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San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. More Information The Tilting House By Ivonne Lamazares (Counterpoint Press; 304 pages; $27) Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares and due out Tuesday, July 22, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Book Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Book Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness. ___ AP book reviews:
Miami Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
U.S. program paused under Trump helped independent voices tell the truth in Cuba
The Cuban dictatorship just 90 miles from Florida has spent more than six decades oppressing and silencing its people to survive. Its grip on power depends on controlling information and ensuring that Cubans can't think critically, speak freely or organize without fear. That's why supporting Cuba's independent journalists and democracy activists is not just a moral imperative. It's a strategic investment in a freer Cuba, a more secure Western Hemisphere and a safer United States. Today, that investment is at risk. The U.S. has long supported Cuban democracy efforts through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a congressionally mandated private foundation. But State Department funds for this work are being paused as the administration reassesses its priorities. These initiatives help Cubans push back against authoritarian control and build a democratic future. There is bipartisan recognition that a free, democratic Cuba aligns with long-term U.S. interests of a more stable, prosperous region. That's why restoring NED's support for Cuba's independent voices is critical. They need our backing now more than ever — when the regime is at its weakest. Cuba's economic collapse is accelerating. Inflation exceeds 500%. Public services have crumbled. Over 400,000 Cubans have fled in two years — reshaping South Florida communities and overwhelming the U.S. border. As someone who fled Cuba as a child during Operation Pedro Pan, one of us, Mel Martinez, knows firsthand what it means to be silenced. My family had to choose between freedom and home. That experience shaped my conviction that no Cuban should have to leave their country just to have a voice. As a U.S. senator, I fought to support those still inside Cuba continuing the struggle I was forced to leave behind. Today, alongside Damon Wilson, who leads NED's mission to advance freedom worldwide, we remain committed to that fight. NED has supported independent journalists and democracy activists in Cuba for over four decades. These partners are breaking through state propaganda and dismantling the regime's lies every day. The impact isn't confined to Cuba's borders. Despite harassment, exile and imprisonment, independent journalists persist. In 2024 alone, NED-supported media reached more than 10 million people — half of them inside Cuba. Local news bulletins, like those from the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression (ICLEP), hold officials accountable in real time. NED partners like Diario de Cuba are holding the regime accountable at home and abroad. Their exposé of a former Cuban judge — who sentenced peaceful protesters and then sought asylum in the U.S. — exposed corruption within Cuba's judiciary and pushed for justice across the Florida Straits. Another partner, Cuba Siglo 21, uncovered how GAESA, a military-run conglomerate of former generals, serves as the regime's economic backbone — an investigation published in the Miami Herald. Without Cuba Siglo 21's work, much of this information would remain buried. These investigations don't just expose corruption — they create a ripple effect, enabling other journalists to follow the money. Meanwhile, Cuba remains a destabilizing force across the region, exporting antidemocratic narratives through state-run institutions; and, as NED partner Directorio Democrático revealed, allowing its citizens to be recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine. These revelations matter. They undermine the regime's legitimacy, galvanize international accountability and arm Cubans — and U.S. policymakers — with the truth. This is not just a Cuban crisis. It's a U.S. national security concern. A bankrupt dictatorship near our shores threatens regional stability, fuels mass migration, and enables authoritarian influence from Moscow to Caracas. But this is also a moment of opportunity. The regime is morally and fiscally bankrupt and out of answers. The Cuban people are not. They are demanding change, and independent journalists and freedom fighters are helping them imagine — and build — a different future. The U.S. must not blink now. We call on Congress, the administration and international partners to ensure continued investment in Cuba's democracy movement. These frontline actors need immediate, sustained resources to continue their work. Every day without them, the regime's stranglehold of censorship tightens. Mel Martinez is a former U.S. senator from Florida and a NED board director. Damon Wilson is the president and CEO of NED.
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Only Fools and Horses and Miami Vice star Mario Ernesto Sánchez dies, aged 78
Actor Mario Ernesto Sánchez, who appeared in Only Fools and Horses and Miami Vice, has died aged 78 following a 'long and painful illness'. The Cuban star died in the early hours of Thursday morning (10 April) after succumbing to ongoing health issues, his agent confirmed in a brief statement. 'Mario Ernesto Sánchez died today at 3.03am as a result of a long and painful illness,' he told the South Florida newspaper, Diario Las Américas. Sánchez was born in San Antonio de las Vegas, Cuba in 1947. He travelled to America at 15 during Operation Pedro Pan, where parents sent 14,000 children from Fidel Castro's Cuba to Miami in the 1960s. In 1979, Sánchez founded the Hispanic theatre, Teatro Avante, in Florida and went on to appear in Hollywood films, including Invasion USA in 1985 and The Specialist in 1994. The actor appeared in five episodes of Miami Vice as a variety of minor characters, including a limousine driver. He also appeared in the 2006 Miami Vice film. Sánchez also featured in the Only Fools and Horses two-part Christmas Special 'Miami Twice', which aired in December 1991. Most recently, the actor appeared in the TV series Jammerz in 2022. Before that, he starred in the HBO remake of Father of the Bride. Tributes to the well respected actor were quickly shared online. 'May your soul unite with the source of light and love,' Miami Art Promotion wrote in a statement shared on its social media accounts. 'The outstanding actor and director of Cuban origin Mario Ernesto Sánchez dies in Miami. His tireless work in the Cuban exile theatre, since his early arrival in the United States, has earned him the valuable work of Teatro Avante, a group he founded, as well as the Miami International Hispanic Theatre Festival, with almost 40 years of experience,' the statement continued. "Peace to his remains and condolences to his loved ones and friends. It also serves as a well-deserved tribute to his extensive career.' In 2014, Sánchez was awarded the Legacy Award in Los Angeles for 'outstanding individuals whose lifelong commitment to Latino Theater in the United States and Latin America will have a lasting impact on the field'. In his acceptance speech, Sánchez said: '[It means] that we have done a lot but we have a lot more to do. That's all it means. I'm humbled by it but at the same time I'm very proud.' He added: 'But I always feel we haven't done enough. We still need to create more interest in the residents of Miami for theatre. That's what we are still lacking. 'Don't misunderstand me, I'm happy we are getting this award and it belongs to everybody who has helped Teatro Avante and the International Hispanic Theatre,' he continued. 'But I have to be honest. I think there is more to be done.' Sánchez concluded: 'Miami is my home. So, I stay and fight, fight for what I believe and what I believe is good for the city. So, whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, I believe in theatre.' Actress Verónica Abruza said of his death: 'Sad news. Goodbye Mario Ernesto Sánchez. My condolences to his beloved children, family and friends. 'I will always remember how kind you were upon my arrival in Miami; your attention, your chivalry. May your soul unite with the source of light and love.'
