Child of the Revolution: Growing up in Castro's Cuba

by Luis M. Garcia

Compelling and vivid, this memoir presents an intimate portrait of Castro’s Cuba through a wide-eyed and eager boy growing up in the 1960s. At the naïve age of 10, Luis M. Garcia, embarrassed by his anti-revolutionary parents, pledges his allegiance to Lenin, Marx, and the mythical Che Guevara, knowing that this is the only path to become a better revolutionary—and to get out of school early. Told with a detailed intimacy and a gentle humor that conveys the richness and warmth of Cuban life, this memoir illuminates the uncertainty, fear, and political force that tore families apart as Castro sought to destroy capitalism and establish Cuba as a world superpower.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A mostly imagined memior by a conservative. He imagines what thoughts and decisions his parents made - strange that in his lifetime they never told him about the pivotal events of his family's life or that he never asked, leaving him to imagine what an official might have said to his father about migrating to Australia and so on. Even more incredible given that Garcia also became a journalist, before a political advisor to a conservative politician. Even at this stage Garcia could have shown the manuscript to his parents and corrected imaginings with actual memories and events. He doesn't. It is impossible to believe he is unaware of what his parents might have told him, and the fact he never once cites them for a single conversation or incident, suggests his main purpose is not to relate a truthful account but fabricate a fictional narrative that serves his conservative and agenda. It's obvious in fact.

His critique of Castro's Cuba is undermined by his numerous "imaginings" in place of actual conversations and events and his constant snide remarks. If one is already a Castro hater, such comments may need no explanation, but if you are reading the book to gain some insight then these comments are just plain irritating.

There are glimpses of real life - some memories of school - which ring true and which he could have used more to bolster his critique, but I think Garcia tries to turn a memoir of a boy into an adult political critique, but relies on cold war cliches in place of research. It's reduced to a conservative preaching to fellow conservatives; Castro is bad, communism is bad, Lenin is bad, the Russians are bad - and I know because I can IMAGINE what my parents thought, though I never actually asked them.

[Vladimir · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as its documentary value goes, I gave it two stars (literary value is non-existent). Entertainment value - three stars. It's obviously written by an anti-Castrist and it this sense it's actually a more balanced portrayal of the early revolutionary years than I expected and that many other books written by members of the Cuban emigration offer. Why only two stars, then? Well, whereas I found it interesting to read because it was written from a child's perspective, this is precisely why it's unreliable as a document of the times. Another reviewer point out that most of it is imagined, and in a sense I agree - the author attributes a lot of opinions and beliefs to his parents and through how he sees them, he tells much of the story of the changes that took place after 1959. Whereas I enjoyed reading it, I would never judge Cuban society pre- or post-1959 by the information, fantasies and tales told in this book. To give an example - there is an episode near the beginning that touches on flagrant racism of pre-revolutionary Cuba told almost as an anecdote. On the other hand, other forms of oppression post-1959 are not as funny to the author.

[Cole DeHaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to literature written either during or after a dictator has taken control of a country, we are often only given a grand perspective from a distance, showcasing major historical events and not delving into the daily lives of those affected by the dictatorship at hand. Luis Garcia gives us a different point of view in "Child of the Revolution", as we are given a perspective of Cuba shortly after the infamous Fidel Castro's takeover from the eyes of a child. The book is intriguing to read from start to finish, as through the eyes of a child you are treated to a different angle of the events of the day, daily life inside Cuba, and how terrifyingly close the world was to a potential nuclear war. The family, like many within the country, lived an often difficult life due to the government, and reading from the perspective of one so young is both entertaining while quite sad at the same time as we see how even innocent children, as well as anyone within a state can be swept up into the fold of a dictator's activities. The book is easy to read, and I would recommend to anyone that has an interest in Cuban studies, or anyone intrigued by the idea of revolution.

[Daniel Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luis Garcia's "Child of the Revolution" is an interesting and quick read. The book is written from the viewpoint of Garcia as a child experiencing life in Cuba before his family makes the decision to move away. Daily life is explored and understood as best as any ten year old could understand. Certainly Garcia could have put a twist of his adult understanding behind what was truly going on, but I found the playful way he speaks about wanting to be a good Cuban revolutionary but also confused about some of the actions that he sees going on around him by his parents, who he believes are good revolutionaries. "Child of the Revolution" does not hold back any punches when it comes to the hypocrisy of the everyday life in Cuba, even the best revolutionaries are hypocrites. One of many examples, the policeman sells black market pork. I highly recommend this book as a fun and honest look at the everyday life of the Cuban people in the ten years after the Castro regime took over.

[Filip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zanimljiva knjiga sa dosta interesantih informacija o Kubi pisana kroz oči deteta od 10-tak godina. Književni stil je slab pa zato dajem slabu četvorku, ali simpatično i humoristički opisuje život pod Fidelom.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful insight into Cuba back in the 1960’s, mostly from a child’s point of view. Often, though, he was re-telling what adults were saying and doing. Amazing story.

[Gus V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is by Cuban Australian author Luis Garcia, who tells us of his family and of his coming of age under the first few years of the Revolution in Banes, a small rural town in eastern Cuba. Although lacking a perspective of life before Castro coming to power in 1959, the author tells his story in a colorful and humorous way. His description of a communist's relative winning an apparently rigged beauty contest is hilarious. The fear of been set up for a black market buy of pork meat from a government soldier is evident. His narrative of his parents losing their mom and pop tailoring business in 1968 is painful. Life after that seems to get harder as his parents become government employees at the newly confiscated industries of Cuba, whether mom sorting coffee beans or dad at a factory. Garcia goes on to describe the last few months before leaving Cuba for Spain (later to Australia), when his dad was required to be an agricultural worker for plantation master Castro prior to exiting Cuba. I found the book easy to read, enjoyable, and descriptive of life by a typical family in Castro's Cuba. It was one of thirty plus books I read prior to publishing my own (Memories from the Land of the Intolerant Tyrant) and I found it interesting, humorous, and informative about life in Castro's Cuba.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was impressed at how vividly Luis Garcia brought the Cuba of his childhood to life. And also by how skillfully he balanced the knowledge he has as an adult authoring this tale with the naivity and innocence he possessed as the child depicted in this book.

I only wish there was a second volume, to continue the story of his family as they deal with their new life as Cuban refugees first in Spain and then later in Australia.

[Julian Gallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at a childhood in post-revolutionary Cuba. Written from a boyhood perspective. Interesting in a historical way as well and shines a light on what actually happened there, dispels any myths people may have as well. A great read.

[Leanne Costantino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really easy reading. It's a 12 year olds view of growing in Cuba and becoming a good little Revolutionary. Kim I will post it to you if you want something to flick though on a lazy Saturday arvo?

[Lauren Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative read which provided me with a deeper insight into life under Castro's communist rule, told through the eyes of a child.