Di Princess Posted August 19, 2015 #1 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I am reading: Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution June 9, 2009 by T. J. English To underworld kingpins Meyer Lansky and Charles "Lucky" Luciano, Cuba was the greatest hope for the future of American organized crime in the post-Prohibition years. In the 1950s, the Mob—with the corrupt, repressive government of brutal Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista in its pocket—owned Havana's biggest luxury hotels and casinos, launching an unprecedented tourism boom complete with the most lavish entertainment, top-drawer celebrities, gorgeous women, and gambling galore. But Mob dreams collided with those of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and others who would lead an uprising of the country's disenfranchised against Batista's hated government and its foreign partners—an epic cultural battle that bestselling author T. J. English captures here in all its sexy, decadent, ugly glory. Biography: T.J. English is a noted journalist, screenwriter, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Havana Nocturne and Paddy Whacked, as well as The Westies, a national bestseller, and Born to Kill, which was nominated for an Edgar Award. He has written for Esquire, Playboy, and New York magazine, among other publications. His screenwriting credits include episodes for the television crime dramas NYPD Blue and Homicide, for which he was awarded the Humanitas Prize. He lives in New York City. I am loving this book, true and so full of history. What else would be good to read before my trip? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiring soon Posted August 19, 2015 #2 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Hi all! Di Princess ~ that sounds like a very interesting book! A guide book that we found helpful was "Lonely Planet Cuba". I wonder if you search "books" on the Cuba cruise thread if you'd come up with a list as I think there was one at some point. I made note of a book called "The Havana Mob" by T J English but never actually read it. ~ Jo ~ :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Di Princess Posted August 19, 2015 Author #3 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Hi, Jo, I ordered it from Amazon (I think it was used; however, in perfect condition). It was only $7 USD, including shipping. I shall do a search for more. I believe that I read on the Canadian "Cuba Cruise" website a list of books they recommend. Thanks! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark@cfcmail.co.uk Posted September 10, 2015 #4 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Hi all! Di Princess ~ that sounds like a very interesting book! A guide book that we found helpful was "Lonely Planet Cuba". I wonder if you search "books" on the Cuba cruise thread if you'd come up with a list as I think there was one at some point. I made note of a book called "The Havana Mob" by T J English but never actually read it. ~ Jo ~ :) Havana Mob is the English (as opposed to the American) version of Havana Nocturne. It's an excellent book which gives you a real incite into Cuba. It's being made into a Film and is due for release in 2016. Lonely Planet Cuba is a good book, as is the Eyewitness Guide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiring soon Posted September 11, 2015 #5 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Hi all! Thanks Mark for that info. I've put it in my Iphone notes to check out at the library. I hope to see the film when it comes out. ~ Jo ~:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Di Princess Posted September 11, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Havana Mob is the English (as opposed to the American) version of Havana Nocturne. It's an excellent book which gives you a real insight into Cuba. It's being made into a Film and is due for release in 2016. Lonely Planet Cuba is a good book, as is the Eyewitness Guide. Thanks, Mark. I knew that Mr. English is British by his spelling; however, I didn't know there is an American version also. Excited to see the movie. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark@cfcmail.co.uk Posted September 13, 2015 #7 Share Posted September 13, 2015 As far as I'm aware both books are the same, it's probably just a copyright thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koshlong Posted October 30, 2016 #8 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I know I'm reviving an old thread here, but I've been reading a Havana mystery series by Peggy Blair. Some of the titles are Hungry Ghosts, Beggar's Opera, and Umbrella Man. A good take on life in Cuba without the heavy political stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted November 4, 2016 #9 Share Posted November 4, 2016 I read Havana Nocturne. And guidebooks of course. I also read a book about William Morgan The American Comandante which was really interesting. He left the US for Cuba, met and fell in love with a Cuban woman fighter, became a comandante of rebel troops.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnJ Posted November 5, 2016 #10 Share Posted November 5, 2016 I ordered a book from Amazon called, Cuba: Castro, Revolution and the End of the Embargo, looks interesting and it's due here today.. I just ordered it yesterday, gotta love Prime. I'll let you know but it gets great reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc20202 Posted November 18, 2016 #11 Share Posted November 18, 2016 I've been reading a book called "My Seductive Cuba A Unique Travel Guide" by Chen Lizra. I'm not up to the seductive bit yet, I've just read Part 1 about the political situation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharke Posted March 11, 2017 #12 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Bacardi & the Long Fight for Cuba - was fascinating The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt, especially if you are going to Santiago & San Juan Hill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theampres Posted March 13, 2017 #13 Share Posted March 13, 2017 new title, "Writer, Sailor, Soldier, Spy : Secret Adventures of Earnest Hemingway, 1935-1961" by Nicholas Reynolds. release date: tomorrow, 14 March 2017. I pre-ordered on Amazon. hope to receive by end of week, will be in Havana next week - yay! sailing on Oceania Marina. "riviting"* international cloak-and-dagger epic ranging from the Spanish Civil War to the liberation of Western Europe, wartime China, the Red Scare of Cold War America, and the Cuban Revolution, here is the stunning untold story of a literary icon's dangerous secret life -- including his role as a Soviet agent code-named "Argo" -- that fueled his art and his undoing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movingimages Posted March 13, 2017 #14 Share Posted March 13, 2017 Not a book, but the Netflix streaming series Cuba Libre is very interesting and worth a watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruising_knc Posted March 21, 2017 #15 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Also not a book but we just watched the movie Papa: Hemingway in Cuba. Based on a true story, it was very interesting. We cruise in April on the Empress. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharke Posted March 26, 2017 #16 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Also not a book but "Cuba Chrome" Discovery series can be streamed. Very interesting & entertaining about keeping those classic cars running. Also the documentary, Buena Vista Social Club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EatonDoolittle Posted March 26, 2017 #17 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Not a book, but the Netflix streaming series Cuba Libre is very interesting and worth a watch. I just started streaming this on your recommendation - thanks so much! I am loving it, so interesting, and now I am even more excited to see all of the landmarks, knowing how they came to be and knowing the history of the island. Like Fidel becoming Fidel because he was illegitimate, and so on. It should be required viewing for any visitor, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movingimages Posted April 10, 2017 #18 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I just started streaming this on your recommendation - thanks so much! I am loving it, so interesting, and now I am even more excited to see all of the landmarks, knowing how they came to be and knowing the history of the island. Like Fidel becoming Fidel because he was illegitimate, and so on. It should be required viewing for any visitor, IMO. So glad you are enjoying it. I agree it's a great series to watch before going there. I felt so much more informed, especially listening to some of the questions other people asked when we were there a couple of weeks ago. :) Fidel's background was fascinating, from the illegitimacy to the 'entrepreneurial' father to the mistress sent to assassinate him. We drove past the yellow barracks from his first revolutionary attempt, and I knew exactly what it was before the guide said anything. The story I found really unique was about Kennedy asking the French journalist to go broker an agreement with Castro so they could have peace, then Kennedy getting assassinated shortly after, before it could happen. For fun, I enjoyed learning that a Rum & Coke is called a Cuba Libre - I had one at the social club in Santiago de Cuba. Yum! Enjoy your trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted April 10, 2017 #19 Share Posted April 10, 2017 , I enjoyed learning that a Rum & Coke is called a Cuba Libre And there is an interesting English bookstore/café in Vedado, owned by a US woman resident/journalist, called Cuba Libro ('libro' is book in Spanish), a play-on-words on that drink name/sentiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movingimages Posted April 10, 2017 #20 Share Posted April 10, 2017 And there is an interesting English bookstore/café in Vedado, owned by a US woman resident/journalist, called Cuba Libro ('libro' is book in Spanish), a play-on-words on that drink name/sentiment. Cool, love it! Maybe I'll get to visit one day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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