Telex from cuba is the 2008 debut novel of writer rachel kushner. All of them have an historical fiction sense well, recent history that gets less and less central from her first to her third book, but maintains a reportagea connection with social issueselement while keeping the fictional characters central. The point of view constantly shifts among a large cast of characters, many of whom are americans living in cuba and working for american companies engaged in the explotation of cuba s abundant natural and human resources. Read telex from cuba by rachel kushner for free with a 30 day free trial.
Kushner has edited for grand rachel kushner is the only writer to ever be nominated for a national book award in fiction for both a first and second novel. Telex from cuba is the most historical in some ways, with the story of the cuban revolution a. And those that are touted as sweeping, tender or universal. Fortunately, it is more a social than a political novel, because kushner does a better job with the social. To reinforce these accolades, her most recent work, the flamethrowers, dominated many publications bestof20 fiction lists. Telex from cuba, kushners first novel, has now been released in the uk. Telex from cuba, a finalist for the national book award.
Telex from cuba was a finalist for the 2008 national book award. The author of the flamethrowers and telex from cuba steers clear of books with ugly covers. Sometimes history makes the best bedrock for fiction. Two debut novels, missy by chris hannan and telex from cuba by rachel kushner, infuse historical fiction with a new vitality, as they bring to life, respectively, a druggedup bad girl of the. Telex from cuba, kushners first novel, has now been released in the uk, and readers of the flamethrowers, for whom kushner became an instant necessity, can get a second fix. Summary an astonishingly wise, ambitious, and riveting novel set in the american community in cuba during the years leading up to castros revolutiona place that was a paradise for a time and for a few. They serve as our eyes and ears in a unique cuba, sharply discerning the disparities and novelties in their idyllic, yet.
For this meeting, jeremy adelman, henry charles lea professor of history and director of the global history lab at princeton university, will lead a discussion on rachel kushners telex from cuba. Stites, the central characters in rachel kushners debut novel, telex from cuba, are busy coming of age in 1950s cuba. Rachel kushners first novel, telex from cuba, doesnt read like your usual debut. Although the book is fiction, many real people are minor characters in this story.
The official website of rachel kushner, author of the novels the flamethrowers and telex from cuba. The book is narrated from many different perspectives and the entire story is threaded together in a clever way, since its never narrated from the revolutionaries perspective. Such is the case with rachel kushners first novel, telex from cuba, set in the waning years of the americanowned united fruit company in. Telex from cuba elegantly weaves together a gripping story of individual and their lives leading up to one of the most notorious revolutions of the twentieth century.
Creepy as this may sound, shes a handy metaphor for creating a self in an uncertain environment like the one in rachel kushners multilayered and absorbing first novel, telex from cuba. Parra, time out new york in the passages set among the american expatriates, kushner displays a. Coming of age in mid1950s cuba where the local sugar and nickel production are controlled by american interests, everly lederer and kc stites observe the indulgences and betrayals of the adult world and are swept up. She published her first novel, telex from cuba, in 2008. Lots of interesting characters, both real and fictional, and a fascinating backdrop of a country in turmoil. Kushner is adept at profound description and real suspense.
The debut novel by new york times bestselling author rachel kushner. Telex from cuba by rachel kushner finalist for the national book award for fiction the debut novel by new york times bestselling author rachel kushner. If you relish glittering language that pursues emotional and political truth, youll be enthralled by kushners debut. This realtime account is augmented by recollections of kc stites, the plantation. Telex from cuba by rachel kushner finalist for the national book award for fiction the debut novel by new york times bestselling author rachel kushner, called. However, it was not until over a decade later, when in my late teens i started to do a little reading and research of my own, that i even heard mention of cuba. All of this is to say, the literary world is coming. The essential gift book for any pet lover real life tales of devoted dogs. Telex from cuba takes as a framework the events surrounding castros overthrow of batista, the oppression of the cuban people by american corporate interests, and interweaves fictional narratives that bring the story more immediately to life, all the racism and cluelessness of the occupiers, all the skullduggery of rebel forces. As if posing for photographs, or focusing on what to save and call a souvenir, made the present instantly the past. Kushner has edited for grand rachel kushner is the only writer to ever be nominated for a national book. The book flowed easily and held my interest throughout. Such is the case with rachel kushners first novel, telex from cuba, set in the waning.
In telex from cuba, rachel kuschner tells the story of americans living in cuba when batista was president and up until he was overthrown by fidel castros revolution. Kushner chose to tell the story of americans in precastro, prerevolution cuba, through the eyes of the children of american executives who, by the way, knew their own limitationstheyd have nothing comparable to their cuban jobs in the states. Using family stories, extensive archival research, and all the tools of the novelists imagination, she creates a portrait in many voices of a small society at a crucial moment in time. Kushners colorful, characterdriven debut succinctly captures the essence of life for a gilded circle of american expats in precastro cuba. Nelson mandela was already a name synonymous with freedom and wisdom, justice and principle, by the time i took my first steps. Stites come of age in oriente province, where the americans tend their own fiefdomthree. The novel follows a group of angloexpatriates living in cuba during the cuban revolution. Yes, theres a lot of background info on characters etc, but i found the writing mundane. Read telex from cuba online by rachel kushner books free 30. Telex from cuba quotes showing 17 of 7 documenting life as it happened seemed like a way of not experiencing it. The historical fiction book group features scholarled book discussions about the fictional elements and nonfictional historic and regional context of selected books. Like every great novel told through the eyes of a child, from harper lees to kill a mockingbird to khaled hosseinis the kite runner, telex from cuba seduces the reader into the drama of a family encountering unexpected conflict and the story of the gradual awakening of adolescents to issues of class, race, and social injustice. I started reading it and the first chapter is a long slog of 25 pages about cane fields burning. The first novel to tell the story of the americans who were driven out in 1958, this is a.
Telex from cuba is a fictional portrait of 1950s, precastro cuba. Kushners second novel, the flamethrowers, was published by scribner in april 20. Buy this book kushners colorful, characterdriven debut succinctly captures the essence of life for a gilded circle of american expats in precastro cuba. A vivid portrait of fifties cuba is historical fiction at its best. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read telex from cuba. Telex from cuba book by rachel kushner official publisher page. This first novel by rachel kushner is a pure treat from the cover to the very last page. Telex from cuba is a socialpolitical novel focusing on the americans who ran the us sugar and nickel concessions in cuba in oriente province, before and as the castro revolution took place. Rachel kushners debut novel, telex from cuba, was a finalist for the 2008 national book award and the dayton literary peace prize, winner of the california book award, and a new york times bestseller and notable book. They serve as our eyes and ears in a unique cuba, sharply discerning the disparities and novelties in their idyllic, yet complex life. Vanity fair hailed it for its blazing prose, which ignites the 70s new york art scene and italian underground.
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