CUBAN TRANSITIONS

In Havana Fever, set in 2003, the reader is presented with a very stark contrast between the days of plenty and the scarcity at that time. Selling books from the Montes de Ocas library was shameful for its caretakers. Really, selling books at all was a clandestine affair. It suggests that Cubans sold their culture every time they sold a book. Finding out that Cuba’s 21^st International Book fair jut took place in February does not fit in very well with this image.

Havana Book Fair at the Pabellón Cuba

The fair, held in Havana, was held every other year from 1982 to 2000, when it became an annual event. At this year’s event, Castro presented his new book Fidel Castro: Guerrilla of Time. Eduardo Fernandez, director of Cuba’s literary chamber said “the International Book Fair is perhaps the most important cultural event that takes place in Cuba.”  This year the theme happened encompass the ‘Greater Caribbean” and offered special tributes to Bob Marley. And of course, Fidel Castro.

Castro presents his book: Fidel Castro: Guerrilla of Time

With such a stark contrast between the book fair and the Cuba presented in Havana Fever, there’s immediate suspicion. On one hand, there are those who needed to sell books for food, but at the same time, this book fair was happening on a regular basis? The answer comes from the voice of the youth. The numbers given for attendance are extraordinary, but an article from the Havana Times explains that people are there for socializing and the variety of food more than the books, and that book presentations are themselves sparsely attended.

Young Cubans hanging out at the book fair

While the book fair puts Cuba on the map as extraordinary at promoting culture, it is apparent that the book fair is not achieving that goal. If the fair isn’t actually attracting people for books or playing a part in educating the masses, what is it there for other than to remind Cubans of the harder times during the Special Period? Or is it there to put forward a cultural and intellectual front to the rest of the world?

Sources:

AFP: “Cuba book fair highlights Fidel Castro, Bob Marley” http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ikiTNQge00Z6hBfgDanizsWfynBQ?docId=CNG.167d46c3971901bf118adde206ff8e2f.111&index=0

Havana Times: “Cuban Youth: Hanging Out at the Book Fair” http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=63185