Discussion Questions
1. Exile
2. Magical Realism (the use of supernatural or magic, but presented and accepted as if part of the natural realm).
3. The non-chronological narration
4. Satire
5.The craziest character
6. Female sexuality
Thank you Olga for coming out on Saturday. I almost thought I was going to be the only one there. I really enjoyed the discussion; we of course talked of so many things other than the book. Here is a short snippet of the many things we spoke of:
Exile
Roberto G. Fernández’s Raining Backwards captures the predicament of the Cuban exile very well. Even though the Cubans are satirized and their follies exposed, the novel brings alive the pain and anger of the Cubans who were deposed of their home with no possibility to return home. The two stories (which is what one may refer to the chapters in this novel, because of their completeness) that refer to a return to Cuba, end in irony- “Raining Backwards” and “Tatiana.” The former, which is also the title of the novel, is the story of the universal hope of man to die in his own home. Magical Realism, which is a technique used by Fernández many a times, is used to find in the harsh reality that magical moment, which allows us to keep believing. The latter tale is of Manny, now completely blind (even though in the first story he gets his sight back, thanks to the magical sap from the very angry Mr. Olsen's tree, also another example of Fernández use of Magical Realism) wanting to at least be able to face Cuba, even though he can’t see it any more. Both the tales are of a grandparent and grandchild; the younger one does not yet understand or realize why the elder wants to return to Cuba so badly. In “Raining Backwards” the grandchild understands, once he grows old and becomes a grand parent himself, and death approaches.
Language
Fernández loves to play with language, especially the silly translations into English, which only make sense if you are familiar with Spanish. “Vacillation” (vacilón-Having fun), “The Good Night” (La Noche Buena- Christmas Eve), the reference to the city in Cuba, Cienfuegos as the city of Hundred Fires are a few of the examples. The cultural references many a times, can only be understood by someone familiar with literature from the Spanish speaking cultures, for example the letter found on the dead body of Connie. The poem is the English translation of the 17th century Mexican poet Sor Juana de la Inés’ well known “hombres necios,” but there abounds other cultural references to American popular literature as well, for example the reference to Superman. The Olsens are no other than Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, Superman’s lady love and pal respectively.
Non-linear narrative and development of characters
The novel does not follow a linear narrative, and has to be read in its totality to find the connections. It is almost like a jig-saw puzzle, keeping the reader on his or her toes, keeping the reader engaged. For those who do not like non-linear narrative there are stories which can be enjoyed just by themselves. There are so many crazy characters that one can enjoy the short vignettes, but it is fun to find out the whole story about them, even though it means reading bits and pieces, and many a times going backwards. Mirta Vergara is certainly my favorite. She is a character who embodies so many characteristics. Mirta like all the exiles wishes to return home, and in the impossibility of the situation prefers to re-create Cuba, with cat-litter and Alka-Seltzer in her own bath-room. Nostalgia is taken over by fiction, as Varadero beach becomes the site of her incomplete life. Telling the young Eloy tales of Cuba is like foreplay, which becomes a necessity to remain connected to Cuba. Her imagined rape by Eloy and later by other men are projections of her frustration enveloped in a sexual fantasy. It is so interesting that every time she tells one of her girl-friends about her rape, they just take it in like another story they tell each other with no consequences.
The novel has so much to offer and is certainly gives so much food for thought about exile, and the Latinos in the United States. Americans and their racist attitudes are also satirized. Female sexuality in the Cuban and the American culture is scrutinized. You can laugh out loud or simply let out a loud sigh. Fernández, of course a product of this culture knows what he writes, but he simply gets into their heads. I am reading this novel after a long time and I seem to enjoy it more. Maybe not the prefect book to be taught in high-school, but certainly great for the university class-room!
1 comment:
Thank you for your wonderful analysis of this book! I enjoyed reading it and it provided much insight into things that I had missed.
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