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Summary: Valladares' amazing survival of Castro's prison camps.
Review: "Against All Hope" is Armando Valladares' account of the near-quarter century he spent in Fidel Castro's Soviet-style gulags. Valladares was arrested shortly after Fidel's revolution, simply for not placing a Marxist slogan on his office desk, that would have required him to deny his Savior, Jesus Christ. Several days after this refusal, his house was stormed in the middle of the night, and he was hauled off to prison in Havana, with his mother promised that he would be returned shortly thereafter. Valladares didn't see her in freedom until 22 torturous and terror-filled years later.The greatest thing Armando Valladares has done for the free world is to shatter the myth (CNN and Jimmy Carter, not withstanding) that Fidel Castro's Cuba is a semi-free place, persecuting only a handful of capitalists and subversives. Valladares tells story after story of hundreds (among tens of thousands of others) of prisoners he knew personally, who were tortured, maimed, starved, and executed. Scores of these prisoners Valladares came to know were not upper class or "white" but poor "campesinos" (and many black Cubans), many of whom once fought for Fidel Castro and Che Guevarra's Revolution... only to have that Machine of Death turn and kill them as well. After nearly 400 pages of death and terror at the hands of Fidel Castro and his minions, I found myself wanting to just close the book and forget the rest. But then, I realized that's what the United Nations (ah, what a noble-sounding title that is) and the Western elitist Left has been doing for years with Castro... ignoring his terrorism. Ultimately, I was glad I finished the book, because even though Valladares does not put some lame happy spin on the story, he is at least freed (22 years of his life stolen), and now he can openly speak the truth of his Savior, to Fidel's power.
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Summary: Are you ever against adversity??
Review: Are you ever against adversity?? Then, I would read this book! But I do wish to articulate: I lived near the Northern Border of Mexico, in the early mid 1980s; when Liberation Theology was in Central America; when insurgent movements were across Latin America; I had a shortwave radio and among other things, I listened to "Radio Havana Cuba", I am anglo, but I learned the Spanish language in college. I watched the excellent movie "El Norte" addressing the problems of Mayan Indians from Guatemala migrating to the U.S. (and probably a good unbiased movie to watch as well). I read and read and I saw even Socialist demonstrations in Mexico along with murals for all of the assorted parties there besides those with the hammer and sickle. But it made me wonder; what is the truth? So famous, is that "Scarface" movie of the early eighties; about a Cuban Prisoner of all things; coming over to Florida on the Mariel Boatlift. During that time, I took a class on Cuban history and I may have been a shade positive attitude towards Fidel Castro; but after reading this book; I became very neutral, not knowing what to think, about the "workers paradise" of that Caribbean isle. Fidel; and in fact, others, Che Guevara and the dictator's brother, Raoul; all are mentioned in this book, additionally in no favorable way; If half of what Valladares writes in this book were true, that would be rather sad for the ruling regime of Cuba; but then, I have to read it, and wonder, what motives would Valladares have to write untruths? How could he even come up with some of the stories in this book, if not true, such as depriving a prisoner of certain minerals (and he eludes to such countries as East Germany, as this era is during the time of the Iron Curtain) so that they develop chemical imbalances in the body, or prison cells that are so tiny, you only have room really, to just lie there; and many, many tales. We learn of heroes as well; those who die in prison as the victim of the system, of priests and common peoples. In my life, I have known adversity; this book, is something to read in those times; in fact, I have loaned this book out, not getting it back and making sure I follow up in obtaining another copy. And again, I tend to believe Valladares, he was finally freed after over 20 years (I believe) of imprisonment through international action. And true, the original charges he was brought up on, are very petty. You will read, in this book, throughout those years, how Valladares was moved from prison to prison. The left, the right, have all committed wrongs, maybe man in general; but this is a testament to the indomitable spirit of man too. You turn the pages and read it in rapid succession, it is so interesting. This should be required reading in any colleges offering Latin American Studies or Caribean Studies.
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Summary: How much torture can one man take?
Review: Armando Valladare's memoir "Against All Hope" is an incredible story of torture, biological and physciological experimentation that can almost defy belife. For twenty two years Armando Valladares took the worst that the Castro's communist goverment could throw at him and managed to presevere through faith and prayer. His treatment in Castro's Gulags ranged from bad to the truly demonic and included Nazi like experiments in mind control. When asked where he and the other political prisonors got the strength to stand up to all the torture He replied "WE have an inexhaustable supply, .. an imperishable source. That is what constantly feeds us. It's love, Then gripping a bunch of flowers said "These flowers are much more powerful than bayonets. they came before the bayonets and when the bayonets have disappeared from the face of the earth they will still exsist." This in a nutshell is the overpowering message of "Against All Hope". Still one is left wondering how he survived and why didn't Castro's Communists just kill him and get it over with surely they had no respect for his life and it would have made no difference in the long run to Castro if he died. One can only conclude that Armando had God's favor if only so that when he was finaly freed he could tell his story and the stroies of his fellow prisoners to a world that at best ignores, and all to often condones Castro's must barbaric abuses. "Against All Hope" is a must read for all who idolize Castro's Carribian "paradise". Unfortunatley Armando is probably for the most part preaching to the converted.
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Summary: Triumph of the human spirit
Review: Armando Valladares was put to the test. Imprisoned on trumped up charges by the brutal and paranoid Castro regime, he spent twenty-two years in the Cuban gulag, suffering unspeakable physical and psychological torture. Despite the inhuman deprivations inflicted upon him and his fellow political prisoners, he refused to buckle under to his sadistic captors. Through his unshakeable faith in God and an iron will, he resisted to the last; in the end, he gained freedom for himself and his family, dealt a heavy political blow to the Castro regime, and helped save other prisoners from a worse fate by bringing world attention to the horrible inhumanity of the Cuban prison system. One could say it is like "The Diary of Anne Frank" with a happy ending, except that thousands of political prisoners, guilty of nothing more than the desire for freedom, continue to languish in Cuban prisons. It is questionable whether they are better off than the thousands more who have been executed, starved to death, beaten to death, or slowly exterminated by the ravages of illness. Valladares gives us far more than an impassioned narrative with characters of unbelievable courage and others of unbelievable cruelty. He gives us an irresistible call to action: wherever and however freedom is attacked, we must resist. No matter how hopeless it seems, the strength of a single person can be more powerful than the tanks and guns of an entire army.
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Summary: Extremely accurate
Review: As the daughter of a political prisioner who shared the trials and tribulations of the author, I can assure the readers that, as unbelievable as this book may sound to you, it is not a work of fiction, but the truth. The daily "life" that is described in this book, the tortures and the endless mind-boggling cruelty will haunt you. But above all, it is the undying hope and faith that shines through all the pages that will capture your heart. It is a beautiful testimony to the strength of the human spirit. I would definetely recommend this work to anyone.
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Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: Beautiful in its stark, dark reprisal of life in a Cuban Gulag. Through all the grotesque trials and tribulation, Armando finds strength in the truth of his principles and in his God. He is a hero of mine, for I'm not sure I could withstand what he did. The beatings, the psych and chemical torture, the (...)pits, the knowledge that the family suffers because of your absence, the hunger strikes, for twenty years. Hundreds of anecdotes, mostly depressing (...), line the pages. This should be mandatory reading for the Danny Glovers of the world, who sickingly worship the ghoul Castro. Armando Valladares makes the world a better place, and we should all profit from learning about his life. It is a book that will stick w/ you, in its message of overcoming the darkest of the dark w/ the thin light of Heaven and freedom.
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Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: Beautiful in its stark, dark reprisal of life in a Cuban Gulag. Through all the grotesque trials and tribulation, Armando finds strength in the truth of his principles and in his God. He is a hero of mine, for I'm not sure I could withstand what he did. The beatings, the psych and chemical torture, the (...)pits, the knowledge that the family suffers because of your absence, the hunger strikes, for twenty years. Hundreds of anecdotes, mostly depressing (...), line the pages. This should be mandatory reading for the Danny Glovers of the world, who sickingly worship the ghoul Castro. Armando Valladares makes the world a better place, and we should all profit from learning about his life. It is a book that will stick w/ you, in its message of overcoming the darkest of the dark w/ the thin light of Heaven and freedom.
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Summary: A "Must Read" Book
Review: Everyone should read this book. It is well written, and explains the terrible treatment of the prisoners in Cuba. It's a real eye-opener.
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Summary: A Spiritual Book - not a history book
Review: I HAVE NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BOOK, UNTIL MY FATHER READ ME A FEW VERSES THAT HE WAS MENTIONED IN IT THE OTHER DAY. THIS BOOK REPRESENTS THE STORY OF MANY CUBANS THAT GAVE THEIR LIFE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT. MY FATHER WAS A CELL MATE OF VALLADARES, AND WAS ONE OF THE MEN THAT WERE LEADING STRIKES AGAINST THE PRISON SYSTEM. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THE STORY BEHIND THIS BOOK, AND THAT THE REASON MOST WERE PRISONERS FOR OVER 14 YEARS ,LIKE MY FATHER, WAS TO FREE CUBA OF THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT THAT IS STILL ACTIVE. FOR HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR HIS COUNTRY. I HAVE YET TO READ THIS BOOK, BUT BY MEETING VALLADARES, AND ALL OF MY FATHER'S FRIEND THAT WERE IN PRISON WITH HIM, I KNOW THIS IS A STORY OF HOW YOUNG MEN GAVE THEIR LIFE TO TRY TO BECOME HEROES TO THEIR COUNTRY.
ROBERT ALVAREZ
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Summary: PROOF OF HOPE....
Review: I HAVE NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BOOK, UNTIL MY FATHER READ ME A FEW VERSES THAT HE WAS MENTIONED IN IT THE OTHER DAY. THIS BOOK REPRESENTS THE STORY OF MANY CUBANS THAT GAVE THEIR LIFE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT. MY FATHER WAS A CELL MATE OF VALLADARES, AND WAS ONE OF THE MEN THAT WERE LEADING STRIKES AGAINST THE PRISON SYSTEM. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THE STORY BEHIND THIS BOOK, AND THAT THE REASON MOST WERE PRISONERS FOR OVER 14 YEARS ,LIKE MY FATHER, WAS TO FREE CUBA OF THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT THAT IS STILL ACTIVE. FOR HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR HIS COUNTRY. I HAVE YET TO READ THIS BOOK, BUT BY MEETING VALLADARES, AND ALL OF MY FATHER'S FRIEND THAT WERE IN PRISON WITH HIM, I KNOW THIS IS A STORY OF HOW YOUNG MEN GAVE THEIR LIFE TO TRY TO BECOME HEROES TO THEIR COUNTRY.
ROBERT ALVAREZ
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