An Innocent in Cuba

by David W. McFadden

With An Innocent in Ireland (1995), David McFadden began his eccentric journeys to the heart of some of the world’s most unique island nations. Now McFadden rambles through the highs and lows of Cuba, home to cigars, Guantanamera, and of course Castro. The beautiful Caribbean landscape, along with Cuba’s rich history, culture, and uncertain future, lend themselves to the quirky eye and wry witticisms of our innocent Canadian guide.

Poking into the nation’s many corners, McFadden offers a series of vignettes of the people, cities,villages, roads, and countryside of the island the author refers to as “the most famous little country in the world.” Warm and colourful, An Innocent in Cuba is a musical, sensuous, flirtatious, joyful tribute to the Cuban spirit in all its incarnations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

David William McFadden was a Canadian poet, fiction writer, and travel writer. The author of 35 books of poetry, fiction and travel writing, McFadden started publishing poetry in 1958 and has been previously shortlisted for the 2008 Griffin Poetry Prize, as well as for three Governor General's Awards. He won the 2013 Griffin Poetry Prize for his collection What's the Score?

Reviews

[forestsprite · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was only my second travel book, and not nearly as good as the first I read (that book being "Hitching Rides with Buddha" by Will Ferguson, which I highly recommend if you're interested in Japan). Grabbed at a public library the week before heading down to Cuba for the first time.

This book was pretty meh, though to its credit, I did finish all 398 pages of it. I didn't feel like I gained too many insights into Cuban people's lives, and didn't really learn too much about the culture or way of life or much of slang or other fun tidbits. Lots of the author driving around and getting asked for money and having problems with his car and tipping everyone in American dollars while lamenting the fact that he got to be a rich white foreigner in a poor country.

I wont be checking out this author's other travel books.

[Jocelyn Rhindress · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a great book until it got too long. I love visiting Cuba and quickly understand that the version we are presented is not the reality. David does a great job of extensively explaining in detail every encoubter he has. Some of the stories are funny, some heartbreaking and some...well boring. I wanted to rate the book higher, but in the end, I abandoned it after over 300 pages. There is no narrative - it reads like a travel journal, and frankly, David didn't have that much going on.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book feeling like my thirst hasn't been quenched for Cuba, for the second time this year. McFadden does a great job of capturing Cuba, but I can't help but think he should have stayed there longer and made this book twice the length it was.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was extremely frustrating and it contained very limited Cuban content. The author rambled on \bout himself and the book could have been 25% of the length. I’m definitely not reading anymore of his work.

[Despina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny in spots but I found the author rambled. It was frustrating to finish, but I did! Beautiful cover to the book is what drew me in.