Caribbean Books

Mexican-born poet Gabriela Jauregui presents Controlled Decay, her debut poetry collection. The works range in setting from Jauregui's native Mexico City to a dance hall in East Los Angeles to a steam bath in Morocco to the quietude of the grave. Blending elements of narrative, thought processes, and open rhythm, Controlled Decay taps into the immense power of human consciousness and the eternal story that is the endless circle of life. "For Nietzsche": Between truth and fiction / a soap washes/clears ambiguity / dispels/destroys ambivalence / a vegetable soap / that leaves no trace / clean / like a button / ripped from an overcoat / on a winter morning.

I have to admit, I don't usually read a lot of poetry, but a couple of weeks ago I was at the LA Times Festival of Books and I saw Jauregui's book in the Akashic Books tent. The cover was breathtaking and it seemed to me everyone who walked by was buying a copy, so I grabbed one before they were all gone. I am so glad I did. Every poem in this book is its own wonderful story - some are pretty, some are grotesque, all are entertaining. You have to read them slowly, one at a time, and then savor the aftertaste the way you might enjoy an expensive chocolate or a great cut of beef. This poetry gets inside you. It infiltrates past the point where so many other writers find themselves unable to penetrate. It goes beyond your resistance - so to reject it's grotesqueness or its dance rhythms or its life experience would entail rejecting your own, and instead, because she makes it so clear in her telling that this is a celebration, we embrace rather than reject - and that's where the triumph comes--both for Jauregui and for her reader. It doesn't matter if you don't like poetry - if you want to experience life through the careful and passionate perspective of someone who might just have seen something you missed, if you have any sort of appreciation for language, if you want to read something meaningful - this book is for you.

There is something for everyone in this fierce first book of poetry by Gabriela Jauregui. Terrance Hayes states it nicely in the introduction, when he writes: "Mirroring the mouths with spit, kiss, eat, and swallow in these pages, Controlled Decay is fierce and sensual, consuming and consumed. These poems are full of vitality. This is vital poetry." I can't recommend this book enough, especially for those who are politically-minded, globally-oriented, into genre-bending, and have a strong affinity for the grotesque. I for one can't wait to see what this writer does next!

This is a dazzling debut by a writer whose imagery and command of language puts her easily in the company of some of the best poetry being written today. Jauregui is a writer who knows how to work with the blank space of the page--she knows when to rush words together, creating a crush of language that presses against you ("Get On Down to the Floor to the Heaven of Other Animals"), and she knows when to pull back, to allow the silence of the white space inform a single image or a whispered line (like the "Loku" poems, which read almost like haiku). Alongside this is Jauregui's willingness to question what it means to be human and to have a body--the sections are named "Dust," "Bone," "Fat," "Enamel," and "Nail." No "Heart" or "Brain" here; this is writing which goes for the substance of the body itself. In this her writing shares affinities with Jeanette Winterson, W. G. Sebald, Toni Morrison, and others who have rescued meaning from detritus, and given us new ways to think about how we move in the world around us. The perspective of animals inhabits the same space as that of humanity, in ways which allow Jauregui to examine where the line between us and other creatures exists (if it exists at all). All this without losing a light touch and an energetic style. I've been reading this book nonstop for the past week....

Black Goat Books sounds like a promising imprint for the always questing Akashic Press, and it is always good to see a small press make a determined attempt to create new audiences for poetry. During a recent visit to Los Angeles, I picked up a copy of Gabriela Jauregui's CONTROLLED DECAY and ever since that moment when the book fell into my hands, I have been exclaiming to everyone within the sound of my voice my delight in discovering this accomplished and talented young writer, whose work explodes in a bevy of disparate directions.

I wasn't crazy about Terrance Hayes' introduction, but introductions to books of poetry are always going to rub a certain kind of reader the wrong way, limiting our response to a certain set of already constrictions, square holes for round pegs. In this case, Hayes's thesis states that that Jauregui's poems "gaze upon us, our surfaces," instead of the way the surfaces of others' poems are gazed on by the reader. Some poems are brick walls, some are mirrors, and Juaregui's are in Hayes' third category--they are eyeballs observing the reader. I find this formulation exactly wrong; that is exactly what these poems are not. I can't even think what gazing would mean in this metaphor, but it would imply a sort of android life for poems, for how else would they actually be able to perform this "gazing" on the mere humans who created them. Oh well, in other ways Hayes' generous response to this work is soundly argued, and he has the gift for pulling precisely the right quotes from the work that will best make his point. I defy anyone to begin Jauregui's book and feel unmoved, the long ecstatic lines of the opening piece work like a pair of hands pulling you onto the dancefloor, into an irresistible beat. In this space "the dust that I am can be banished for some time, the power of voice of eyelashes and mirror smile will clean it off the dance floor if only for a moment." Why, this is like me under the influence of heavy doses of Kylie Minogue, only expressed more beautifully and persuasively than I can hope to do. Elsewhere the poetry manages to work on more minimal, nearly Objectivist levels of precise imagery, even when its ostensible subject is distortion, enshroudment, or the high crimes of history, such as in the agonistic "Bou Arfa," with its short and enervated line, its multiple languages, its nomadic and deracinated vocalizations like the blues of a lifetime.

Helpful notes explain that "Bou Arfa" (in Morocco) was the site of a Nazi-Fascist penal camp for captured resistance fighters during the days of the Spanish Civil War, so the misery was international, multi-vocal, and the wrong done never-ending.

Gabriela Juaregui divides her book into five sections, each specifying a particular organic entity, which the verse re-poses as different prisms through which life may be experienced: first comes the "Dust" of history and of biology (vide Philip Pullman); then the "Bone" of negation and of shape ("I'm freezing/ and without appetite")' in the middle a Beuysian "Fat" acts as a slave of recuperation and rescue. Two final sections, "Enamel" and "Nail" flip back and forth, as does the book in macrocosm, between twin poles of bodily delight (what Terrance Hayes calls "the carnal") and the excruciations of global conditioning. It is a daring arrangement which, for the most part, pays off the risks Jauregui allows herself.

Physically the size and the design of the book leave the work open in one's hands, as if during prayer, while the extraordinarily explosive cover (by AAVF) trades on the manuscript's heady, almost psychedelic energies. Maybe the book is too long in a certain way, fatiguing, but it's the trend now to have 120 page books of poetry, where once a collection would have a modest 64, 72 pages, and maybe the generosity of having so much work here all at once would best be met by each reader finding his own, or her own, top 80 pages and just going with them, so that we would each have our own ideal "Selected Gabriela Juaregui." There isn't any particular strain in her poetry that I would willingly let go of. Good thing I don't have to. My hope is that CONTROLLED DECAY will be widely circulated, and in reaction, a convulsion of pleasure will sweep our hemisphere from its scalp to its sandals . . . We'll see . . .

This is a very imformative work, although it could do with being updated. Probably the best reference book of BVI dive sites for professional and recreational divers alike.

If you want a realy good book for diving at the BVI then take this one. I got all of my informations out of this book and all dives where fine. The only thing i missed was a map with stations for tank refill.

Jim and Odile Scheiner have been photographing and diving the BVI since long before any Bush's were in the white house. Their diving expertise and professionaly crafted photgraphs will guide you to some of the best diving in this area. Don't travel to the BVI without this book if you're planning any diving! It's that good.

If you're planning a bareboat charter in the British Virgin Islands and would like to head off to dive sites on your own then this is the book you need. The book contains dive site locations, mooring locations, skill requirements, weather considerations, site layouts, suggested underwater routes, and dive descriptions. We arrived in the Virgin Islands with a bag of dive books and this is the one that we used over and over again!

We're divers who have visited BVI several times, and we think Jim Scheiner's bok is the best guide available for diving the islands. - Jim and his wife Odile are accomplished videographers and photographers with a shop at Baskin in the Sun's location in the Prospect Reef resort in Tortola, and they have extensive knowledge of the area- they're passing some of this knowledge on to visiting divers. - My only wish is they'd expand the book in its next edition, as there are so many interesting BVI dives sites!

Tio Rico lives in a village in Oaxaca (wah-ha-kah), Mexico. He is a 77 year-old who became a pinata maker when rheumatism made it too difficult to continue his business of making sombreros.

A village boy collects newspapers and concrete sacks for Tio Rico. These he uses to fashion unusual and decorative pinatas. The process is explained by a delightful profusion of photographs which accompany the story. The author, George Ancona, also shows "puppets" which are child-size papier-mache forms worn by young folk dancers. He shows his own version of pinata formed over cardboard or balloons for those of us who cannot buy clay pots at a local market.

Children everywhere will enjoy this colorful book and be eager to try the craft. With luck, they will have patient teachers and learn some Spanish and/or English words, too! My favorite companion book is "Colors of Mexico" (isbn: #1575052164), illustrated by Janice Porter.

"THE PINATA MAKER" is a 5-star book for adults as well as children, and most appropriate for the 2003 church women's study of Mexico. Find a group of children to share this book with, and increase your enjoyment three-fold.

Both my 5 & 3 year-old children LOVE this book. It is a nice combo of something fun (the pinatas, the design, & just the thought of candy...) and reality (photos of Don making pinatas). It is simple enough for them to understand, and captivating enough for even my younger child. We haven't delved much into the spanish text, but will eventually. For now, we're working on making the star for my daughter's sixth birthday party!

The Piñata Maker describes how a Mexican gentleman, Don Ricardo, became a piñata maker. It elaborates on how he makes his beautiful piñatas, while including a description of his way of life. The book is fantastic for individuals who are studying either English or Spanish. I'm using it both to become more familiar with Spanish and to teach English to a Spanish speaking person. It is written on an appropriate level for adults to use in this manner, but it is also an excellent book for children.

Before I retired to Mexico from teaching in Texas I used this book as a guide to classroom activities for a self-contained classroom of boys with severe behavioral problems. The response was far beyond my expectations.

In both Spanish and English Sr. Ancona tells the interesting story of Don Ricardo, an elderly pinata maker in a small Mexican village. He also includes complete instructions which allow the reader to construct his or her own pinata.

Using the construction process as a reward I was able to involve my elementary level students in a number of academic activities they had earlier resisted, as well as expanding the learning process into a number of new areas. In addition, behavior related problems decreased dramatically because participation in the reading, discussion, and pinata design and construction were based upon the completion of other academic work as well as classroom behavior and all wanted to engage in the interesting activities and discussions suggested by the book.

The ways in which this book can be used by creative teachers are many. I strongly suggest that teachers consider using this book as inspiration for a number of enjoyable and effective learning activities.

The charming little book follows Don Ricardo as he designs, makes and delivers his pinatas in a small Mexican town. Don is 77 years old and started making Pinatas 15 years ago. You are not only taken through every step of making a creative yet traditionally made pinata, but you also get the feel for the ruralness of the town and it's people through the photographs. I recommend this as great book to read to your kids, or to use to get help with making Pinatas. The bi-lingual text, helps it work for both spanish and english speaking children.

Purchased for our grandson, who is absolutely jumping for joy in learning so much history.

This is the first book that I have read with so many African-Americans described in it. I showed it to my son and he was amazed that so many African-American contributions were listed. He had not heard of most of the people in the book and was confused. My godfather leafed through the book and asked where I had gotten it from. I ordered him one for himself so he could read it at his leisure. He was so happy to receive the book that he started reading it immediately. This is an excellent book for everyone.

This 2nd edition is a good African-American history/cultural reference for anyone, regardless of ethnic/racial heritage. The book met almost all of my expectations. Only a few subjects/persons I sought information on were omitted.

This tome is fine for any home, school, or public library. A useful compendium and summary of black USA history. Not perfect, but highly recommended.

I wish I had this book when I was in grammar school. It was just a huge relief to open the package. I'm reading this thing like it's the best novel in the world and I've never been a history fan. If it wasn't English, it wasn't me but I'm reading about a new person once a day everyday trying to learn all the things that I didn't get to learn in grammar school, high school,and the first college I went to.

Geared to the young and people wanting to know more about the black heritage. A fascinating survey of the contributions of blacks to American society.Excellent book for the kids and adults alike.

This type of book should never be allowed to go out of print. It should be available for all to read and learn from. In it, Helene Tremblay offers a fascinating insight into the ordinary lives of various people from The Americas and The Caribbean by spending a typical day with a typical family. In a beautifully illustrated book, sensitively written, Ms Tremblay gently pushes opens a window into their different worlds, eating, resting and working with the families. There is no feeling of intrusion, just an unspoken respect for their way of life. It is at once humbling, honest, moving and utterly compelling. It is a book I refer to many times and can highly recommend.

This type of book should never be allowed to go out of print! It should be available for all to read and learn from. In it, Helene Tremblay offers a fascinating insight into the ordinary lives of various people from The Americas and Caribbean simply by spending a typical day with a chosen family. In a beautifully illustrated book, sensitively written, Ms Tremblay gently pushes opens a window into their different worlds, eating, resting and working with them. There is no feeling of intrusion, just an unspoken respect for their way of life. It is at once humbling, honest, moving and utterly compelling. It is a book I refer to many times and can highly recommend.

I enjoyed reading this book. I bought it for my husband as a gift, but I read it before he did. The photographs and stories were about at least one family from each North and South American country. Wide range of lifestyles, from tribal Amazonians, peasants in Mexico, poor and rich of Brazil, single mother families in West Indies, farmers in Canada, and urban folks from Chicago. The book covers their diligences and futilities in this world as a family unit.

Greetings to all! I love sociology, world culture, and travel. This book combines the best of these topics and so much more! Helene has displayed tremendous courage in her desire to produce a book about humanity and the one thing that bonds us all together: family. She has traveled to places that many of us would find undesirable and have brought forth families that we would have never known if it were not for her beautiful book! From the poorest of the poor to the elite, she has been the welcome guest of families picked randomly who best represent each country. She surprised these families by just showing up on their doorstep and then, as an unbiased observer, gives honest details of the lifestyle of the family. This is truly one of the most interesting books I've ever read and it now looks like a well-worn Bible, as I have read it time and time again. Through the eyes of Helene, we learn about families as far north as Canada and the USA, as well, as the Caribbean and South America and Mexico. I was so impressed by Helene's report on a family in the Honduras that we decided to sponsor a family from there! Truly, there is no other book like it and it is a great sadness to me that it is no longer in print. Anyone who can purchase this book will be adding a book of noble worth to their library! I can't say enough about this book! It is a tremendous way for children to learn about other families and places around the world! Helene, if you ever read this, know that you are always welcome at my home! ;-) In Friendship, Mrs. Marsha Swaggerty & Family

I've already given a review for the first book which is on this page for some reason... so I wholeheartedly agree that the book on Asia and the Pacific is just as spectacular as the book on the Americas... It was out of print and I was amazed when Amazon.Com came through with a used copy that was in beautiful condition! I was very pleased and impressed and am delighted to have this book in my collection... I was very intrigued by the families in Asia and the exotic Pacific! Very much worth the wait!

Glenville Lovell's remarkable and interesting way of plotting the story line in each chapter seemed to open up a new thought process as I read. This book captured my attention in numerous ways. Having the experience myself of growing up in a small village, I enjoyed and seemed familiar with the description of some of the places mentioned in the book. Mr. Lovell's skillful and poetic use of language is very refreshing, and I was even more captivated with the use and mix of the dialect, that at times seemed to have taken me back in time to my childhood days. The use of magic and myth, combined with love/love-making, fear, history, insight and triumph indeed revealed a skillfully written story of two young lovers and an entire community whose journey leads to precious insights, awakenings and new beginnings! To fully appreciate and experience this insightful journey - READ FIRE IN THE CANES! Extra-ordinary and brilliant!

Glenville Lovell's remarkable and interesting way of plotting the story line in each chapter seemed to open up a new thought process as I read. This book captured my attention in numerous ways. Having the experience myself of growing up in a small village, I enjoyed and seemed familiar with the description of some of the places mentioned in the book. Mr. Lovell's skillful and poetic use of language is very refreshing, and I was even more captivated with the use and mix of the dialect, that at times seemed to have taken me back in time to my childhood days. The use of magic and myth, combined with love/love-making, fear, history, insight and triumph indeed revealed a skillfully written story of two young lovers and an entire community whose journey leads to precious insights, awakenings and new beginnings! To fully appreciate and experience this insightful journey - READ FIRE IN THE CANES! Extra-ordinary and brilliant!

Glenville Lovell's remarkable and interesting way of plotting the story line in each chapter seemed to open up a new thought process as I read. This book captured my attention in numerous ways. Having the experience myself of growing up in a small village, I enjoyed and seemed familiar with the description of some of the places mentioned in the book. Mr. Lovell's skillful and poetic use of language is very refreshing, and I was even more captivated with the use and mix of the dialect, that at times seemed to have taken me back in time to my childhood days. The use of magic and myth, combined with love/love-making, fear, history, insight and triumph indeed revealed a skillfully written story of two young lovers and an entire community whose journey leads to precious insights that connected them to their displaced ancestors to achieved new awakenings and complacency. To fully appreciate and experience this insightful journey - READ FIRE IN THE CANES! Extra-ordinary and brilliant!

Mr. Lovell is an excellent writer and very creative. I love books that takes me to another level, books that make you get into the characters. He took me back to my childhood days sitting on the stoop of my grandmother's house in Sturges watching the monkeys eating the bananas. I also went into Harrison's Cave before it was discovered. I saw the beauty of Monkey Road tenantry.

With this supernatural tale of island magic,love, and history, novelist Glenville Lovell makes a stunning debut in FIRE IN THE CANES. I read this book recently and could not put it down! The author's quiet humor, sharp wit, and ear for language made this story of a young woman's quest for love and identity a memorable experience. Set in an undisclosed Carribean island in the not so distant past, Lovell skillfully weaves the story of a community and how it re-claimed its cultural roots after a young man is mysteriously murdered - leaving magical seeds behind him. Lovell shows the marks of a true craftsman, quietly leading his readers through the heart's rugged terrain, leaving them invigorated, by the novel's end, with a renewed sense of passion and hope. If you enjoy a little history in your fiction, a bit of the supernatural with your "realism," and humor when examining human relationships, then you will enjoy Glenville Lovell's FIRE IN THE CANES.

Informative and fun, has the facts straight (the few that I can verify as an infrequent but enthusiastic visitor).

The book is great - all sorts of detailed information, tips, and maps. A must have for the Caribbean traveler. It gives detailed info on the best places to shop, eat, sleep, and relax. It's going with us on our next cruise, and we've already picked out some places to go. Thanks, Fodor's!

My only complaint is with Amazon.com. You shipped it to the wrong address and then ignored my email asking for help. My brother then shipped the book to me at his own expense...and you then ignored my email asking for reimbursement. Nicely done. And THIS is why I canceled my Amazon Prime membership. Caveat emptor, indeed.

It is difficult finding information on the small island of Dominica. This book covers it and has a lot of useful information, as well as general travel information.

This book is very informative. The price was very good and it got to me fast!

We were looking for a place to go on our honeymoon in the Caribbean, but could not decide on which island to choose. This guide provided a great table comparing all the islands based on hotels, restaurants, activities, etc. and then a detailed description of each island. Would definitely recomment as a great starting point in planning your Caribbean vacation.

I have savored so many recipes from this book. I absolutely amaze my dinner guests with the recipes!

I find myself reaching for this book quite a bit. I've made quite a few recipes from here with great success; the flavors are fresh, bright and bold, and many of the recipes are inherently healthy. There's great stuff here for weeknight meals, but some of them are still nice enough for casual company dinners. This is not an entirely authentic cookbook, but it's still all very tasty. If you don't have an Asian market locally (or large Asian section at your local mega-mart) you might find some of the ingredients hard to source, although that's not a problem for me being in the Seattle metropolitan area. Make sure you try their recipe for Saigon cinnamon ice cream - it's foolproof and to die for.

Have you ever purchased a colorful asian cook book from the discount bin at the local bookstore, to find it's all pretty photos, but otherwise filled with aimless, unremarkable yet needlessly complicated or unclear recipes? I have.. to the point that most of my cooking involves going online, to find at least 3 recipes for whatever I have in mind that evening, and to use the best parts of each found recipe to come up with my own.. Well, I need to do so no more so far as Southeast Asia is concerned, thanks to the Laursens wonderful, concise, yet roomy-enough-to-allow-me-to-experiment recipes. As my wife knows, i HATE following recipes, as most 'exotic' recipes usually call for at least ONE vital mystery ingredient I will never stock, so I usually end up chucking the recipe and instead blaze thru my own rebellious trail. Well, the Laursens allow me the breathing room to make substitutions, letting me know which ingredients are key, and why, and how to make do when you don't have them all, and it's all very reassuring, aiming primarily at providing a basic, straightforward foundation for south east Asian cooking. Food the locals eat, yet with just the right amount of westernization, this book was written for me.. No wild look-at-me recipes that you will either make once and never again or not dare to make at all.... I was such a geek I took the book to my local asian supermarket and was found in the sauces/spices aisle thumbing thru pages to make sure I knew which soy sauces/fish sauces/chilli pastes to weed thru... Enough of my quirks.. the recipes? I've had this book but two days, and have made 2 meals, that will make my local thai/vietnamese restaurants sadly miss a good chunk of my business, as they came out flawless; amazingly so, given the simplicity and conciseness of the recipes...Again, best $15 spent.

This book is fantastic. It is practicle and easy to use. It convinced me to make my first attempt at homemade Thai and it was contagious. Our friends loved the recipes (they usually eat Mexican) and now love thai dishes. I need MORE receipes, please do another cookbook, and thanks!

From Bangkok To Bali In 30 Minutes: 175 Fast And Easy Recipes With The Lush, Tropical Flavors Of Southeast Asia is the collaborative effort of Theresa Volpe Laursen and Byron Laursen. This exciting compilation of exotic dishes ranges from Vietnamese-Style Iced Coffee; Balinese Star Fruit, Papaya, and Pink Grapefruit Salad with Avocado Dressing; and Fried Spring Rolls Filipino Style; to Bangkok-to-Bali Burgers with Grilled Onions; Laotian-Style Stir-Fried Shrimp with Crispy Lemon Grass; and Filipino-Style Potatoes Adobo. Exceptionally "kitchen cook friendly", From Bangkok To Bali In 30 Minutes is especially recommended for both its culinary diversity and ethnic meal-time authenticity.

Went to Bermuda to celebrate 10th anniversary and purchased this book to guide us to the best dining and sights. It was right-on with all recommendations. We got a great taste of Bermuda out of a 4-night trip thanks to this book. On our last day there, in the airport we talked to another couple who had just spent 4 nights there as well. They had no idea about Ginger Beer, Dark and Stormy drinks, Fish Chowder, or Wahoo - Frommer's made sure we did not miss the essential elements of Bermuda. Highly recommended. We'll be using it for our next trip there.

I have read several books on Bermuda in preparing for our upcoming trip, and this one is by far the most helpful--and most thorough. It has a good combination of background info/history and travel info/tips. The detachable, fold-out map if the islands is particularly nice. I wish I'd bought this travel guide first (I've purchased several)--it would have saved me a good bit of time and money, since now I don't feel like I need to buy another!

I have often wasted money by buying several travel guides for my trips abroad. This time, I wanted to buy only one for my four night trip to Bermuda. This Frommers guide turned out to be an excellent choice. It provides all the needed information about getting from the airport to your hotel/resort, getting around the island, places to stay, beaches, golf courses, the sights, restaurants, bars, shopping and everything else you could need to know for your vacation. It also has a very useful detachable map of the whole Island, including detailed maps of St. George and Hamilton. This book should truly be all that you need for your trip to Bermuda.

This was a great guide for visiting Bermuda. The hotel section was accurate and current enough to plan most of the logistics before I arrived. The guide also had a lot of current suggestions of quaint places to visit that only a long timer would know. Well worth the small investment in improving your trip.

Travel tip - Although the cover of the guide shows sun and beaches, be careful about the timing of when you go. Bermuda is in the Atlantic, not the Carribean, so the water won't be so pleasant in the winter.

This book is great for anyone going to Bermuda for their honeymoon or for a vacation. I found all the top beaches and my husband found exclusive details on all the top golf courses. With exact prices and candid reviews on hotels and restaurants, we were able to make a budget for the entire trip.

I really like that this is a cookbook that is not a cookbook....she provides such fabulous imagery of Cuba in its hey day. I am mesmerized by the tales and delight in completing an admittedly...."This is the way I remember it" recipe!

Havana Salsa:Stories and Recipes is just that, a wonderful recounting of a girl's life in pre-Castro Cuba with eccentric and very colorful relatives and family friends and the comfort foods they cooked. An excellent story teller, Viviana Carballo intertwines her stories with recipes that bring back nostalgia as the smells and tastes of Cuba come alive throughout this book. As a fellow Cuban I enjoyed the author's character descriptions, recounting of familiar places, interesting anecdotes and the many memories she shares with her readers. The recipes are easy to follow and characteristically Cuban. This little gem is a delightful read.

This is a lovely book full of great stories and great recipes. Loved it!

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The last 10 years have brought a wealth of "growing up Cuban" memoirs, most notably "Waiting for Snow in Havana," "Tropicana Nights," and "Finding Mañana." Funny thing is, we just can't get enough of them. We guess it's because they bring memories of a Cuba we can only dream about -- the glory days of Cuba that are slowly fading in our memories.

Viviana Carballo has added to the mix with a delightful account of her own rather eccentric family's experiences both BC (Before Castro) and after. Reading this book is a little like pulling up a stool and listening to the stories of a favorite (albeit a little saucy) great aunt. As in many homes of the time and especially in the better homes of Havana, Carballo's mother cooked only occasionally, mostly for holidays and special occasions. The real culinary magic was performed by Dulce, the Carballo's cook and a devout follower of Santeria -- a religion that combines African mystic belief with Catholic faith. It was here that Viviana Carballo first learned the basics of Cuban cuisine, in a kitchen that was quite literally watched over by the Gods.

For those who survived the "revolution," no Cuban life story is without pain and suffering and Carballo's experiences are especially heartrending. Her father is branded a counter-revolutionary and locked up in one of Castro's gulags where he dies after two years of inhumane treatment. When she decides to flee the island, she must leave her husband behind, a horrible Sophie's choice that no woman should ever be faced with.

Carballo seasons her narrative with some 70 recipes for Cuban dishes, some very traditional, although there is a strong emphasis on dishes from the mother country, Spain. Some are pure Gallego: you'd be hard pressed to find Blue Cheese Circles, St. James Almond Tart, or Christmas Turkey with Catalan stuffing on a traditional Cuban menu, but this broadening of the Cuban food repertoire only adds to this book's appeal. There is even a recipe for filloas, the Spanish version of French crepes. Thick and almost rustic in appearance, these hearty pancakes make a great wrapper for a wide range of fillings both sweet and savory.

Cuban dessert fanatics (and we hear from them weekly at our website) will enjoy several rarely published dessert recipes including one for Brazo Gitano (quite literally Gypsy's arm) a classic jelly roll cake traditionally filled with sweet guava filling and topped with candied fruits and shredded coconut, but here stuffed with a citrus cream and garnished simply with powdered sugar and orange slices. Meringue loving foodies will be inspired by the capitolios, a chocolate cake-like confection topped with fluffy meringue -- although the author does admit to taking the easy way out and using a commercial brownie mix for the cake.

We have only begun to sample the recipes, but one clearly stands out: a new twist on enchilado de camarones, a very typical dish of sautéed shrimp in a creole sauce, here made less typical with the addition of coconut milk and a bit of a spicy kick.

Havana Salsa is an excellent read and the recipes are an added bonus!

A touching story of how promptly a life can change, and how cuisine and food memories tend to support us, even without knowing ourselves that food memories can sustain us emotionally