I feel very fortunate to be bilingual so I could read this heartfelt accounting of four years in the life of Ofelia Fox and the exiled community. The book led me from her night life at the cabaret Tropicana in Havana to her exile and her becoming one of the most sought after media personalities in Miami.
The title was too long. I almost didn't get it. But I did! And it turns out that the book is a collection of the manuscripts of an exceptional woman: Ofelia Fox. Soon I found out that the author had left behind a charmed life in Havana as the wife of one of the most famous cabarets in the world: Tropicana. After Castro's revolution she moved from her nightclub table entertaining world famous celebrities to a table in front of a microphone at WMIE (now "La Cubanísima") radio station in Miami, broadcasting "Radio Cuba Libre." Using the name "Liansú."
As incredible as it may seem, this thirty-something beautiful woman who, before that time had little or no interest in politics and knew nothing about radio, dedicated all her time and energy to fight tiranny in Cuba from the shores of Miami.
Rosa Sánchez (a person lost in the book, I may add!) has done a wonderful job bringing to the readers Ofelia's manuscripts. The book keeps history in perspective and documents the first few years of the Cuban political refugees in South Florida. You may shed a few tears along the 390 pages, but they are well worth it. The book reads almost as a motivational book. In every page there's a message of hope and faith. It is interesting, touching and unmistakenly sincere. It was a treat. And above all an easy to read part of history.
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My greatest concern all along has been whether I had the ability and resources to do justice to Ofelia's words. Thank you for taking time to write about the book and for sending us your article to share it with others. Ofelia and Rosa. Thanks again!