Customer Reviews

Cuba--Going Back

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I,too,like Mr. Mendoza, was forced to leave Havana, Cuba, as a child because of my familys' political beliefs towards Castro. I was a child of 9 in 1967, when my parents and I uprooted ourselves from our beloved land because we had been politically betrayed by someone that a whole generation felt was to be their "savior" from the dictatorial regime of Batista. In the last few years I have started to rediscover my roots. I found this book extremely educating as to what to expect to see there, if you plan to "go home for a visit". It has convinced me that I must go home again even though it won't be the same as I remember as a child. This an easy to read book, with compelling sepia tinted pictures of scenes and people Mr. Mendoza came across throuhgout his travels. I highly recommend this book.

The narrative flows smoothly from this consumate storyteller, both wise and candid, with a gimlet eye for the telling detail as well as vision for the panorama. He also has the ear to perceive and apprehend meaning and nuance, sound and music. The photography is so good that one would like to see the whole from which he culled this select offering. But above and beyond all of this he gives us a significant human experience, distinctly his own and yet meaningful for all.

Like Tony I am a cuban american who left Cuba in the early 60s for political freedom to study in the States. I came from a successful middle class family and a history of political successes and upheaval. I have always wanted to go back to re-live my youth in Havana, Tarara y Santa Maria del Mar (like Tony in Varadero) where I spent the happiest time of my youth. I have known of the misery of our people because I kept in touch, however Tony has been able to portray that misery in his wonderful black and white pictures. His writtings and dialogues are very easy to read but with a real message for everyone to understand. This is a great book for those who will like an honest and unbias portray of the cuban situation today. Tony has let these people speak out their feelings (pro and against) for the world to judge. I envy Tony for having the opportunity to return. His book has made me very sad because we are limited in our ability to help them. I cried for the younger generation unable to better themselves. Only the beauty of our land and sea remains untouched. Someday our people will be free again to make their choices and Cuba will be a wonderful place to visit. I promised myself to be in the first plane to help rebuild it.

Tony Mendoza's journey through Cuba takes you into the world of the average Cuban. He does an excellent job of reflecting on his childhood memories of Cuba while combining present day Cuba. This book contains true actual feelings and impressions of Cuba instead of the naive happy-go lucky attitude expressed in most touristic journals typical of many other photographers.

The images captured by my born-again cuban cousin Tony Mendoza will endure.Through his magically sensitive photographic lens and engaging story telling prose. Those that do not know Cuba and read his book, will learn by sharing the daily rhythms of its people in the midst of their aimless sub-existence. Those that know, and particularly those that are cuban -american, may wish to prudently consider a box of tissue. I agree with the author. His father Miguel would have been proud of this book.

JAN. 12, 2001

I FOUND THIS BOOK VERY EASY TO READ. IT WAS AS IF I WAS READING PART OF MY STORY, MY LIFE. IT ANSWERED MANY QUESTIONS I HAVE HAD. IT ALSO ANSWERED THE WHY OF MANY FEELINGS I HAVE. THE LAST TIME I WAS IN CUBA WAS 1953, MUCH LONGER THAN HIM. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AS HE DID. MY HUSBAND AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THIS YEAR WE CAN GO BACK. WE JUST ARE NOT SURE OF HOW SAFE IT WOULD BE. WE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO SANCTI SPIRITUS, LAS VILLA, VERY FAR FROM HAVANA. I FOUND IT TO BE GREAT READING. IT WAS TOLD IN A VERY CLEAR WAY. IT EXPLAINED MANY THINGS I DID NOT UNDERSTAND. THIS BOOK CAN BE READ BY CUBAN'S AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT CUBAN'S IT IS VERY INTERESTING FOR ALL. ALSO ONE CAN APPRECIATE ALL WE HAVE.

STILL WOULD OF LIKED MORE. I WOULD OF LIKED MORE PICTURES OF THINGS HE WROTE ABOUT. HIS SUMMER HOME, WOULD OF LIKED TO SEE OTHER PICTURES OF THE HOUSE. WOULD OF BEEN GREAT, FOR HIM TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE HIS TRIP TO THE OTHER PROVINCES HAS HE HAD WANTED TO DO.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN SPANISH.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. MENDOZA FOR THIS BOOK. WISH HIM THE BEST, WILL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER WORK HE HAS DONE.

Tony Mendoza takes us on a three week Photojourney of Cuba today.A tour de force captured by his unique combination as Photo-Artist and Writer. As you flip through the pages of Cuba (Going Back) you will explore Cuba's countryside and will visit Havana's neighborhoods.Just as the images of Tony Mendoza's pictures speak volumes about the subject so to will he conjure a picture of what is Cuba today in his writing. You will find intresting his pictures of the Cuban people and also of the beautiful Cuban landscape. His interviews with acquaintances as well as strangers he meets on his journey will give you a feeling for what life must be like for some typical and not so typical Cubans.You will also enjoy the sense of humor that Cuban's retain in spite of their everyday dificulties. This is a book for Cubans and non-Cubans alike, a worthy addition to your home library.

This book is amazing! Tony came and spoke to a class I was in at Ohio State University before this book was published. His story of returning to Cuba is unforgetable. The photographs in this book really capture the feelings Mr. Mendoza had I felt. The ability he has to capture the feelings of the Cubans and his own feelings in this book were wonderful. I highly recogmend it.

I must admit I am a student of Tony Mendoza at Ohio State, so I am a little biased, but I think he's wonderful in general-his unique perspective in photographs and ability to capture spirit is a true inarguable talent. His writing lets you see his true feelings as well.

This writer/photographer deserves even more attention!!
As good as his earlier photo books.
The writing is as interesting as the photography.
Mike