For anyone who has never personally lived as an immigrant, Olga Karman brings the opportunity to experience life away from home with her tender memoir, “Scatter My Ashes Over Havana.” Karman begins with her life in Cuba before the revolution. Like many others, she initially supported the aims of the revolution, but it wasn’t long before Castro’s true goals were clear. She left Cuba for the United States in 1960 at the age of 20, but found the “Land of Opportunity” to be lacking. Unhappy with her marriage and life in rural Connecticut and then in Mystic, Connecticut, Karman focused on her education as a path to independence. Success in the academic world and a respectable career, however, did little to soothe Karman’s sense of estrangement. Over her lifetime, she defined herself as a mother, Latina, professor, Cuban, community activist and American, but found it difficult to integrate these characteristics into one identity.

Scatter My Ashes Over Havana

Olga Karman knew that she and her family were rushing to leave Cuba.  Was Cuba sinking?  Why else would they leave their home?  Olga describes her fright, unsure of her future.  She describes how she was humiliated when she was forced to strip and be searched for hidden jewels. 

What had begun as hope soon became turbulence.  Olga remembers the fall of the evil dictator Fulgenico Batista.  The citizens of Cuba had lived under his tyranny for seven years.  Fidel Castro came riding in like a hero but “soon the Revolution’s glory days” faded.  Fidel’s speeches moved people to tears but soon they realized that they promised nothing and demanded everything.

The Statue of Liberty towered over the ship that had brought Olga to safety.  But was she truly safe?  Olga attended school, married and had a child but she wasn’t truly happy.  She made the decision to return to college against the approval of society.  “A mother doesn’t run off and leave her child.  No woman in this neighborhood abandons her children.” 

This is a book of struggles.  Olga shares the struggle that faced an immigrant, trying to make a home in a new land.  Ms. Karman aptly describes the plight of women desiring to make a place in the world for themselves and their children.  She illustrates the flight of the Hispanic community as they struggle equal rights.  She tells of the triumph of returning home.

In “Scatter My Ashes over Havana” Olga Karman tells her poignant story.  Her immense talent shines through in her writing.  Written with great emotion it is easy to feel Olga’s pain.  I enjoyed this book and couldn’t lay it down until I finished it.  The words leap off the page to shape pictures of Olga’s life.  I found her story fascinating.   I highly recommend this book to all, those that enjoy autobiographies and those that enjoy a really good read.