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The Cutter
Julian Campos, a young Cuban who had been sent to the countryside to cut sugar cane when his parents left the country, will risk everything when he hears of a boat that could take him to the United States
- GenresFiction
212 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 1991
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 10, 2024
This short historical-fiction novel packs a lot of punch in its conciseness. It’s a transparent account of life as it was for the Cuban population under communist rule toward the end of the 20th century. It hasn’t really changed that much since then.
The protagonist, Julian Campos, had completed his mandatory three-year stint in the military and was now being ordered to take part in the government’s insane plan of harvesting ten million tons of sugarcane in a single season.
His parents left the island, leaving him under the care of his grandmother. Julian had reached the age of ‘mandatory’ conscription into the Cuban military and wasn’t allowed to leave. His resentment grew as he encountered the many obstacles in his way for wanting to leave the island.
His hope was to comply with whatever task was thrown at him in order to be given the permission needed to leave. His strong willpower is tested as he tolerates the indignities and injustice he faced on a day-to-day basis from those in power. Tired of the abuse, Julian’s anguish led him to forge his own path to freedom.
I must say that the ending left me a little flat, but overall, it was a good read, bringing many things to light that may not be that evident to many.
The protagonist, Julian Campos, had completed his mandatory three-year stint in the military and was now being ordered to take part in the government’s insane plan of harvesting ten million tons of sugarcane in a single season.
His parents left the island, leaving him under the care of his grandmother. Julian had reached the age of ‘mandatory’ conscription into the Cuban military and wasn’t allowed to leave. His resentment grew as he encountered the many obstacles in his way for wanting to leave the island.
His hope was to comply with whatever task was thrown at him in order to be given the permission needed to leave. His strong willpower is tested as he tolerates the indignities and injustice he faced on a day-to-day basis from those in power. Tired of the abuse, Julian’s anguish led him to forge his own path to freedom.
I must say that the ending left me a little flat, but overall, it was a good read, bringing many things to light that may not be that evident to many.
Displaying 1 of 1 review