In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd

This is a wonderful collection of short stories about Cuban immigrants and their children. An easy read with a free-flowing style, it was hard for me to put this book down. Yes, the other reviewers are correct in saying that in some stories the characters aren't fully developed, but that doesn't detract too much from the overall feel of the book. I walked away with a somewhat greater understanding of the Cuban community in Miami which is unique in and of itself, but is also very similar to other immigrant communities that also place importance on family, friendships and respect.

If you're looking for a quick read at the beach or on a plane, go ahead and pick up this catchy title, then sit back and savor Menendez's beautiful string of words.


Understanding Exile   October 25, 2001
 3 out of 6 found this review helpful

The stories Ana Menendez collected in her work "In Cuba I was a German Shepherd," have no direct link to each other in the traditional sense of a unified plot working throughout the book. Rather, these stories and their sometimes-overlapping characters share an inherent links and themes that give the book a general sense of unity. One important and omnipresent unifying theme projected in the collection of stories includes romanticizing the past and its affect on the present for each of the characters. When speaking chronologically, past and present appear diametrically opposed in their position on time's arrow. However, Menendez argues that the two remain inseparable in the exilic condition, as the past maintains the place of greatest prominence for her characters amidst the background of the present, not vice versa. Without the past, the characters would lose their interpretation and understanding of the present, as well as the comfort generated by reflecting on the beauties and idiosyncrasies of their Cuban heritage. This backward view on life and its beauty serves as a unifying experience for the exile community and definitely maintains a prominent position in the bittersweet realities of the present.


Bittersweet memories of Cuban refugees in Miami   July 23, 2001
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Ana Menendez has brought heartbreaking pathos to these tales of Cuban refugees living out their sad lives of exile in Miami. Alternately humorous and sad, the stories tell of the men and women whose lives stopped when they left their homeland for America. We laugh with those who can laugh at themselves, and shake our heads at those who cannot start a new life away from their beloved homeland. The title story moved me to tears, but also made me nod my head in recognition. Deserves to be widely read.