Shop Ireland

The Dirty Trilogy of Havana (Faber Caribbean) by: Pedro Juan Gutierrez

Publisher: Faber and Faber
Release date: 1st April, 2001
Media: Paperback

Similar Products

• Cuba and the Night
• Tropical Animal
• The Insatiable Spider Man
• Waiting for Snow in Havana
• Our GG in Havana
• See more...

Click here to add a review!

Average rating - (more reviews)

Rating: - Get down and dirty.

One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. It's a collection of short semi-autobiographical stories about life in Havana in the 90'. Lots of sex, rum and more sex. Very compelling account of the life in the slums. The efforts to survive during the 'special period' in Cuban history and how to have a bit of fun as well. Very cynical, realistic, even grotesque at times. I definitely recommend.

Rating: - Dirty Havana Trilogy

For me the most pornographic book I have ever read but also great insight into life in old Havana in the late 1990s. Especially interesting as we were visiting Cuba.

Rating: - Evocative and truthful

I lived in Cuba for a year in the mid 90's doing voluntary work. This is the only thing i've ever read that truly captures the squalor and desparation of daily life for many Cubans, particularly those in Havana. It is an unremittingly grim portrayal that may not show some of the more positive aspects of Cuban life (which certainly exist), but is totally authentic, truthful and engrossing.

Rating: - Dionysian revelry annoys the new puritans

I read the other reviews and sighed a long drawn out groan. How can they massacre this masterpiece???

Is the world going to be grassed over by clipped lawns, watering cans and the power of prayer. This book is about sex- masculine sex -and as such it oozes Buwkowsian testosterone- yes sure it is mysoginist, misanthropic, racist and stares into the gutter- so what and get real? Look at the stats new puritans- that's where most of the world lives.

What this book shows is the Dionysian frenzy of the poor, the panting gasps for breath, the alcoholism, the reek of poverty, the ache in the stomach but most of all the LUST for life. It is anti-political illuminating a revolution in disarray-there is no glorious socialism- just the stutifying impact of the American embargo ebbing away at peoples lives as they barter goods and their bodies.

The chattering classes like to distance themselves from the poor by rigorously divorcing themselves from the sexual act- "It's what makes us cultured"-that's why the poor invented rock and roll (gettit) and the puritans are left chanting hymns- but then you have to ask- who has the money to pay for the sex with the poor?

Rating: - Real life in Havana

I lived in Havana from 1993 to 2000, I was a freelance press photographer. This book reminds so much of that time. Of course the book deals with Havana's low life.... .
No book I have ever read captures the spirit of Cuban street life as this one does.
Reccomended 100%

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 Next »

Browse Categories

• - Contemporary Fiction
• - Contemporary Fiction
• - Contemporary Fiction
• - English
• - Paperback
• - Regular Size