Palmiche

by Juan Jacobo-Doger Narrated by Francisco Rivela

Overview

Los cristales se cuarteaban como piel de leproso, y las persianas tecleaban en las vertebras de los marcos, como si formaran parte de un esqueleto rumbero. Se abrazo al tronco aspero y fresco, y recorrio con los ojos los nuevos racimos que brotaban tiernos como un acento de violin. Apretando el puno, sobre un monton de granos, se dejo caer por el tronco hasta dar de rodillas entre las raices sinuosas desencajadas del suelo. Y el puno, sosegado por la muerte, desde la mano semiabierta, habia dejado caer sobre el pecho los granos secos y amoratados del palmiche. La tos desembridada, soplo sangre desde el fuelle carcomido de los pulmones y echo dos buches que salpicaron la blusa de Cirila. Asustada, dio un salto hacia atras y comenzo a recular, con los ojos puestos en la cara de cera y en las sangre que le resbalaba sobre la camisa. El cuerpo convulso cayo sobre la acera, y pronto los ojos de agonia conclusa quedaron clavados en el cielo de la manana. El autor de Los cinco nudos nos presenta su segunda novela que pone en primer plano los horrores y las tragedias del mundo actual. Palmiche plantea pregunta que parecen no tener respuesta alguna, e incita emociones que amenazan con derrumbar la misma estructura de nuestra sociedad.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Daily life in revolutionary Cuba has become a test of physical endurance in the face of a national economic and social crisis. Cuban exile Jacobo-Doger (Los cinco nudos [The Five Knots], Cr!ticas, Winter 2001) approaches Cuba's current political ruin through the plight of a former university professor who is being held under house arrest. His only connection with the outside world is the cleaning woman, who comes to his apartment and tells him of the appalling conditions that common citizens have to endure under the regime, such as standing in line for countless hours to purchase low-quality goods. The professor also recounts his experiences with an array of devious characters, mainly former friends who achieved high-ranking political positions through corruption and seedy neighbors who turned into spies in exchange for better goods. Jacobo-Doger suggests that these kinds of political machinations have ultimately tainted Castro's revolutionary ideals. Writing in a straightforward style, he also stresses the futility of the lives of his characters, even those affiliated with the government and benefiting from the regime. In the end, however, this critical yet simplistic approach to Cuban reality results in a fairly predictable plot, as the protagonist commits suicide because he feels hopeless about his future on the island. The novel's schematic approach to key revolutionary events, however, will appeal to Cuban American readers. Recommended for public libraries with large Cuban fiction collections. Rafael Ocasio, Agnes Scott College, GA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170835270
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	12/02/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged
Language:	Spanish

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