What Books Do You Read Before Your Trip to Cuba ?

I am reading:

Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution

June 9, 2009 by T. J. English

To underworld kingpins Meyer Lansky and Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Cuba was the greatest hope for the future of American organized crime in the post-Prohibition years. In the 1950s, the Mob—with the corrupt, repressive government of brutal Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista in its pocket—owned Havana's biggest luxury hotels and casinos, launching an unprecedented tourism boom complete with the most lavish entertainment, top-drawer celebrities, gorgeous women, and gambling galore. But Mob dreams collided with those of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and others who would lead an uprising of the country's disenfranchised against Batista's hated government and its foreign partners—an epic cultural battle that bestselling author T. J. English captures here in all its sexy, decadent, ugly glory.

Biography: T.J. English is a noted journalist, screenwriter, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Havana Nocturne and Paddy Whacked, as well as The Westies, a national bestseller, and Born to Kill, which was nominated for an Edgar Award. He has written for Esquire, Playboy, and New York magazine, among other publications. His screenwriting credits include episodes for the television crime dramas NYPD Blue and Homicide, for which he was awarded the Humanitas Prize. He lives in New York City.

I am loving this book, true and so full of history. What else would be good to read before my trip? :confused:

Hi all!

Di Princess ~ that sounds like a very interesting book!

A guide book that we found helpful was "Lonely Planet Cuba".

I wonder if you search "books" on the Cuba cruise thread if you'd come up with a list as I think there was one at some point.

I made note of a book called "The Havana Mob" by T J English but never actually read it.

~ Jo ~ :)

Hi, Jo,

I ordered it from Amazon (I think it was used; however, in perfect condition). It was only $7 USD, including shipping.

I shall do a search for more. I believe that I read on the Canadian "Cuba Cruise" website a list of books they recommend. Thanks! :D

Hi all!

 

Di Princess ~ that sounds like a very interesting book!

A guide book that we found helpful was "Lonely Planet Cuba".

 

I wonder if you search "books" on the Cuba cruise thread if you'd come up with a list as I think there was one at some point.

 

I made note of a book called "The Havana Mob" by T J English but never actually read it.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

Havana Mob is the English (as opposed to the American) version of Havana Nocturne. It's an excellent book which gives you a real incite into Cuba. It's being made into a Film and is due for release in 2016.

Lonely Planet Cuba is a good book, as is the Eyewitness Guide.

Hi all!

Thanks Mark for that info. I've put it in my Iphone notes to check out at the library. I hope to see the film when it comes out.

~ Jo ~:)

Havana Mob is the English (as opposed to the American) version of Havana Nocturne. It's an excellent book which gives you a real insight into Cuba. It's being made into a Film and is due for release in 2016. Lonely Planet Cuba is a good book, as is the Eyewitness Guide.

Thanks, Mark. I knew that Mr. English is British by his spelling; however, I didn't know there is an American version also.

Excited to see the movie. ;)

As far as I'm aware both books are the same, it's probably just a copyright thing

I know I'm reviving an old thread here, but I've been reading a Havana mystery series by Peggy Blair. Some of the titles are

Hungry Ghosts, Beggar's Opera, and Umbrella Man. A good take on life in Cuba without the heavy political stuff.

I read Havana Nocturne.

And guidebooks of course.

I also read a book about William Morgan The American Comandante which was really interesting. He left the US for Cuba, met and fell in love with a Cuban woman fighter, became a comandante of rebel troops....

I ordered a book from Amazon called, Cuba: Castro, Revolution and the End of the Embargo, looks interesting and it's due here today.. I just ordered it yesterday, gotta love Prime. I'll let you know but it gets great reviews.

I've been reading a book called "My Seductive Cuba A Unique Travel Guide" by Chen Lizra.

I'm not up to the seductive bit yet, I've just read Part 1 about the political situation!

Bacardi & the Long Fight for Cuba - was fascinating

The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt, especially if you are going to Santiago & San Juan Hill

Not a book, but the Netflix streaming series Cuba Libre is very interesting and worth a watch.

Also not a book but we just watched the movie Papa: Hemingway in Cuba. Based on a true story, it was very interesting. We cruise in April on the Empress.

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Also not a book but "Cuba Chrome" Discovery series can be streamed. Very interesting & entertaining about keeping those classic cars running. Also the documentary, Buena Vista Social Club.

Not a book, but the Netflix streaming series Cuba Libre is very interesting and worth a watch.

I just started streaming this on your recommendation - thanks so much!

I am loving it, so interesting, and now I am even more excited to see all of the landmarks, knowing how they came to be and knowing the history of the island.

Like Fidel becoming Fidel because he was illegitimate, and so on.

It should be required viewing for any visitor, IMO.

I just started streaming this on your recommendation - thanks so much!

 

I am loving it, so interesting, and now I am even more excited to see all of the landmarks, knowing how they came to be and knowing the history of the island.

Like Fidel becoming Fidel because he was illegitimate, and so on.

 

It should be required viewing for any visitor, IMO.

So glad you are enjoying it. I agree it's a great series to watch before going there. I felt so much more informed, especially listening to some of the questions other people asked when we were there a couple of weeks ago. :) Fidel's background was fascinating, from the illegitimacy to the 'entrepreneurial' father to the mistress sent to assassinate him. We drove past the yellow barracks from his first revolutionary attempt, and I knew exactly what it was before the guide said anything. The story I found really unique was about Kennedy asking the French journalist to go broker an agreement with Castro so they could have peace, then Kennedy getting assassinated shortly after, before it could happen. For fun, I enjoyed learning that a Rum & Coke is called a Cuba Libre - I had one at the social club in Santiago de Cuba. Yum! Enjoy your trip!

, I enjoyed learning that a Rum & Coke is called a Cuba Libre

And there is an interesting English bookstore/café in Vedado, owned by a US woman resident/journalist, called Cuba Libro ('libro' is book in Spanish), a play-on-words on that drink name/sentiment.

And there is an interesting English bookstore/café in Vedado, owned by a US woman resident/journalist, called Cuba Libro ('libro' is book in Spanish), a play-on-words on that drink name/sentiment.

Cool, love it! Maybe I'll get to visit one day?