Conejo Post

Once in a great while, I will read a book so wonderful, that I want to share it with everyone I meet.  Such a book is “Waiting for Snow in Havana, Confessions of a Cuban Boy,” by Carlos Eire.

While a great portion of the book tells the story of Eire growing up in the 1950′s pre-Castro Havana, it is not just a history.  It is so much more!  I would describe it as luminous, full of soul, told from a kid’s viewpoint, with images evoked that are so unexpected that they linger in one’s mind. 

The book goes on to tell how Carlos Eire and his older brother Tony, left Cuba and their parents and relocated to live in the U.S., flying to Miami on Operation Peter Pan.  Peter Pan, or Pedro Pan, was a program that ran from 1960 to 1962 and flew over 14,000 children out of Cuba.  It was coordinated by the U.S. Dept. of State, the CIA, and the Catholic Church in Miami, according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Peter_Pan)

I learned of  this book while watching a special on TV a few weeks ago on Operation Peter Pan.  The special featured about 6 adults who came to the U.S. in this program, and what their experiences before and after their flight from Cuba.  It was an immensely moving documentary, and the author, Carlos Eire was one of those featured. 

I can’t recommend ”Waiting for Snow in Havana” enough…in fact, I may have to go buy a copy, after I return the book to the library.  I also think it would make one heck of a movie!  Here is a link to an interview of Eire, featured on YouTube:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh1jAAV_0W4&feature=channel

Posted by Janna Orkney