Loving Che: A Novel

Book Description

A young Cuban woman has been searching in vain for details of her birth mother. All she knows of her past is that her grandfather fled the turbulent Havana of the 1960s for Miami with her in tow, and that pinned to her sweater-possibly by her mother-were a few treasured lines of a Pablo Neruda poem. These facts remain her only tenuous links to her history, until a mysterious parcel arrives in the mail. Inside the soft, worn box are layers of writings and photographs. Fitting these pieces together with insights she gleans from several trips back to Havana, the daughter reconstructs a life of her mother, her youthful affair with the dashing, charismatic Che Guevara and the child she bore by the enigmatic rebel. Loving Che is a brilliant recapturing of revolutionary Cuba, the changing social mores, the hopes and disappointments, the excitement and terror of the times. It is also an erotic fantasy, a glimpse into the private life of a mythic public figure, and an exquisitely crafted meditation on memory, history, and storytelling. Finally, Loving Che is a triumphant unveiling of how the stories we tell about others ultimately become the story of ourselves.

Customer Reviews:

Lush, Poetic, Entrancing Read.......2007-07-23

With lines from a Pablo Neruda poem, I was hooked on this amazing book from the beginning. It's a lush, poetic, entrancing read and unlike any other book I've read. Teresa's letters are dreamlike, they flow over the pages and drop insights like raindrops on a parched earth. From her marriage, to her affair with Che to the early days of the revolution in Cuba, Teresa's story is entrancing. Her daughter's search is just as involving. Whether or not Teresa actually had the affair with Che is made irrelevant by the poetic words with which Teresa tells us her story. If she had the affair, good for her. If not, what an imagination!

Poetic But Weak At The End........2006-07-28

"Loving Che" is full of so many wonderful passages that vibrate with real literary romance and deep feeling that it's a downer that the novel doesn't go all the way, or provide a more fulfilling ending, but there's enough good material in Ana Menendez's book to make it worth reading. Like many classic works, this one involves an investigation into the past during which incredible discoveries are made and extreme possibilities hinted at. A Cuban exile who never really knew her mother is sent a strange package containing a sort of diary detailing a love affair during the Cuban revolution with the legendary rebel Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was assassinated in Bolivia and lived on in history as one of the most potent, enduring icons of rebellion and social revolution. The book begins with nice moments of recollection as the main character recalls growing up with her exiled grandfather in Miami, never being told anything about her mother, but it's when the book moves into the diary passages that things get interesting. With romantic passages that inspire and use language as skillfull as Salman Rushdie's, many of these parts come to life as the woman named Teresa describes her life as an artist and how she met Che Guevara and was captivated by his mind and spirit. Teresa is married, so is Che, and so of course the affair is tightly kept secret. It is here where the novel delivers and yet comes short, the implications are already enough to keep us reading, but you're surprised at just how LITTLE of Che's life is incorporated. At the end of the novel Menendez lists her sources, really good ones too like "Guevara, Also Known As Che" by Paco Ignacio Taibo II, which is probably the best Guevara bio there is, and yet the character is written with so little real dialogue, or any real moments that don't have to do with just descriptions of carnal pleasure. To be fair, Menendez does pepper many of the Che scenes with rich passages where Teresa describes Guevara's spirit for change, how he does not feel suited for just one country but many, and how his fatalistic take on life will lead him to immortality, to an almost saintly pantheon in world history. The pages dealing with the coming of the Cuban revolution are exciting and filled with vivid images and moments, but again, it is the abscence of more Che that leaves the Cuban area lacking. And then there's the ending. We feel as if we've been set up for a big payoff and then get no answers, just a simple, even weird closing that doesn't explain anything. Maybe Menendez was being too cautious considering she is dealing here with a world icon after all, but if you're going to take the risk at least go all the way. She builds a real sense of excitement and then brings us down. Maybe it's Menendez's exile history, many pages near the end feel more like the typical criticisms exiles have of Cuba, an almost bitter nostalgia for their island, Menendez even takes breaks from the story to diss Castro a little. She understands the romantic allure of Che, but sometimes it feels conflicted with her personal feelings as an exile. All in all, "Loving Che" is a nice romantic novel with some wonderful passages and beautiful, so beautiful indeed, that it deserves a little more.

Loving Che.......2005-10-28

Genre: Romance

Summary: A girl that goes to Cuba in search of her mother, but ends up falling in love with one of the most important and controversial political figures of Latin America.

What I liked most about the book: How the author combines romance and history and still manages to create an amazing story, without getting to caught up in either one.

What I didn't like and why: I think the author should have made it a little more interesting and suspenseful.

My favorite character and why: Definitely, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, because he is intelligent, powerful, and romantic all at the same time.

The scene, line, or passage that meant something to me and why: "Falsos me parecieron mis primeros esfuerzos. Y ahora solo quedan estas rajas de memoria, escritas sobre banderas de viento... (pg 13)

What I would say about this books to someone else: That it is just a great story, not to mention that it is a national bestseller.

One question I ahve after reading this book: If she ever regret falling in love with him.

My strongest reason for recommending this book: You get to learn while still enjoying a great, romantic story.

Loving Che.......2005-08-22

I thought this was an excellent novel. I am not a very good reader and need to have a book you cant put down and this fitted the bill. I have been a regular vitor to Cuba and have lived there for a year during 1999. I am not a supporter of the exiled Cuban communities causes against Cuba and there organisations. But have always had a sympthay we those whose lives have been effected through families been broken up especialy those who fled as children under the operation peter pan. Whilst this is a novel I could see how this could be a real life story for some one. I have been a long time fan of Che and this is more proof of how is image still captures and inspires generations from all walks of life

A little Havana, A lot of a writer's workshop.......2005-07-08

Cuba, as anyone who has lived in Miami can tell you, exists for thousands of exiles chiefly as a fantasy landscape colored by memory, regret and loss. Just as well, because the reality of the place in the 21st century is pretty grim, as I experienced it. But the maddening habit of exiles to romanticize the place is well displayed in "Loving Che," which hardly exists outside of lyrical scraps of random thought, sensation and writerly flights of fancy. Ana Menendez puts a lot of effort into conjuring up her dreamy reveries, but spends little time making her tale remotely believable or affecting. And the frequent pauses for "deep thoughts" get old very quickly. It's a lot like spending an afternoon talking about Cuba with an exile: captivating at times but more often just frustrating, opaque and sad.

Average customer rating:

From Publishers Weekly:

Loving Che: A Novel
Ana Menendez
Manufacturer: RB Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBXILA

Customer Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly:.......2007-06-23

In this evocative first novel by short story writer Menendez (In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd), a young, unnamed Miami woman is granted an intimate look into her provenance with the arrival of a package of old photographs and letters. An infant during the revolution, she was sent from Cuba to be raised by her kind but unforthcoming grandfather; her mother, Teresa, seems to have vanished. But this package of writings "smell[ing] of dark drawers and musty rooms" reveals Teresa de la Landre's life, from her carefree girlhood to her marriage, artistic career and impassioned affair with revolutionary hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Teresa's poetic memories, which make up the bulk of the book, are rich in sensual detail ("Ernesto... his touch like wading into a small pool only to find it deep and cool and sweet beneath the reflection") and full of the terror and exhilaration of revolution ("After the triumph... it was the strange and dreadful excitement of a world turning, of everything staid and ordinary being swept away"). Despite the tension in the narrator's search to learn her mother's fate and the true identity of her father-was it Che, or Teresa's professor husband, Calixto?-the present-day story, which bookends the letters, is less developed. The dreamy portrait of tropical Havana in gorgeous decay ("Where the cement had cracked, small purple flowers blossomed, as if every house held a garden prisoner within its walls") lingers, while the narrator's hopeful but pragmatic thoughts during her quest can fall somewhat flat. Still, the glimpses of vibrant 1950s Cuba and Teresa and Che's perfectly rendered relationship make this a moving novel from a writer to watch.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Average customer rating:

Por Amor Al Che / Loving Che
Ana Menendez
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

I WAZ BLOWN AWAY BY THIS GREAT BOOK! 1 BILLION STARS!.......2006-06-30

i love this book. it follows the first 3 volumes of The Slayers ((the show)) pretty well, with some Dialogue differences. i really like how you get to know what Lina is thinking at the moment in pretty much on every paragraph! her crude, funny, thoughts in the book are SOO FUNNY! you don't get to hear those in the show!! also, the pictures are fantasic!! they have them in all the right moments of the book, like when they are discribing what Lina is doing, so if you don't watch the show, and don't know what Lina and !! if you LOVE reading story books, or LOVE the show, this is a MUST READ for you!!

this book is a page flipper, even slow readers like me can flip through all 198 pages real easaly! There are 15 books in the series, but only the first 6 were tanslated into english. i hope they do more, becasue i'd love to read the rest!

Slayers The Ruby Eye.......2005-01-21

very good translation tho i liked the original version better. The manga pages were not wat i had expected But all in all it was a very good story and book.

I'm still gagging........2004-11-28

Was this adaptation done by a teenager??? I can't think of any other explanation for grammar so poor that it'd get an F if it was in a 9th grade term paper. It's a good thing the original author probably can't read English or they might turn green to know their work has been so poorly represented.

Finally Officially in English!.......2004-10-29

I was introduced to the "Slayers" franchise via the three anime TV series. When I learned that the anime came from a series of novels and short stories by Kanazaka Hajime-sensei, I hoped that someone would translate these into English as it will be a couple of years before I can really read them in Japanese. My wish has come true.

Since the original Japanese novel was much smaller in dimensions, it has more pages. However, to convert the novel to American size, the number of pages has shrunk and the fonts used are larger than one would normally see in a novel. This is not a problem, but those wondering why the English version has less total pages will now know why.

The story of the novel was covered in "Slayers" episodes 1-10. If you've seen the series, you know it deals with Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis and their dealings with the Red Priest Rezo and the sealed segment of the Dark Lord Ruby Eye Shabranigdo. It is interesting to see how the anime added and modified things to better suit that format. If they didn't, they wouldn't have managed to get 10 episodes out of this novel.

As to TokyoPop's translations, there were a few disappointments. First, no Japanese honorifics survive. Granted they aren't used heavily except by the miko (priestess) and the priests that appear throughout the series. That would have been nice to have left in (thus making it closer to how the Japanese author intended), but oh well.

The second item is a bit more troubling. It appears that TokyoPop modified certain passages to make it more appealing to younger audiences. For example, there is a passage where Lina is held captive. One of her captors decides to make her pay for what she's done to him. In the original Japanese, I'm told he wants one of his comrades to rape her, but no one is interested for various reasons (this is done for humor effect). TokyoPop changed rape to kiss. When the fish creature is given a chance to rape Lina (in the original Japanese), he agrees.

This is where TokyoPop's modification of the translation runs into trouble. The fish creature is waiting for Lina to deposit eggs (which is how fish do their thing) before proceeding. So that joke falls flat because TokyoPop changed rape to kiss. Obviously, if the original had been about someone kissing Lina, the fish creature would have just done so rather than wait for her to deposit eggs to be fertilized. While rape may not be a topic to be used in a gag or joke, it is what the Japanese author wrote and as such, should be in the English translation as well.

That aside, I'm still very glad that TokyoPop is bringing the series of novels to us in English.

For fans of the anime and non-fans alike.......2004-10-17

I've been a fan of the Slayers anime for years and years and when I heard that Tokyopop was finally going to bring the novels that inspired the anime to the US, I couldn't wait to get out there and grab it. And thankfully it was everything I was hoping for. Tokyopop has done an excellent job of translating the novel while still preserving the unique brand of humor and action that makes Slayers so interesting in the first place. At less than 200 pages, the book isn't long, but it's relatively self-contained so you're not breathlessly swearing about an evil cliffhanger or anything. The novel retains the original illustrations that the Japanese version had and, while not necessary, they're nice to have.

Fans of the show will probably love the novel, it covers the first part of the first season of the anime very closely (or vice versa, as the case may be). But non-fans should find a lot to enjoy about it as well. It's well written and is a very fast read (I read it in just over an hour) and it's very entertaining, with lots of action and humor. The only bad part about the novel is that it's so very short and you want to read more right away.

Customer Reviews:

This is a great series!.......2007-04-19

This is an omnibus edition reprinting stories 5 and 6 of the Norby series. The works contained in this edition are Norby and the Queen's Necklace and Norby Finds a Villain. The entire series is great, and every science fiction fan should have them in their library. The seies is aimed at a younger audience, but they are still great for adults! What follows is a complete list of the entire series.

# Title (Release date)

1. Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot (1983)
2. Norby's Other Secret (1984)
3. Norby and the Invaders (1985)
4. Norby and the Lost Princess (1985)
5. Norby and the Queen's Necklace (1986)
6. Norby Finds a Villain (1987)
7. Norby Down to Earth (1989)
8. Norby and Yobo's Great Adventure (1989)
9. Norby and the Oldest Dragon (1990)
10. Norby and the Court Jester (1991)
11. Norby and the Terrified Taxi (1997)

The Norby Cronicles (Omnibus-includes #1 and #2) (1986)
Norby: Robot for Hire (Omnibus-includes #3 and #4) (1987)
Norby Through Time and Space (Omnibus-includes #5 and #6) (1988)

Average customer rating:

Norby Through Time and Space
Isaac and Asimov, Janet Asimov
Manufacturer: Ace #58637
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000M8ZLQI

Book Description

Subtracting Fears for the Future showcases Revelation's timeless message. John of Patmos wrote his scroll, which later became the Bible's Revelation, in order to bring courage and comfort to the 1st-century Christians who were suffering persecutions and challenges to their faith. The 21st-century Christian requires a guide to perceive John's message through the eyes of the ancients. Written in conversational style by a layperson for laypersons, historically and factually referenced and authenticated, the author's goal is to present this timely interpretation of Revelation to offset the misinformation and exploitation by film makers and writers of fiction. The dark curtain over what has been perceived as “dire predictions” is lifted with Revelation's message of comfort. With comprehension of the journalistic “who, what, why, when, where,” instead of adding fears, Revelation subtracts any anxiety concerning the portents to come for humanity or individuals.

Customer Reviews:

as promised--.......2006-02-07

The author's conversational, real-world writing style have provided me with a wholely different viewpoint regarding the last book of the Bible. My previous attempts at understanding John's work left me unsettled and impossibly confused. Ms. Kelly's historical references keep the work from becoming too preachy or pollyanna-ish. As promised, I felt comforted and relieved after finishing Subtracting Fears.

Average customer rating:

Well worth the price

Nice History of Asian Teas

big fan

Healthy Teas: Green-Black-Herbal-Fruit
Tammy Safi
Manufacturer: Periplus Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Coffee & Tea | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Healthy | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Herbal Remedies | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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20,000 Secrets of Tea: The Most Effective Ways to Benefit from Nature's Healing Herbs

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New Tastes in Green Tea: A Novel Flavor for Familiar Drinks, Dishes, and Desserts

The New Tea Book: A Guide to Black, Green, Herbal, and Chai Tea

Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 079465004X

Book Description

Healthy Teas is a delightful introduction to the history and healing properties of green tea, the health benefits of black teas, and the life-enhancing attributes of herbal and fruit infusions and decoctions.
In Healthy Teas, author Tammy Safi has specially created the recipes to maximize the health benefits of all tea ingredients, whether they are fruits, exotic floral blends, or any of the many types of tea leaves. Inside, you'll find more than 80 easy recipes--from immune-boosting teas to springtime tonics and teas to detox and cleanse. Discover morning pick-me-ups as well as relaxing teas for stress relief and calming sleep.
Handy definitions of different varieties of tea plus all the necessary background information on ingredients will help you make the choice about which teas to drink and how to prepare them an easy one.
Healthy Teas is sure to become an essential reference for the health conscious and tea lovers alike

Customer Reviews:

Well worth the price.......2007-01-12

I've enjoyed reading this book, preparing several of the brews & infusions, and love the photos presented with the text. It's been in use since I purchased it and hasn't yet made it to the bookshelf.

Nice History of Asian Teas.......2006-10-13

This books has a nice history of tea in Asia, the black and green teas especially. It is a great companion to Mary El-Baz's book, The Essence of Herbal and Floral Teas.

big fan.......2003-02-25

this book was very helpful. i have learned so much about teas that can be used to heal illnesses, the history of tea, and with many recipes i'm never at a loss to try new teas. this is great for the tea lover who is serious about using their tea in everyday life.

Book Description

Discussing the role of museums in the conservation of antique clocks and the modern demand for them through the antiques trade, this historical and scientific look at English clockmaking in the 18th century links clocks to breakthroughs in both mathematics and astronomy. The craftsmanship required for the glass, gold, ivory, lacquer, textile, turtleshell, and wood cases of the period is described, and horology is positioned as a developing career field because of the dearth of skilled technicians working today.

Average customer rating:
Kitschy Crafts: A Celebration of Overlooked 20th-Century Crafts
Jo Packham , and Matt Shay
Manufacturer: Sterling/Chapelle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties

Super Crafty: Over 75 Amazing How-to Projects!

AlternaCrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make

Hello Gorgeous!: Beauty Products in America, '40s-'60s

Abode a la Mode: 44 Projects for Hip Home Decor

ASIN: 1402717547

Book Description

It's fun, it's retro—and it's back in style. Take a fond look back at the kitschy crafts of the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, from crocheted doilies to shell-art nightlights. All these nostalgic creations appear in appropriately fashioned period settings that will captivate browsers, and come with instructions for those who just can’t resist creating their own string-art pictures, pink flamingo items, far-out tie dyes, kooky candles, macramé plant hangers, and the one-time must-have on every coffee table: a resin-cast grape cluster. And, of course, who can live without the hottest toy of all? The Sock Monkey Doll. Everyone will have a blast poring over these—even those who have never made a craft in their lives.

Customer Reviews:

Showhouses: Signature Designer Styles.......2005-11-10

This is a terrific book! I bought it at least three years ago and still enjoy looking at the timeless designs. The photos are crisp and clear. I loved it so much that I looked up the writer to see what over books she had written.

I Loved it! Very Rich, Vibrant, Detailed Photograhs!.......2002-02-15

This book is a compliation of showcase design displays across the country; the Best of the Best. Incredible Variety of Styles!
I enjoyed perusing through this BEAUTIFUL volume; had a Tremendous Time! BUT it took me several DAYS! i would pick it up; get so emmersed in the incredible vivid detail of the rich, full colored pictures that time would fly and i had only covered a small section!

Average customer rating:

Showhouses, Signature Designer Styles
Marcie STUCHIN
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RJS32G

Average customer rating:

Showhouses, Signature Designer Styles
Marcie STUCHIN
Manufacturer: Publisher Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WBMJ88

Average customer rating:

Showhouses: Signature Designer Styles
Marcie; Abramson, Susan Stuchin
Manufacturer: PBC International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OHLUOY

Book Description

Awesome! Inspiring! Surprising is Shawn Regan's spontaneous and emotional journey propelling him back into another time and into the life of John Williams. These baffling excursions, augmented by the hypontic and psychological intervention of his therapist, Dr. Field, ultimately transform the life of Shawn Regan. Through returns to John's miserable existence, Shawn conquers his "stormy" fears, his avoidance of intimacy and sex, and an array of physical problems.

This is a true, shocking story writen by the patient from his own subjective first person account and enriched by the objective and professional perspectives of his therapist in the second portion of each chapter.

Writen like a novel, Brain Storms!, with it's inescapable conclusion, is a thrilling revelation of a therapeutic process, triggered by an unsought, unexpected and spontaneous past life regression. Your emotions will be shaken by the captivating struggles of war, love, and sex.

Customer Reviews:

An Grand Adventure both popular and professional.......2003-10-09

Shawn Regan and Eleanor Field have pulled off something close to a coup
in this interesting book. There are precious few books that provide
us both the person's inside experience of hypnotic regression that includes
past-life references as well as the professionals perspective on these events.
It is a stunning journey for both popular audiences and professionals
wanting to be exposed to different hypnotic techniques and a clinical
perspective of the process. The story itself is a healing journey on the level
of solving a personal mystery impacting this life for Shawn Regan as well as
one of redemption, resolution and celebration for him, his psychologist and
the reader.

Offers therapeutic revelations and insights.......2003-09-21

Co-written by award-winning writer Shawn Regan and licensed clinical psychologist and family therapist Eleanor S. Fields, Brain Storms! is a true story of a patient's harrowing journey as he learns from the turbulent experiences of his past life. A work of non-fiction presented with the reading fluency of a novel, Brain Storms! offers therapeutic revelations and insights worthy of the best of the self-help book. Brain Storms! is a compelling and recommended journey taking the reader through phases of life, eras of time, and the depths of the human mind.

Fascinating Journey.......2003-09-16

This well-written book is a fascinating journey into the human mind.

Don't miss this amazing book!.......2003-06-25

Brain Storms is an amazing book you won't be able to put down! It is expertly written around the concept that perhaps we all may have lived another life (or lives) before this one.

The author, Eleanor S. Field, Ph.D, a noted and known psychologist and hypnotherapist, weaves the commentary of one of her patients who, under her guidance, was able to revivify and relive his past life experiences, along with documentation of Dr. Elly's insightful commentary and observations.

The recounting of this journey certainly transformed my thinking about life, death and the hereafter. Read it and allow it to inspire you and shine a measure of light and lessons upon your life, as well! Thank you Dr. Elly for writing this beautiful book!

Jean Krueger, author of: Why the Weight? Dare To Be Great! ISBN:0972208607

Don't miss this amazing book!.......2003-06-25

Brain Storms is an amazing book you won't be able to put down! It is expertly written around the concept that perhaps we all may have lived another life (or lives) before this one.

Jean Krueger, author of: Why the Weight? Dare To Be Great! ISBN:0972208607

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