Dreaming in Cuban summary

Glances into The Past

In Dreaming in Cuban, Cristina García invites us into a retrospective exploration of the del Pino family, tracing its roots from Spain and encapsulating three generations who have been affected differently by the Cuban Revolution. We first meet Celia del Pino, the family matriarch who, in her old age, often finds herself lost in memories of her past, especially fixating on her early love affair with a Spaniard, Gustavo.

The narrative oscillates from the past to the present, ensuring we connect with the characters with a profound depth. Celia's husband, Jorge, departs for America, leaving her longing for her lost lover as she guards the coast. Jorge passes away after some years, and his death leaves indelible marks on his children, influencing their future dramatically.

The Dispersing Family

A significant portion of Dreaming in Cuban allows us to explore the lives of Celia's children. Lourdes, her oldest, moved to America with her husband and experienced significant transformation, partly due to a traumatic experience in Cuba. She turns from a devout believer to a casual agnostic, immerses herself in capitalist ideology, and nurtures a relentless hatred for Cuba.

Her sister, Felicia, on the other hand, has a different reaction to their father's passing and battles with mental illness; her life in Cuba is a tangle of religious syncretism, abusive partners, and ephemeral happiness. Meanwhile, Javier, the only son, turns away from both Cuba and the US, choosing to seek his fortune in the scientific community in Czechoslovakia.

The Generation Next

The following generation conveys the continued struggle with family history and identity. Lourdes' daughter, Pilar, seeks to understand her Cuban roots, experiencing a generational push-and-pull with her mother as she constantly yearns to return to Cuba. Pilar's narrative articulates the cultural tensions she faces growing up in New York and ponders over questions of belonging and identity.

Felicia's children, conversely, face different battles as they face the brunt of their mother's spiralling mental health. Caught in the clutches of hardship, they yearn for better lives, paving individual paths towards it - Ivan becomes a ballet dancer, Luz turns to religion while Milagro drifts through life aimlessly.

The Ties That Bind

As the novel reaches its climax, we witness Pilar's journey back to Cuba against Lourdes' wishes. Reuniting with Celia, she gains a deeper understanding of her family's complex history, witnessing her grandmother's strength first-hand. The families' ties to Cuba remain profound, despite the geographical, political and ideological distances that separate them.

In conclusion, Dreaming in Cuban paints a compelling picture of a family deeply rooted in its past and grappling with the implications of exile, political turmoil, and personal struggles. The book expresses a longing for a homeland and the pain of uprooted lives, allowing us a peek into the enduring connections that remain amidst the turbulence.