New English-language bookstore a 1st in Havana

[alp227]

Source: AP

Cuba's first English-language bookstore offers a selection that would just about stock the lobby of an average Vermont bed and breakfast. Next to what's available in English elsewhere in Havana, it might as well be the Library of Congress.

The brainchild of a longtime U.S. expat, Cuba Libro launched Friday as a bookshop, cafe and literary salon that offers islanders and tourists alike a unique space to buy or borrow tomes in the language of Shakespeare. Cuba Libro also gives customers an occasional glimpse of opinions hard to find elsewhere on the island.

"I know how hard it is to get English-language sources here," said New York City native Conner Gorry, 43, a journalist living in Cuba since 2002. "So I started cooking this idea."

Cuba Libro is a play on "libro," the Spanish word for "book," and "Cuba libre," the rum-cola cocktail that, legend has it, was invented in 1900 to celebrate the island's independence from Spain.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/new-english-language-bookstore-1st-havana

[Left Coast2020]

1. I can only wonder what Limp-Butt will say about this.

Probably something communist in tone which we should have none of. "The communist are coming to the U.S. And Obama is giving them the tickets!"

Watch out! They'll be coming!

Harrumph.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Ocean Press in Australia publish some of their own stuff in english.

http://www.oceanbooks.com.au/

Ocean books are available for purchase more or less throughout the island in what remain the government owned bookshops. Maybe cheaper on used Amazon but then the Cuban government doesn't get the income. I've got loads I bought on the island.

I'd be surprised if Conner Gorry really did have a problem finding "English-language sources" there. Walk into any hotel and peruse the multitude of books left by millions of Canadian and European tourists which are there for the taking.

[joshcryer]

3. The Internet has arrived in Cuba.

This is the signal. Woot!

[Ash_F]

4. It's a long slow road to reconciliation.

Made longer due to a certain party. Not that one. An American one.

[marble falls]

5. How hard would it be to send some books to her? I have a bunch of mystery books I'd love to send.

[dipsydoodle]

6. USPS mentioned resuming service to Cuba last month.

I can't see any issues with books which are not Cuba's restricted import list anyway.

[Kingofalldems]

7. We need to resume all relations with Cuba.