Adios, Havana: A Memoir
by Andrew J. Rodriguez
ISBN-10: 1598000489
Review by Heather Froeschl
Every American should read the stories of those who have chosen to live here. Those who complain about life in a land of opportunity should consider what other options they have and be grateful. In a memoir of his leaving his beloved island behind in order to make a new life for his wife and himself, Andrew J. Rodriguez brings the reader to Cuba and offers a sense of the insecurity, the lack of privacy and the burning hope for change.
Rodriguez allows the reader to feel his emotions as he made the decision to leave Cuba, jumped through the outrageous hoops to be able to do so, and came face to face with the reality of starting over in the United States. What's more is that he shares the details of his parents' lives, and his in-laws' lives, and the story of his wife's 110-year-old grandfather. Through it all Rodriguez offers to readers the honest memories of his past, not holding back the intimate details of living.
I've always wanted to visit Cuba and through the pages of "Adios, Havana" I was able to do so. I witnessed the beauty of it and the culture that permeates Andrew's story. I also witnessed the deception of Castro and the result of his coming to power. I can only be grateful that I was born in America and mindful that others weren't. Rodriguez shares the details of his coming to America and the struggle to find his own American Dream. Through this portion of the book one is reminded that opportunities are out there and it is up to the person in need of them to find them.
With a style that is open and honest, Andrew's writing is smooth and easy to read. Like chatting with an old friend over coffee, it is easy to be caught up in the tale. Readers will care what happens to Andrew and his family and this personal story tells me so much more than I ever learned about Cuba in school. Here is a family legacy to be proud of.
The book is a must read, in my opinion, and one that you won't soon forget.
Showing posts with label Andrew J. Rodriguez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew J. Rodriguez. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2005
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Fiction Review
The Teleportation of an American Teenager: A Novel for All Ages
by Andrew J. Rodriguez
ISBN-10: 1932672796
Review by Heather Froeschl
What would you do if you were given a quest to travel through time? As a soul traveler in "The Teleportation of an American Teenager" young Ivan will spend time as a completely different person, in effect, becoming a completely different person in his own life. Will what he learns of humanity change the course of history, or that of the future? Is this what his quest was intended to be?
It all began with the Druids and the place of ancient speculation, Stonehenge. George, Ivan's eventual grandfather, is drawn to the mystical setting, awaiting word from his ancestors. The Celts paid attention to the past and this is truly the very essence of what would later become the quest, and ultimately, Ivan's life's purpose. George is indeed visited by a Goddess who bears a message to him. Surviving the famine, George makes his way with his young son Finn to a new life in America. They are fulfilling their destinies.
Ivan will spirit travel (the author calls this teleportation) and spend time in historic places. Thus telling a story within a story, all for the purpose of completing his quest. The tale is wonderfully woven and intricately detailed. This epic adventure is sure to please everyone who reads it. At once paranormal for the method of time travel, adventurous for the situations Ivan finds himself, and romantic for obvious reasons, the book is an outstanding mixture of appeal to many readers. Self touted as a "novel for all ages," the novel is also a book for all tastes.
The author has done a wonderful job immersing the reader in historic settings, introducing deep characters and completing a full plot. A handful of typos did little to distract me from the enjoyment of the read. I am hopeful that Andrew J. Rodriguez is hard at work on additional stories and that we will soon be hearing from this author again in the near future.
by Andrew J. Rodriguez
ISBN-10: 1932672796
Review by Heather Froeschl
What would you do if you were given a quest to travel through time? As a soul traveler in "The Teleportation of an American Teenager" young Ivan will spend time as a completely different person, in effect, becoming a completely different person in his own life. Will what he learns of humanity change the course of history, or that of the future? Is this what his quest was intended to be?
It all began with the Druids and the place of ancient speculation, Stonehenge. George, Ivan's eventual grandfather, is drawn to the mystical setting, awaiting word from his ancestors. The Celts paid attention to the past and this is truly the very essence of what would later become the quest, and ultimately, Ivan's life's purpose. George is indeed visited by a Goddess who bears a message to him. Surviving the famine, George makes his way with his young son Finn to a new life in America. They are fulfilling their destinies.
Ivan will spirit travel (the author calls this teleportation) and spend time in historic places. Thus telling a story within a story, all for the purpose of completing his quest. The tale is wonderfully woven and intricately detailed. This epic adventure is sure to please everyone who reads it. At once paranormal for the method of time travel, adventurous for the situations Ivan finds himself, and romantic for obvious reasons, the book is an outstanding mixture of appeal to many readers. Self touted as a "novel for all ages," the novel is also a book for all tastes.
The author has done a wonderful job immersing the reader in historic settings, introducing deep characters and completing a full plot. A handful of typos did little to distract me from the enjoyment of the read. I am hopeful that Andrew J. Rodriguez is hard at work on additional stories and that we will soon be hearing from this author again in the near future.
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