Waiting for Fidel

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Summary: OUTSIDE recommends FIDEL:
Review: "In his equally odd and funny new book, 35-year old Hunt embarks on a half-serious quest to find Fidel Castro, hitchhiking his way along the circuitous route the young revolutionary took during his 1959 victory march. On the way, Hunt encounters a wildly idiosyncratic cast of characters....Given Hunt's appetite for the bizarre, it's not surprising that sociopolitical analysis takes a back seat to more spontaneous observations of day-to-day Cuban life, from the rich culture of bootlegging to the ubiquitous sugarcane carnival. WAITING FOR FIDEL is a campy postcard from a resilient island engaged in a drama that's equal parts tragedy and farce." (2/98, OUTSIDE)

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Summary: BOSTON GLOBE praises FIDEL:
Review: "It's tough to find a writer in contemporary nonfiction with a better knack than Hunt's for vivid, surprising description....Hunt's compassion, and his understanding of his own place in the world--allow him ultimately to succeed in capturing the essence of modern Cuba more than any other American writer to date." (1/25/98)

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Summary: DETAILS says...
Review: "Rum-soaked, mud-spattered, low-down travel writing at its best" (2/98)

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Summary: An insightful book about a very interesting place
Review: Anyone who spends time in Cuba has to wonder why the people put up with terrible economic hardships and total political oppression. One also wonders why Cubans are often very warm, friendly, and even generous, especially towards Americans. How can Castro remain in power when almost everyone you ask will say they have had enough of him? The author puts these questions and many others to the people of Cuba and their answers shed some much-needed light on the subject.

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Summary: Suggested Reading
Review: As an American Cuban who has never been to the island this was a cool look at contemporay Cuba. Having extened family there it gave me insight as I also am a psychotherapist working with folks who have recently left the island. Any one interested in the island should read this book. Light on the history facts but thought provoking.It does not frustrate you with historical facts--easy read.

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Summary: This book exposes the very soul of a dying nation.
Review: Chris Hunt is a messenger. He depicts a nation of people ready to revolt, once again in need of revolution, only slightly better off than they were under Batista. The message of revolt is verified by everyday life in Cuba, told through the eyes and experiences of the Cuban people. Hunt masterfully captured the message.

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Summary: Missing the beat!
Review: Christopher Hunt author of Sparring with Charlie: Motorbiking down the Ho Chi Mihn Trail, writes a nonpolitical though a slightly humorous account of his several month long stint in Cuba. In Waiting for Fidel, Hunt goes in search of Fidel Castro, the island's charismatic dictator for the last 41 years. The book gives eyewitness accounts and stories from fellow travellers and the people who have come to know Fidel quite well, the Cuban people. His search takes him from one side of the island to the other, through historic parks, down dark alley ways and from apartment to apartment following the Freedom Trail in the hopes of getting an interview with the Bearded One himself. Through his efforts, Hunt hopes to return to the States with a nice tan, a bottle of rum, and pocket full of cigars and perhaps even a Pulitzer. But in actuality he returns with something more valuable: an intimate look at the soul of Cuba. As a recent returnee from Cuba I can say that many of Mr. Hunt's views are valid. But from what I could tell there was no food shortage merely a lack of variety of the food that existed. The people helped me understand this very confusing country. Fidel has done so much for persons of African decent throughout the world including being a major contributor to the lifting of Apartheid in South Africa and to allowing Nelson Mandela to walk free. He has done so much as far as offering education and medical attention to so many blacks in need all throughout the African Diaspora. As an African American I really appreciate all these things and more about Castro's Cuba and cannot agree with or take part in so much of the Cuba bashing so prevalent in American society. If you don't believe me ask any of the African and Caribbean students attending Cuba's many universities. After I read this book, I was of the mind that Communism had indeed failed in Cuba, but it has not. Its implementation has produced an inventive, powerful, and beautiful people that struggles to maintain the Revolution. During my visit, I learned that the government is closer to Socialism as Cubans are allowed to own things, such as their homes and very small businesses. Or may I say, there is a touch of Capitalism, but used much more responsibly than the most vulgar kind employed in American society. And as far as not being able to leave Cuba legally, any Cuban will tell you that they may leave legally by way of formal invitation outside of the country. Cuba has given me a look into a society which is very different from our own and has forced me to question ours, which is what good travel is truly all about.

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Summary: Viva La Revolution
Review: Christopher Hunt author of Sparring with Charlie: Motorbiking down the Ho Chi Mihn Trail, writes a nonpolitical though a slightly humorous account of his several month long stint in Cuba. In Waiting for Fidel, Hunt goes in search of Fidel Castro, the island's charismatic dictator for the last 41 years. The book gives eyewitness accounts and stories from fellow travellers and the people who have come to know Fidel quite well, the Cuban people. His search takes him from one side of the island to the other, through historic parks, down dark alley ways and from apartment to apartment following the Freedom Trail in the hopes of getting an interview with the Bearded One himself. Through his efforts, Hunt hopes to return to the States with a nice tan, a bottle of rum, and pocket full of cigars and perhaps even a Pulitzer. But in actuality he returns with something more valuable: an intimate look at the soul of Cuba. As a recent returnee from Cuba I can say that many of Mr. Hunt's views are valid. But from what I could tell there was no food shortage merely a lack of variety of the food that existed. The people helped me understand this very confusing country. Fidel has done so much for persons of African decent throughout the world including being a major contributor to the lifting of Apartheid in South Africa and to allowing Nelson Mandela to walk free. He has done so much as far as offering education and medical attention to so many blacks in need all throughout the African Diaspora. As an African American I really appreciate all these things and more about Castro's Cuba and cannot agree with or take part in so much of the Cuba bashing so prevalent in American society. If you don't believe me ask any of the African and Caribbean students attending Cuba's many universities. After I read this book, I was of the mind that Communism had indeed failed in Cuba, but it has not. Its implementation has produced an inventive, powerful, and beautiful people that struggles to maintain the Revolution. During my visit, I learned that the government is closer to Socialism as Cubans are allowed to own things, such as their homes and very small businesses. Or may I say, there is a touch of Capitalism, but used much more responsibly than the most vulgar kind employed in American society. And as far as not being able to leave Cuba legally, any Cuban will tell you that they may leave legally by way of formal invitation outside of the country. Cuba has given me a look into a society which is very different from our own and has forced me to question ours, which is what good travel is truly all about.

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Summary: Good book, similiar to Trading with the Enemy
Review: Having read Trading with the Enemy, I read this book during an extended trip to Mexico. Enjoyed reading the book but a little redundant after reading Trading with the Enemy. Both are accounts of journalists' travels and impressions of Cuba. The writers travelled the entire length of the island and saw Cuban life through the eyes of people from all socio-economic classes and occupations so you get a good picture but also cynical perspective of Cuba. Fast read, recommended.

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Summary: Pretty Good.... BUT......
Review: I appreciated that this book was written by a regular person--that is, nonpolitical with no propaganda to try to sell us (none that I could ascertain). That said, I felt like Mr. Hunt, throughout his adventures in Cuba, was in some form of denial. Whatever he thinks of Castro's personality is his own business, but I found it disturbing that even though every single person he met (including those who were still "believers") admitted to how much harder life was because of Castro and his failed revolutionary experiment, he still managed to make statements like "Fidel has championed poverty." I would understand such ignorance from someone who's never been to Cuba, but from someone who met poverty at every corner? It's unforgiveable. I read the book out of curiousity to see what Cubans had to say, and in that aspect I was not surprised. Hunt does a good job by letting them speak for themselves, and some of his interpretations are pretty insightful. I thought he was on the mark when he described the creativity and strong spirit generally possessed by Cubans, as well as their generousity. But I am not convinced that he looked very deeply. In his shoes it's easy to be optimistic and admire Castro, but I think he did the Cubans he met little service by second-guessing their opinions of their country's situation. I suspect that his perception of how "good" things are in Cuba has a lot to do with his lack of knowledge of what Cuba was like before 1959. In terms of poverty and human rights that may have been bad, but this is worse. What an error in judgement to think that a charismatic leader equals a good one.