Clandestine Occupations: An Imaginary History

by Diana Block

A unique, fictional portrait of feminist radicals that brings the legacy of the ’60s and ’70s into its portrayal of radical activism in the 21st century
 
Radical activist Luba Gold makes the difficult decision to go underground to support the Puerto Rican independence movement. When Luba’s collective is targeted by an FBI sting, she escapes with her baby but leaves behind a sensitive envelope that is being safeguarded by a friend. When the FBI come looking for Luba, the friend must decide whether to cooperate in the search for the woman she loves. Ten years later when Luba emerges from clandestinity, she discovers that the FBI sting was orchestrated by another activist friend who had become an FBI informant. Told from the points of view of five different women who cross paths with Luba over four decades, Clandestine Occupations explores the difficult decisions that activists confront about the boundaries of legality and speculates about the scope of clandestine action in the future. It is a thought-provoking reflection on the risks and sacrifices of political activism as well as the damaging reverberations of disaffection and cynicism.

Genres: Fiction, Activism

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

Reviews

[Karen Mahtin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in activism, the Puerto Rican independence and Black Power movements, supporting political prisoners, the reality of supporting people in prison, or reading women's semi-autobiographical works, you should read this book. It is so good.

[e v · Rating 5 out of 5]

everything about love and prisons is crazy

a portrait of generations of women in and around the clandestine revolutionary guerrilla struggles of the puerto rican independenistas and the black liberation army – women who ground the social reproduction of resistance – the groundings of care and nurturing and rebellion – that foster us to continue to struggle with the oppressed of the world – and the brilliancy of this book is that it illumines what is the most necessary – how struggle emerges and is cared for in its endurance out of the everydayness of us – how we show up – at parole hearings , across the plexiglass of prison visitations , on the phone , at solidarity meetings , in hospitals , around a dinner table – to continue despite the contradictions and cages – and even though we don't know the details of the break-outs and break-ins , we don't need to know , but we do need to know in minute detail the care the relationships and the love that makes them possible again and again at every instant possible – the care and the love

<3

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is made up of a series of vignettes that overlap & connect. This is a history of activism over the last few decades told through individual lives & the community forged through the years. The writing is engaging, and gave me a lot to think about in terms of my own activism and the stories & experiences that shape all of our viewpoints and work to change the world for the better.

[Jonna Higgins-Freese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absorbing and I loved the perspective and subject matter, which one so rarely gets in fiction.

[Jacob Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best political novels I have ever read. I will read it again.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read more like a collection of interconnected stories, which provided an opportunity to explore a range of perspectives on activism, organizing, and different kinds of roles and relationships to liberation struggles in the U.S. The stories, all told from women's points of view, look at ways that the movements of the 60's and 70's transformed people's lives, whether they remained involved or not. And we see all of the women remain connected by their beliefs, by their actions, and also by their connections to a new generation. And despite the challenges and losses, the story ends hopefully, imagining a future transformed by direct action.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Nice to read something about activists going underground from someone who actually has some knowledge about, and personal experience of, different movements. Well written and engaging.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first have of this book was really good. About way through, I thought it got a little slow and I felt a tad bit lost, but that could be because I'm not that knowledgeable on the subject. Overall, I liked it.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[KarnagesMistress]

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.