he was denied sunlight for the first year of his imprisonment. He has been forced to live on handouts from other prisoners because the authorities refused to feed him, he lost several teeth and exists on the verge of starvation. Dr. Biscet's plight is a living synopsis of Castro's experiment in Carribean Stalinism and the motivation for the resistance movements described in the book.

Revolutions are not always the noble struggles that many idealistic people embellish them as. They are often sordid, bloody affairs in which one tyrant is replace by an even worse tyrant. The demagogues and megalomaniacs who lead such revolutions always claim to be acting on behalf of the poor, the working class, and the common people. It's these very same people who wind up victimized by the revolution that was supposed to liberate them.

Enrique Encinosa shows us how Castro's Cuba was such a revolution by presenting us with first hand accounts of the people who suffered from it. Many of these people were tough, independent rural campesinos who had their farms taken by Castro and were forced to work as laborers on collective farms. They defied Castro and felt the awful wrath of his brutality.

Encinosa turns alot of left-wing myths about Castro's glorious revolution on their head. In the beginning, the Cuban Revolution had little to do with socialism or communism. The different factions looked to Castro as their leader, which turned out to be a huge mistake. Castro sold out to the Soviets and betrayed many of his fellow revolutionaries who wanted a democratic revolution. Castro admitted that he lied to the people but that it was "for their own good".

The CIA did not initiate the resistance against Castro. It was started by the very same people who helped Castro overthrow Batista who felt they had been betrayed by Castro. Many of these people turned to the U.S. for help because Castro was already receiving Soviet and East bloc military support to secure his power.

Castro controlled the Cuban media and duped the world into believing he was a "David" who was taking on Goliath (the U.S.). The truth is, Castro was a puppet of the Soviet empire which enabled him to be Cuba's dictator.
This was never a peoples' revolution.

Another myth is Cuba's economic crisis being caused by the U.S. embargo which Castro used as an excuse for his own economic failures. Encinosa claims the embargo was more symbolic than real. The best human resources in Cuba were drained by fear and repression which gave Cubans little incentive to work. In addition, the government had to intervene in all labor disputes. Workers were not allowed to dispute with management or organize unions on their own behalf. Pretty convenient considering that the government owns the factories!

The top people in the government became the new aristocracy in Cuba. The Marxist aristocrats were more oppressive and decadent than the rulers they had replaced. An exiled general in Castro's Cuban air force described how Castro and high ranking communist party members lived like kings while the Cuban people lived in misery.

The lesson to be learned here (my own thoughts,not the author's) is that if you ever hear a demagogue spout off about how he's going to "liberate" you, grab your guns and head for the hlls. That's the guy you're going to need to be liberated from.

An extremely well researched book that leaves no doubt in the mind of this reader that despite almost fifty years of totalitarian rule the dissident voices calling for freedom and justice in Cuba will never be silenced.

I am including this review as it best reflects my goals in writing the book, as well as the BVI Community's reactions to it!

'Virgin Gorda, an Intimate Portrait' by Joan Soncini

Joan Soncini's new book: "Virgin Gorda, an Intimate Portrait" provides a picture of Virgin Gorda, her people, and change since 1964 when Little Dix Resort opened its doors, transforming this quiet, idyllic place. Referred to as a "must read", the book combines some 200 pictures with some 30+ personal accounts filled with warm, humorous anecdotes, profound wisdom and fascinating observations. Waldo O'Neal, older brother to the Honorable first Premier Ralph O'Neal, 92 years old, says in the book: "Like many others, I only had a primary school education since there was no secondary school in Virgin Gorda at that time...Rockefeller was greeted with open arms by all in the BVI. Why? Jobs!" Louis Walters remembers how he got his "very first pen." His mother first gave him a hen, that laid ten eggs, which he then sold for 50 cents in St. Thomas- 17 cents short! He needed that pen, so, he said, "I had to beg for extra money to buy my pen. It was a hard life."

Soncini is a cross-cultural psychotherapist and adjunct professor at the New York University, living part-time in her Virgin Gordian villa with her husband, Mario. "With 15 years worth of pictures of Virgin Gorda I've waited for years to put everything I know and love about this island into a book: a true labor of love!". In the words of Premier Ralph O'Neal at the November Book Launch Party at Chez Bamboo:

Joan strives to let us tell our own story in our own, namely how Virgin Gorda has evolved. Sometimes it takes a person coming from far away to make the tremendous effort to record our history. We thank her! Joan, I think you were right to record how you see the Virgin Islands and challenge us to try to conserve their natural beauty!

Ms. Soncini said she couldn't feel satisfied about the book until she got enough feedback. "I feel grateful and gratified. I set out to write a book where people would be proud
of it ... and nothing could have given me a better sense of accomplishment than Premier O'Neal talking about the importance of the book, saying that it really served the people of Virgin Gorda."

The stories told in taped interviews explain how Virgin Gorda once was (with pictures from Ewan MacFarland, taken in the 1960s), when life was hard but rich with community and family connections, few jobs, fewer goods and services, transforming into the worldwide fame of today, with the wonderful resorts, restaurants, and private villas. Soncini underlines her experience of Virgin Gorda:

Virgin Gorda has an external beauty, unsurpassed anywhere in the world, but her real richness and wonder is her people! I wanted the readers to delve more deeply into her soul to see what often is unavailable to the eyes of visitors.

Julian Putley says of Dr. Soncini:

It becomes obvious as you read through her book that Ms Soncini has a singular talent in getting her interviewees to reveal their innermost feelings and to recall distant memories. The photographs too, capture a way of life, both past and present, and a glimpse of the beauty that is today's Virgin Gorda.

Ms. Soncini introduces us to people of all walks of life, those born and brought up on Virgin Gorda and those who moved here to work. In addition to the optimism of most, there are words cautioning that progress comes at a cost, primarily in the transformation from a community-based to a more individualistic culture. The "lend a hand" philosophy does, however, still exist among many, thank goodness!

Finally, in the words of Sharon Flax Mars of Little Dix Bay: "Joan has been able to capture the true essence and beauty of Virgin Gorda...that element that sets Virgin Gorda apart from other islands - its people... the wrinkles and crinkles of a life that has seen changes ...the smiles of everyone...and their stories told in their own words."


The book is available: direct sales from the author, soncijo@gmail.com; on Virgin Gorda in local stores and resorts; and on Tortola, through Julian Putney 284 542 3400 (phone) or putley@surfbvi.com (email).

Kudos to the author/photographer Joan Soncini. Finally, a book whose title captures its content! Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait wonderfully describes the development of a fairy tale island which hasn't lost its heart & soul in the process of modernization. The book reads like a love story of the island, beautifully capturing the essence & pride of its people, as well as what made the "newcomers" captivated & unable to leave. The author is an artist & ethnographer par excellence! Dr. Soncini's breathtaking photographs peer right into the soul of her subjects, as does her intimate interviews with Virgin Gorda's citizens, new & old. Such intimacy can only be achieved by someone in love with the island herself, someone who her interviewees know can be trusted with their cherished memories of Virgin Gorda, & someone who wants to preserve the island's essence for generations to come. Dr. Soncini has done an outstanding job at creating a visual & visceral portrait of an island beaming with pride. This is a 5 star review for a 5 star author/photographer & 5 star island.

Author Joan Soncini has captured the magic and soul of Virgin Gorda in her book "Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait". The photographs are a visual delight that gives readers not only a history of the island over the years, but a glimpse into the people. It's the interviews with the residents of Virgin Gorda that brings out the islands soul. Joan found special nuggets of information in everyone's story to bring the island the life. A week vacation to Virgin Gorda is a wonderful introduction to the island, but reading " Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait" gives everyone a chance to really get to know the island. So, enjoy!!

I'm generally not a big fan of coffee table photo books, but Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait is so much more than that. I've been to Virgin Gorda many times and I have to confess that I didn't know nearly as much about the island as I thought I did. Dr. Soncini is a psychologist who has a clear eye for what really drives people, and she manages to bring out the stories of many untold heroes who made the island what it is today in this book. The undercurrents of what really goes on in the lives of everyday people on this beautiful little island are truly fascinating. There is no other book like this that tells the story of the people who bring this island to life. Oh, and by the way, the photos are mesmerizing. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand more about this spectacular island than the sand and surf.

Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait

First of all, I want to offer a caveat: I am a close friend of Joan Soncini, so I am NOT an unbiased reviewer but believe I can offer some background and insight into her book, "Virgin Gorda: An Intimate Portrait."

As a homeowner on Virgin Gorda, Joan has spent over 15 years photographing the Island and getting to know its people and culture. She has made hundreds of friends and acquaintances on the Island; thus, the interviewees felt comfortable and open in sharing their views and concerns about the Island. Their words and Joan's photos paint an important, never-before-seen documentation of Virgin Gorda as it grew and is today.

According to remarks by Ralph O'Neal, premier of the British Virgin Islands, at the book launching party on November 17, 2007: until this book was written, there had been scant historical and cultural literature on the Island. He said that he feels that this book is so important that he plans to give a copy each BVI graduate in the 2007-08 year. Books are being supplied to all the schools and teachers as well.

Yet, this is not a stodgy book: far from it. The interviews are engrossing and interesting, and the gorgeous photos are culled from thousands Joan has taken over the years. I have watched Joan's photographic skills grow over the years. Her keen eye and therapist background find the "real" Virgin Gorda in every photo.

Book review of behind the mountain

My book is called Behind the Mountain by Edwidge Danticat.
A family is broke and they are trying to get to New York. They live in Haiti. Bombs are going off all over the place. A girl in the family is trying to help her mom from almost dying from a bomb. That was my introduction.

The main characters are the dad, manman which is the mom and Celiane the dater. Manman is almost dead from a bomb. Celiane want's her dad. The father is in New York giving money to the mom and dater and brother who also has money. The brother is working to give them money to. Those were all the characters.

In this book they want to leave there country. There is a lot of bombing happing so they want to leave their country Haiti. In Haiti 2 kiddies died from the bombing happing in Haiti. They finally got to New York and they were happy because they would not die any more. When Celiane got to New York she had a good school and like before. That was my setting.

The family is trying to get courage to move to New York with there dad. They don't want to be in bombs any more. The girl want's a better school. The family is trying to get money from people to go to New York. The theme is courage.

If you read this book you will be able to visualize the book. So if you read it now I won't let you stop. This book is about one big adventure in 2 different countries. If you like weapons I think you should read this book. That was my conclusion.

Book review of behind the mountain

My book is called Behind the Mountain by Edwidge Danticat.
A family is broke and they are trying to get to New York. They live in Haiti. Bombs are going off all over the place. A girl in the family is trying to help her mom from almost dying from a bomb. That was my introduction.

The main characters are the dad, manman which is the mom and Celiane the dater. Manman is almost dead from a bomb. Celiane want's her dad. The father is in New York giving money to the mom and dater and brother who also has money. The brother is working to give them money to. Those were all the characters.

In this book they want to leave there country. There is a lot of bombing happing so they want to leave their country Haiti. In Haiti 2 kiddies died from the bombing happing in Haiti. They finally got to New York and they were happy because they would not die any more. When Celiane got to New York she had a good school and like before. That was my setting.

The family is trying to get courage to move to New York with there dad. They don't want to be in bombs any more. The girl want's a better school. The family is trying to get money from people to go to New York. The theme is courage.

If you read this book you will be able to visualize the book. So if you read it now I won't let you stop. This book is about one big adventure in 2 different countries. If you like weapons I think you should read this book. That was my conclusion.

Read as part of a course on bilingualism & biculturalism this book provided a personal glimpse into a child's life and how it changed.

Not only is this a well-written, interesting story of a young girl's life in Haiti, it truly gives the reader a taste of what Haiti is like today. My daughter, age 10, and I read it together, after my first trip to Haiti on a medical mission. I felt like I was back in Haiti, and loved the description, historical information and perspective of a young girl watching her life and country change. Behind the Mountains is written in diary form, and really draws the reader in, allowing her to see things through the eye's of the young narrator as her family is uprooted and moved to another country.

I highly recommend this to young readers (4th-6th grade) or even adults who enjoy historical fiction, learning about other cultures, or are undergoing family changes.

I give this a 5 star rating for the wonderful prose, easy readability, smooth incorporation of beautiful cultural and historical facts, and engaging characters.

As I walked through the leafy Boston suburb, I saw a uniformed chauffeur waiting outside a big house. He was gazing into the trees, obviously enjoying the quiet spring morning. A nametag on his lapel identified him as "Jean."

"Are you from Haiti?" I asked.

He nodded, surprised.

"I just read a great book about your country," I told him. "I learned about the beautiful mountains and hibiscus flowers there."

I watched the smile spread across his face. Were it not for Edwidge Danticat's young adult novel, Behind the Mountains, I might have walked wordlessly past this stranger. Now I was curious about his journey, and he was thrilled by my knowledge of his country and culture. That's the purpose of Orchard's First Person Fiction series - to create understanding and empathy for the immigrants around us. Using fictional diary entries, Danticat recounts Celiane Esperance's journey from a rural town to Port-au-Prince to Brooklyn. I painlessly learned about Haitian history and politics, and gained insight into why some Haitians desire to immigrate to America.

The book is also particularly written for immigrant teens. Danticat, the acclaimed author of three adult novels, expertly depicts Celiane's high hopes of seeing her father again and the subsequent stressful reality of a family reunion. Reading about Celiane's first miserable days in New York will encourage immigrant teens to welcome other newcomers. As Celiane describes her sorrow over her father's conflict with her older brother Moy, I remembered my older siblings hammering out compromises with our parents. These and other themes common to immigrants from any country make me wish this book had been around when I was reading out on that Flushing fire escape.