"Old Rosa: A Novel in Two Stories" is a compelling work of fiction by Reinaldo Arenas, one of Cuba's most important writers. As the book's subtitle indicates, this work consists of two shorter pieces. The first, "Old Rosa," has been translated into English by Ann Tashi Slater; the second, "The Brightest Star," has been translated into English by Andrew Hurley.

The first story tells of the family of Old Rosa, a Cuban landowner whose life begins to fall apart under Castro's revolution. As Arenas explores her family and community relationships, he illuminates such issues as racial prejudice, homophobia, and economic conflict. This is a powerful story which skillfully blends elements of hard-core realism with hallucinatory supernatural touches.

The second story, "The Brightest Star," follows the experiences of Old Rosa's son Arturo in a Cuban forced-labor camp. This is a harrowing tale which deals in part with the redemptive power of writing and fantasy.

This book is an important piece of 20th century Latin American literature. The only drawback I found as a reader was the fact that each story unfolds as a single unbroken paragraph; this format, although impressive from a technical aspect, gets somewhat tiring after a while. But I still recommend "Old Rosa." And I also suggest that those who are impressed with Arenas' gifts as a fiction writer also read his remarkable autobiography, "Before Night Falls" (which has been made into a compelling film).

Old Rosa's world falls apart - a son joining the rebels made a crack - discovering her favored son is homosexual completes the destruction. The final five pages are incredible writing - Rosa's anger turns towards God, towards an angel, and turns destructive as she refuses to face the disgrace.

Yes, the two related stories in this slim volume stand as excellent writing in themselves - but the fire scene transforms the book into "incredible".

This book is in the same category as the James Ennes book: JUNK. If you are interested about the actual occurences of this incident, read the actual sworn testimony that crewmembers gave days after the attack.

"I yelled to machine gun 51 to tell him to hold fire. I realized that there was a possibility of the aircraft having been Israeli and the attack had been conducted in error." (Sworn testimony of Cdr. William L. McGonagle, June 14, 1967)

Mr. Ennes had this lie in his book, which no doubt appears in Mr. Carlson's:
McGonagle must have been mistaken about sighting the Israeli flag at this point in the attack. For one thing, it would have been practically impossible to identify a tiny and wildly fluttering Star of David a mile away, particularly since any flags displayed by the torpedo boats would have streamed back, away from McGonagle and out of his line of sight. (Assault on the Liberty, p 149 )

Cdr. McGonagle, who had binoculars, obviously did not agree. In addition, the Israeli jets attacked the Liberty along the length of the ship, so that Liberty's flag would also have "streamed back, away from" the "line of sight" of the pilots

Michael Oren and other independent investigators have found the same thing that the Navy, CIA, NSA, Senate and Congress have reiterated for 35 years: THE ATTACK WAS ACCIDENTAL

I found this book totally enthralling because it tells us a story that is crying out to be told, particularly in the United States. It tackles so many of the questions that have arisen over the years with regard to the Middle East and which can never be satisfactorily answered by a press and, dare I say it? An entire US population, that is not allowed to speak of things as they really are.

Hurley writes superbly and never rants. He doesn't need to: a calm, factual telling with credible documentation is all that's required. He speaks of how the original, more idealistic vision of Ben Gurion (albeit ably abetted by the terrorism of Begin & Shamir's bloody gangs) was later hi-jacked as these two entered politics as the Likud in 1977 and the entire future of Israel was jeopardized for the pseudo-religious dream of a "Greater Israel"; holding onto captured territories whatever the cost to ordinary Israelis, Palestinians and Americans (and it is great - to all!).

Hurley shows how virtually the entire US Congress is under the control of AIPAC, the huge Israeli lobby group; how successive administrations have been hamstrung by AIPAC in their efforts to achieve peace. AIPAC virtually makes US policy in all matters relating to Israel and this policy may often be against the interests of Israel AND, ominously, against the interests of the people of the United States. The most chilling revelations, for me, come when Hurley speaks of Israeli espionage in the USA. According to him, the US foreign policy-making and military research establishments are fully penetrated by Israeli intelligence: often, a new and top secret weapon will have hardly left the drawing board before Israeli defense experts are at the Pentagon asking for it. Sometimes acquiring it ahead of the US military.

Hurley sees Israel as being on a path to destruction and urges that it is the duty of the USA to demonstrate 'tough love' and deny Israel's extremist leaders, and especially AIPAC, the free hand they now have. He points out that AIPAC claims to represent all US Jewry but that many dissident voices have been suppressed under dire threat of social and career consequences. If these voices could only speak out loud and clear, Hurley says that the race to destruction could be halted.

Two deficiencies appear in the book. The first is that Likud is squarely blamed for Israel's taking the path to destruction, yet there were ten years following the six-day war and the subsequent election of Begin in which the Labor party was in power and could have avoided this. The second deficiency is that most of the book dwells in the late 1980s and we hunger for an update yet, as we read, we realize that things have changed very little and we see shadowy events of those times in bright sunlight today!

If and when ever America awakens to these undeniable realities, things will go badly for Israel and AIPAC will have much to answer for.

This book should be read with an open mind by everybody who cares about the future of the US and Israel.

This book is an eye-opener. Americans need to learn that Israel is not an ally of the US. The abuse and corruption of our government by Israel is ghastly. Please read this book.

This is a well researched book that kept me involved and thinking. As one from the midwest and born post-boom (1966), I accept the challenge Dr. Hurley offers about society. Are diners, bowling alleys and trailer parks just kitch or are they still valid measurements of social class?

As a person born in Cleveland, Ohio, raised in Rockford, Illinois and attended college in St. Louis, Misouri,I do not know if I should be flattered or insulted by the references to these cities. I find this a quandary because I know the information presented it is true.

This book makes me reflect on my own Ellis Island imigrant heritage. How did I not grow up at the diner, bowling alley or trailer park? I feel a bit sorry I did not.