Waiting for Snow in Havana (winner of the 2003 National Book Award) is an amazing book.  From the first chapter, I was cativated by Carlos Eire's descriptions of his childhood in Havana before the Revolution in 1959.  Reading this was a lesson in history, language, memory, and forgiveness.  He writes with the precision of an artist, through the lens of his childhood.  The book is both a tribute to the universality of childhood-- the amazingly dangerous things children do, no matter where they grow up-- and the tragedy that was Project Pedro Pan.  Watch out if you pick it up-- it is hard to put down! 

I had the opportunity to hear Carlos Eire speak at Calvin College's conference on Faith and Writing in April.  He was delightfully funny, in a way which did not make fun of anyone else.  He was the kind of person I'd want to sit down and have dinner with.

Quick-- go get this book and read it now!  (But don't blame me if you can't get your laundry done until you've finished it.)

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Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for the recommendation--

Can't wait to hear about the writing conference!

Blessings--

Jeanne

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