Sobrevivir (Survive)

Tales from the Edge of Havana

By: Robert Dobbs

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

"Sobrevivir: Tales from the Edge of Havana" is a fascinating and very moving work that gives a penetrating look at the brutal realities of modern Cuba. Anyone with even a passing fascination with Cuba should read this book. It tells the tale of those on the fringes of Cuban society, a place where ethics are hazy and corruption runs rampant in the government. The story follows a group of young people who are stuck between a dismal present and the ghost of a future that was never realized. In a powerful way, this highlights the weighty consequences of living under the present regime in Cuba.

The story follows Luis, a man who makes his way through life in the less savory neighborhoods of Havana. The protagonist's journey mirrors the uphill struggle that ordinary Cubans confront as they become entangled in the monotony of daily existence. The author deftly weaves Luis's personal struggle with the larger societal challenges that are ailing Cuba to create a fascinating narrative of the tenacity of the human spirit.

Because of the inherent instability of life in Cuba, the novel's core aphorism that "there is nothing to do but survive" becomes an all-too-real topic for the people. Nonetheless, the resolute character of the Cuban people continues to shine through despite the dire conditions. Their resilience shines a hopeful and compassionate light in contrast to the bleak environment in which they find themselves, illuminating the dark corners of their shared experience.

The author of "Sobrevivir" successfully weaves a gripping story out of the bleak reality of life in a nation ruled by its own slave masters. It achieves this through an open examination of moral ambiguity and the unspoken norm of corruption, which raises serious issues for both societal and personal morality.

The novel brilliantly portrays the broad disillusionment of a generation betrayed by its leaders, as well as the terrible choices that each person must make in order to survive. It's proof of how tough the Cuban people are and how determined they are to keep going even when things get tough. The book "Sobrevivir: Tales from the Edge of Havana" captures the spirit of survival well and serves as a sobering reminder of the human capacity to persevere and flourish under the most trying of circumstances.