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thebobsphere's review
4.0
In Before Night Falls Arenas documents his life from his erotically charged childhood in the country to his teenage years as a victim to Castro’s reign over Cuba. As Arenas was a homosexual and a writer his life was full of persecutions, arrests and other horrors. In between we are given descriptions of the literary and homosexual scenes of Cuba during the 60’s and 70’s.
Eventually Arenas does manage to leave Cuba and head off to the States but, again he is out-of-place and feels like a person without any home or identity.
On one hand it is a savage criticism of Fidel Castro’s government but it is also a love letter to Cuba for when Arenas has to leave he misses it.
By the mid 80’s Arenas was diagnosed with AIDS , mostly due to his promiscuous lifestlye and he committed suicide in 1990. Although I found it tacky his suicide note is the final chapter in the book.
Did I like Before Night Falls? Oh yes. It’s a novel which brings out the frustration of someone who wants to be creative and isn’t allowed so there’s a lot of black humor in describing some of Castro’s ideas but there are moments of great beauty and these are the best bits of here.
Brutal, wonderful and painfully honest this is one autobiography that should not be missed!
Eventually Arenas does manage to leave Cuba and head off to the States but, again he is out-of-place and feels like a person without any home or identity.
On one hand it is a savage criticism of Fidel Castro’s government but it is also a love letter to Cuba for when Arenas has to leave he misses it.
By the mid 80’s Arenas was diagnosed with AIDS , mostly due to his promiscuous lifestlye and he committed suicide in 1990. Although I found it tacky his suicide note is the final chapter in the book.
Did I like Before Night Falls? Oh yes. It’s a novel which brings out the frustration of someone who wants to be creative and isn’t allowed so there’s a lot of black humor in describing some of Castro’s ideas but there are moments of great beauty and these are the best bits of here.
Brutal, wonderful and painfully honest this is one autobiography that should not be missed!
rachelevolve's review
3.0
I must admit, I was somewhat put off by the bestial eroticism in the beginning of this memoir. I felt it was rather gratuitous. However, halfway through, the story rapidly picks up the pace and focuses more on his political struggles in Cuba during both Batista's and Castro's regime. The writing gets much better as it progresses as well. If you're into Latin American literature it's definitely worth the read.
Thanks Fawz and Elsa.
Thanks Fawz and Elsa.
brnycx's review against another edition
4.0
"Cuba will be free. I already am."
A poignant memoir by Reinaldo Arenas, a gay writer and poet, written whilst dying of AIDs in exile after finally escaping Cuba and the many degradations he endured under the Castro regime. It thoroughly destroys any romantic notions one might have of Castro's communist dictatorship, and stands testament to the awful impact authoritarian regimes have on every facet of society. Under Castro, families are torn apart, friends turned against each other, a vibrant culture is drained of its vitality, artists are made to renounce their own work and create propaganda, 'undesirables' shipped off to concentration camps, worked to the bone and left to die.
And yet Before Night Falls is also a memoir of defiance and survival. Despite numerous betrayals, imprisonment, ostracisation and degradation, Arenas kept writing, risking everything to hide novel manuscripts under roof tiles, and even rewriting A Farewell to the Sea numerous times after various copies were found by the authorities and destroyed.
Although his wings were clipped under Castro, and his life tragically cut short when he finally found 'freedom', Arenas still managed to play an important part in international LGBT rights and the struggle against authoritarianism. His story deserves to be heard.
A poignant memoir by Reinaldo Arenas, a gay writer and poet, written whilst dying of AIDs in exile after finally escaping Cuba and the many degradations he endured under the Castro regime. It thoroughly destroys any romantic notions one might have of Castro's communist dictatorship, and stands testament to the awful impact authoritarian regimes have on every facet of society. Under Castro, families are torn apart, friends turned against each other, a vibrant culture is drained of its vitality, artists are made to renounce their own work and create propaganda, 'undesirables' shipped off to concentration camps, worked to the bone and left to die.
And yet Before Night Falls is also a memoir of defiance and survival. Despite numerous betrayals, imprisonment, ostracisation and degradation, Arenas kept writing, risking everything to hide novel manuscripts under roof tiles, and even rewriting A Farewell to the Sea numerous times after various copies were found by the authorities and destroyed.
Although his wings were clipped under Castro, and his life tragically cut short when he finally found 'freedom', Arenas still managed to play an important part in international LGBT rights and the struggle against authoritarianism. His story deserves to be heard.
zoechristyna's review against another edition
5.0
Before Night Falls is one of the first memoirs I’ve read in a really long time, and no words could fully express the power of this story. Reading this has been an EXPERIENCE and I’ve learned a lot along the way! It feels as though I was traveling along with R.A through his insanely eventful life. Also the movie sucks. They took way too much creative control and R.A would’ve hated it :(
wildgurl's review
4.0
Before Night Falls🍒🍒🍒🍒
By Reinaldo Arenas
1992
Penguin
Reinaldo Arenas, Cuban gay novelist, completed this memoir shortly before his suicide in 1990, just 3 years after being diagnosed with AIDS. Growing up in extreme poverty and an only child, he was eventually given a scholarship for Agricultural Accounting to polytechnic Institute that was really a front for Castros Regime, as a training facility. He became outspoken about his opposition to Castros totalitarianism beliefs and began writing. His novels were banned in the country because of their homosexuality, so he smuggled them abroad to be published. His imprisonment in a forced labor camp, working in sugarcane fields.....his numerous sexual encounters....his eventual escape to NY, where he committed suicide.
This is a fascinating as well as frightening memoir, told with candor and honesty. I'm going to look for more Arenas books
Recommended
By Reinaldo Arenas
1992
Penguin
Reinaldo Arenas, Cuban gay novelist, completed this memoir shortly before his suicide in 1990, just 3 years after being diagnosed with AIDS. Growing up in extreme poverty and an only child, he was eventually given a scholarship for Agricultural Accounting to polytechnic Institute that was really a front for Castros Regime, as a training facility. He became outspoken about his opposition to Castros totalitarianism beliefs and began writing. His novels were banned in the country because of their homosexuality, so he smuggled them abroad to be published. His imprisonment in a forced labor camp, working in sugarcane fields.....his numerous sexual encounters....his eventual escape to NY, where he committed suicide.
This is a fascinating as well as frightening memoir, told with candor and honesty. I'm going to look for more Arenas books
Recommended