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FROM OUR MAILBAG
BY MARELYS VALENCIA
THE MOST POPULAR BOOKS IN CUBA
SWEDISH journalist Johan Malmberg tells us that he’s
writing various articles about different countries’
bestsellers and would like to know what books are
currently selling well in Cuba.
Here’s some information about what is in popular
demand from the National Book Distributors that
might be useful to you. Gente Nueva publishers tells
us that children’s and young people’s favorite is
Aventuras de Elpidio Valdés (The Adventures of
Elpidio Valdés) featuring the character created by
Cuban Juan Padrón; after more than 30 years of shelf
life it still hasn’t lost its popularity. Other
classics that have become favorites are Alice in
Wonderland, Corazón (Heart), Grimm’s
Fairy Tales and children’s books written by José
Martí.
Other publishers’ best sellers include Las
propagandas silenciosas (Silent Propaganda) by
Ignacio Ramonet, editor of Le Monde Diplomatique,
issued by Arte y Literature; Alexander, a
biography of Alexander the Great, from the Oficina
de Publicaciones; Como agua para chocolate
(Like Water for Chocolate), El diablo en el
cuerpo (The Devil in the Body); Vuelo
nocturno (Night Flight) — all by foreign authors
— plus homegrown 200 Años de poesia (Two
Hundred years of Poetry). Union publishers, attached
to the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC)
bestsellers are Desde mi altura (From These
Heights), Historia de Cuba (Cuban History),
Mi vida al desnudo (My Naked Life) and Un
elefante en la cuerda floja (Elephant on
a Weak Cord). Letras Cubanas quotes Ismaelillo,
Y si muero manana (If I Die Tomorrow) and
Todas las
flores
de Abril (All the April Flowers). But
undoubtedly, the most widely sought after books
right now — snapped up as soon as they hit the
bookstores — are “Los Dissidentes” (The
Dissidents) and El camaján (The Chameleon),
published by Editora Politica.
“Los
Dissidents”
contains the testimonies of 12 Cuban State Security
agents who infiltrated various dissident groups on
the island, published in the midst of one of the
most notorious disinformation campaigns against the
island. On every one of its pages the interviewees
offer us a close look at the inside life, thoughts,
suffering and joy of those who, for several years,
had to create a credible character on the outside
but which churned them up inside. The book,
co-authored by two Cuban journalists, Rosa Míriam
Elizalde and Luis Báez, lets us into the real world
of the dissidents; how they were snared by
counterrevolutionaries under the auspices of the
U.S. Interest Section in Havana and thus the
government it represents. Contradictions, ambition,
disloyalty among the different groups, equipment,
financial incentives and personal gifts to carry out
their subversive activities, all leap from the
pages.
El
camaján,
by two other journalists, Arleen Rodríguez and
Lázaro Barredo, deals with the theme of the Cuban
counterrevolution, revealing the true identity of
Elizardo Sánchez Santacruz, one of those
“distinguished” by governments in the United States
and other countries.
RECEIVED WITH THANKS
Daily Echevarría from Cuba, an “assiduous reader of
Granma International” asks us about articles
linked to the Convention on Desertification event
that recently concluded in Havana. Our website has
many articles on the subject.
From
the University of Vaxjo, Sweden, Ernesto Abalo asks
about a copy of Granma International from the
first week in 1994. Direct your inquiry to
cendocu@granma.cip.cu.
Argentine Marina Sánchez de Bustamente tells us that
she went to a showing of Cuban films in Buenos Aires
and was surprised at “their narrative quality and
critical perspective...Criticizing weaknesses is
constructive (as long as it’s done with good
intentions) and that’s the impression I had of the
films.”
Brazilian journalist Rodolfo Reckziegal: Alberto
Juantorena can be contacted via the National
Institute for Sports, Physical Education and
Recreation (INDER) on
www.inder.cu
Gerardo Moya, Palma de Mallorca, Spain sends
greetings to the Cuban people for the 150th
anniversary of the birth of José Martí and the 50th
anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Garrison.
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