|
Prof's memoir of life in
Cuba is city's 'One Book' selection'Waiting
for Snow in Havana' is at libraries
By Damon C. Williams. Philadelphia
Daily News, Oct. 31, 2006.
This year's selection for the annual "One
Book, One Philadelphia" program reaches
far from the city to a tropical land with
its own link to the struggle for liberty.
"Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions
of a Cuban Boy" is a searing tale of
recent Cuban history written by one who
was there, Carlos M.N. Eire.
Eire shares, with vivid detail, his young
life in Cuba, the advent of the Castro revolution,
and his arrival in America.
This is the program's fifth year, a collaborative
effort involving the mayor's office, the
library and Independence Blue Cross, the
program's lead sponsor.
In announcing the book's selection at the
Free Library yesterday, Mayor Street said
there was "nothing more important than
education, and nothing is more important
to education than books."
Eire, a professor of history and religious
studies at Yale, said: "I am humbled
and thrilled about this, which was a book
I wasn't even supposed to write, and I am
especially thrilled it's in Philadelphia.
"The intention behind writing this
book is to not publicize my life, but to
make one thing clear, which is that all
human beings hunger for freedom."
That theme courses through Eire's book,
winner of 2003's National Book Award. He
weaves a harrowing tale of survival, including
the time his family drove into a shootout
between rival militiamen, and when they
had to flee from house to house to escape
other gunfire and the troops of Cuban President
Fidel Castro.
"Waiting for Snow in Havana"
is especially dark when Eire talks of Castro
and his ruthless henchmen.
In Chapter 10, Eire writes: "Fidel
came down from the mountains a few days
later, swept down like an avenging angel,
burning with white-hot envy, frothing at
the mouth... Beelzebub, Herod, and the Seven-Headed
Beast of the Apocalypse rolled into one,
a big fat smoldering cigar wedged between
his lips, hell-bent on ensuring there would
be no king but he, no thoughts but his."
Organizers discussed why "Waiting
for Snow in Havana" was chosen.
"The issues of immigration have really
become a political discussion, and a very
lively discussion," said library president
and director Elliott L. Shelkrot.
"There are small cities that have
really made it difficult for immigrants.
"The fact of the matter is that this
country is made up of people from all types
of backgrounds, and we need to cherish the
diversity and make room for people who come
from different backgrounds and speak different
languages.
"That's what has made America vibrant
and strong, and that's what I really think
this is about."
Marie Field, chairwoman for this year's
edition of "One Book, One Philadelphia,"
agrees.
"I'm thrilled because the program
really touches the heart of individuals
and the community," said Field, a retired
teacher who spends considerable time working
with the Free Library.
"Through books, what it achieves is
the kind of respect and appreciation we
want people to have for each other, and
that can only come from opening up and talking
to each other about things that matter in
their lives. It's a catalyst."
"Waiting for Snow in Havana"
is available at library branches.
Also, more than 3,000 copies will be distributed
to high school students.
The program includes two other books, aimed
at younger readers or folks learning how
to read.
Those titles are "Esperanza Rising"
and the picture book "Coming to America:
The Story of Immigration."
Both books will be put into circulation
immediately, and the library is planning
a slate of events to bring the program to
public attention.
| 
