Customer Reviews

Trading With The Enemy: A Yankee Travels Through Castro's Cuba

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm surprised at the dislike some reviewers have expressed towards this book. True, its dated picture of 1992-era Cuba does not ring entirely true compared to the country one sees today: more and more marked by tourism everyday. But Miller's funny, flowing writing style and encounters with everyone from literati to farmers to hustlers are rendered in an intelligent and observant way. His 'digressive' style of writing actually serves the material quite well, and preserves a chatty familiarity that does justice to what this is: a travel diary. It's a lot more astute than most of them.

The author gives a great panoramic view to the reader of what life is actually like in Cuba through his travels around Cuba and select stratas of Cuban society such as a Cuban TV cook, a Cuban baseball team, Cuban Jews, government employees, street huslers for American dollars, hitchhikers, drinking companions met along the way,and women in lines at 5:00 am awaiting to buy goods. A well written book that doesn't lecture with no political agenda, but just tells what was found-good and bad--straight from the hip.

Miller concentrates on the people he meets and keeps away from politics.

The result is an entertaining account of his extended visit to Cuba including the time he spent in Havana and travelling throughout the country.

I found the book puts a more humanizing face on the country that is always dominated by coverage of Castro and his policies.

For me, this book is a good companion to Buena Vista Social Club in providing a non-political view of Cuba and Cubans.

The style of presentation that Tom Miller uses in "Trading with the Enemy" captures a personal perspective of Cuba. For those who critique this as a travel reader should see this as "his" travel reader. For me, his book was required reading for a graduate class on Cuban culture, business and economic policy. Usually required reading doesn't engage my full attention; this book did. I appreciated the fact that the subject matters within "Trading with the Enemy" were handled with objectivity, humor, and humanity. The strength this format provides allows him to be descriptive without pontification. Following the reading of "Trading with the Enemy" (and other texts), my class included a 10-day trip to Havana (it happened to be the week in which the recent Iraqi War started) and its environs to study our selected research topics. Tom Miller was gracious enough to be an unofficial guide and advisor for this excursion. His insights (both written and interpersonal)proved to be essential for understanding the milieu within which we were trying to operate. This book gives a reader an individual's perspective of "cubanidad" - with its glory, shortcomings, simplicities, nuanced complexities all included. For those who enjoy readings that "speak to you" rather than "speak at you, this book will be an informative and enjoyable read.

Miller's book is written before the turn to tourism, which has dramatically transformed Cuba and Cubans. Those who read this and then travel there will find a very different country. Nevertheless, the book is useful for understanding a too often misunderstood society, one that remains one of the world's most culturally vibrant, despite hardships, blockades and misguided economic policies.

While Miller's book is not as fascinating as the one related to Cuba that I am currently reading (Che Guevara, A Revolutionary Life--I can't put it down!), I am still shocked by the harsh criticism of some of the other reviewers. I thoroughly enjoyed Miller's objective, humorous, and insightful account of his time in Cuba, which only further fuelled my desire to visit this extraordinary country. My only complaint is that it wasn't more up-to-date. The bulk of the book takes place about 10 years ago...though it is still definitely worth the read if you are interested in Cuba.

It's hard to work up much enthusiasm, or for that matter, spite about this simple, short book, the recounting of Miller's eight months living in Cuba, spread out over a couple of years. I suppose that's why it took me so long to finish it. It's no page-turner. Miller drives and busses around Cuba, asks himself the same questions again and again in the different regions, dips superficially into recent and distant history, stands in innumerable lines at the Socialism and Death bakery, follows a lousy baseball team for a week on the road, comes close to sexism in a detailed description of the Cuban man's love for the Cuban woman's buttocks, and makes the obligatory visit to Hemingway's years-untouched home. All of it is interesting enough and none of it is captivating. In the end, Miller's snapshot approach winds up making Cuba sound like not much more than one in a number of Caribbean islands. That of course is part of his point, but the more than that of Cuba -- both good and bad -- is what Miller misses. Two hours spent with Buena Vista Social Club is a considerably better investment of time.

This is by far the most balanced book I've read about Cuba. Basically, Tom traveled through Cuba for around 8 months and told the stories of hundreds of folks he met - with a ton of varying views. He seemed to be a pretty non-biased bystander and effectively portrayed all sides of the debate.

Eventhough,19 years old, the book's descriptions still ring true (my visit June 2011) although life seems more relaxed then described in book. One gets a real feel for the people, history and countryside without the tedium of a typical travel book. Used the book to look up certain addresses Miller referred to that were not typical tourist attractions. What fun! Reading like a travel diary, chapter headings would have been beneficial: p.3 Arrival, Havana & Neighborhoods of Miramar and Vedado; p.69 Kosher, p. 80 Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Playa Giron (Bay of Pigs); p. 113 Return to Havana; p. 130 Nitza Villapol, t.v. chef tells all; p.142 Pinar del Rio, cigar factory; p. 166 Hemingway; p. 203 Eastern tip; Guantanamo and Baraco; p. 274 to end Traveling, Watching and Playing Baseball with the Enemy. "It's a grand place and I'd be sorry not to go there again." Index. No photos. 3 maps: his routes through Cuba; geographical relationship of U. S., Mexico and Dominican Republic; and Havana).
For more background: Sugar King of Havana: Rise and Fall of Julio Lobo, Cuba's Last Sugar King and Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and then Lost it to the Revolution. Lots on Meyer Lansky.

If you ever wondered what it's really like on this forbidden island that's been off limits to Americans for over 50 years, this is the book for you. The author, Tom Miller, spent time in Cuba with the approval of both governments. He writes about life for Cubans, not the political situation which is about the only thing we ever hear about this charming society. The people are resilient and sensuous. They love music, dancing, baseball, dominoes, and above all Cuba. If you are going to Cuba as I am on a humanitarian trip, therefore sanctioned, you should read this book.