Book Review of The Unwilling Immigrant by Renaldo Gonzalez By Danilo J. Calzada
Question, what do get when you combine the nostalgic childhood rememberings of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer with the defiant fiery patriotism of Jose Marti? What if you infuse it with the poetic simplicity of Reinaldo Arenas and pare it all down to an everyman sensibility stripping away the traditional trappings of chapters, forewards, and epilogues. What you might end up with, if you are lucky, is a humble, unassuming, and positively inspiring offering titled The Unwilling Immigrant. In this, his first book, the author, Renaldo Gonzalez, succeeds in his attempt to celebrate and forever immortalize his idyllic childhood. A way of life, which if measured in a man’s lifetime, occurred merely decades ago yet can only be measured cumulatively and exponentially by the countless tens of thousands to whom this existence has been denied.
The wonderful world of the island of Cuba, written in the first person......the strong family values,the prosperous times, the revolt as seen through a young man's eye's, culture, unique style,literature, music, and contradictions.
The author Renaldo Gonzalez was born in the town of Cardenas Cuba in 1953. He lived there to the early mid-60's and has very stark and colorful first hand images of the times of Batista to Castro. This is a story of family, influences, success, disapointment and reflection
Paradise
It was a typical August day, or so I thought. I was missing my father, I hadn't seen him for three weeks.It wasn't unusual for my Father to disappear for three weeks at a time. My father wasn't much of a Dad. He was young, had money and was always gone somewhere.My Dad was only 21 years old. My Mother took it in stride, and waited for him to return as usual.
Something strange had happened three weeks earlier. I had seen him at some club near our home at the beach, and he called to me and started telling me "things"that got me thinking. He was never the type to say much to me anyway. I knew he loved me in his own way, of that I am sure. I guess he was just to young. That summer afternoon he talked to me in a way that wasn't his normal manner. He had a far away look in his eyes. He told me that he loved me and to take care of Mom. He said that was going away for a while,but it was not unusual for him to disappear without saying anything.It was just the things he said and that far away look in his eyes that struck me as strange.Afterwards, I hung out with my friends riding our bikes near the ocean. />
The next morning I awoke early and eagerly,I knew my Abuelo was coming to our house.My grandfather was picking me up to go fishing.I love being with him; he was the most wonderful man I have ever met,even to this day.He taught me so many wonderful things.We were inseperable.My Eugenio was a self made, successful man,who's kindness and love was his mission in life-to teach me and give me anything I wanted. I must admit I was spoiled, in a nice way.
Just after breakfast,he arrived.I was always overjoyed to see him.I kissed my mom goodbye and left.The skiff was only an half hour drive.We placed the poles, sandwiches,bait and water in the skiff snd headed out to the third reef.My Eugenio had built a wire mesh cage which attached to the side of skiff. He was a great tinkerer.The wire cage had prongs that would attach to the side of the boat.It was square with a trap door on top.
That morning the ocean was like glass,with colors like blue, turquoise, snd aquamarine. We rowed out to sea until we got to the third reef,which was about 60 feet deep.My Abuelo threw the anchor and prepared the "carnada:, hooks and lines That early morning we were the only ones out. My Abuelo and I were all but masters of the Sea. The gulls and pelicans circled above, they were waiting for hand outs,and they definitely deserved them, because these birds always guided you to the best fishing spots.
After an hour of fishing, we had the wire mesh filled with fish, all swimming in the clear water.The Tiburones quickly took notice of our good fortune.The Sharks would hit the fish trap again and again with nothing to show for it but bruised snout's.They were more of a nuisance than anything else.Occasionlly Eugenio and I would reward them.The gulls and pelicans would come first though, since their keen eyes would always give us a hint to where to drop anchor.
When we had caught plenty of fish,my Abuelo started rowing back to shore.When we got to sand,some of the fisherman helped us roll the skiff onto the sand, which was the color of salt with the same consistency. We carried the squirming fish to my Abuelos car which was parked underneath gorgeous coconut palms to keep it cool.I glanced at my ocean and marveled at it's beauty.The greens mixed with the blue seemed to be painted with God's own brush.The cool breeze, swaying palms and the smell of the sea made me thank God for all it's beauty.
Other chapters in the book
Getting to Spain
Brave new world getting to the greatest place...the United States of America
Learning the great opportunities that America offers to a simple young Cuban man
The Unwilling Immigrant, a novel written bt Renaldo Gonzalez
Availabe on Kindle download, and as a hard cover from Amazon
Drop me a line at my email -------renaldogonzales@yahoo.com-------or manhattanthomas@gmail.com
Contact Tom Palmisano @ 754-273-0197 or Renaldo Gonzalez @ 754-244-0053 Available for interviews, book conversations, talking about yesterday, today and the future.
***The Unwilling Immigrant novel will be available for download on Amazon/Kindle Nov 13,2013. Look for link on this blog page next week
