Dirty Havana Trilogy: A Novel in Stories

by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez

Book Overview

"A lewd, impious and brilliant novel of contemporary Cuba. In the brutality of his honesty, Mr. Gutierrez reminds one of Jean Genet and Charles Bukowski." -- New York Times Dirty Havana Trilogy chronicles the misadventures of Pedro Juan, a former journalist now living hand to mouth in and around Cuba, half disgusted and half fascinated by the depths to which he has sunk. Collecting garbage, peddling marijuana or black-market produce, clearing undesirables...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060006897
• ISBN13: 9780060006891
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

My Favorite book of all time

Having first heard of this book in of all places "Vibe" magazine , I thought it would be just another book about Castro, Che, and such. Much to my delight it was the final step in my living my life long dream of visiting Havana, Cuba. Having now gone to Havana twice I can see how the stories in this book can be or rather must be true. It showcases a man's struggle to find food, not only for the body but also for his soul, although the methods are at times not the greatest,nor always the right thing. Having talked to many people in my two trips to the island of Cuba, about the "Special Period" I find that Pedro's tales are just the tip of a shocking real life story.

More than sex in Havana

Mr. Gutierrez's book is more than just the story of promiscuous sex and survival in the Havana of 1994-5, when the economic crisis in Cuba was worse than ever. His style sometimes reminds me of Hemingways's: concise, clear, strong, makes you feel that you are there: touching chairs, feeling the breeze from the Malecon, having an encounter with a beautiful mulatta. His main character's alienation and desperation reminds one of one of those French existential characters who happens to have Di Chirico's and Hopper's paintings or posters on his wall. As bad as things were in Havana at that time, there is a certain excitement in his description that makes the reader want to get rid of many of the trappings of our consumerist society in order to experience the lightness of existing as a self. In a surrealistic manner,bbhe destroys traditional morality in order to arrive at a more honest view of what is really moral in a world where the most important thing is individual survival

Finally - Life down and dirty in the workers paradise

Unlike several other reviewers, I do see a comparison to Henry Miller. Also I am reminded of George Orwells' wonderful "Down and Out In Paris and London". If this is a problem for certain readers I must say that the book is very pornographic. As a matter of fact my girlfriend found it erotic in the extreme. It is not for the prudish or easily offended by either sex or politics. It may not be what the lefties want to hear about daily life of the down and out in Havana but this is a subject about which I have long been interested. While numerous excellent books have been written about present day Cuba they have mostly come from the pens of foreign authors. I like this book because this is what I would expect to hear from a street hustler about how they're getting on down there. The writing itself has some wonderful gems of truth. I also enjoyed the unstructured aspect of the stories as a collection of impressions. This man has a lot to say. I recommend the book to those with open minds who can get past the naughtyness of the prose.

Fiction better than non-fiction?

I was reading an article about P.D. James the English mystery writer. She was quoted as saying if you really want to know about a society; read fiction. I have always been interested in Cuba. Its been the place an American is not supposed to go to(yet many do go, for many different reasons). Its right in our own back yard. For me its the romantic notions in Hemingway. Its also Meyer Lansky and Mob. Che who has become some kind of romantic marytr.I have read a number of newspaper articles on Cuba. I was prepared for this book. It is truly gritty. It is not for the faint of heart. But, I feel it is an important novel.If you can look past the sex, violence, poverty and desperation(which is hard to do), you will find symoblism. I think there is a disappointment with communist experiement. The lack of freedom. The breakdown of communist world. But I don't think it's that simple. I think the author's Cuba and its people still thumb their noses at America while they shake their heads in disappiontment at Fidel and Raul.I think Cuba is a microcosim of any multiethnic society in decline. What keeps the country afloat is the passion and spirit of the people. I believe the author makes that point. The last chapter is Cuba. But read the book to get the flavor of this very hot and humid place.

Disgusting, Fascinating and Sad

A must-read for would-be visitors to Cuba! As a cuban-american and lifelong student of Cuban history I was mezmerized by this down and dirty account of life in modern day Cuba. The graphic descriptions of sex and survival are not for the squeamish. Pedro Juan captures the hopelessness and despair that drive so many young cubans to risk their lives on rickety rafts. This "Dirty Havana Trilogy" assaults your senses but won't let you put it down.