Learning to Die in Miami: Confessions of a Refugee Boy Audiobook

" Loved it. Terrible things he went through as a child, and how hard it was for Carlos to push past and let go. I wish I had gone to see him speak when he came to town. Maybe he will come again soon - he lives in Guilford, CT! "

" The writing is exquisite. If you don't read this for the story, read it for the writing. "

" As one of the 14,000+ children airlifted from Cuba without parents in the early 1960s, I really identified and understood this book. 11 yr old Carlos had to "die" and become Charles/Chuck/Charlie to survive the translocation at such a tender age. He had to put his parents in the "vault of oblivion" and learn to survive in a "new world" as we all did. I don't think you could appreciate this book without having read "Waiting for Snow in Havana", his first book, which is an even better story. This book moved around in time quite a bit (Whoosh, he calls it) so it is harder to keep track of the chronology. "

" I loved this story. Great writing and insight. I really enjoyed seeing events in the early 60s between Cuba and the US through the author's eyes. The book is funny, informative, and entertaining. "

" This is the second of Carlos Eire's books (Waiting for Snow in Havana). I love this guy's writing and how he came to receive the Lord and the truth is phenomenal. He now teaches religious studies at Harvard. This is the true, raw story of the Pedro Pan airlift that brought 12,000 refugee Cuban children to the states - separated from their parents for years and sometimes forever - and what their life was like in the 1960s. I lived in Miami then so the story has particular interest to me. "

" Interesting, but I think you have to read his first book Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy in order to make sense of this one. "

" Eye-opening about the Cuba Revolution.... The author is a professor at Yale now. He was dumped in America with NOTHING, not even his parents. "

" The author was 11 years old in l962 when he was one of 14,000 Cuban refugee children flown to the United States to escape the Castro revolution. He and his brother were placed in many foster homes and this book tells the problems with language, culture and constant moving. Interesting reading, though there were so many back and forward flashes, it was a little confusing at times. "

" I enjoyed this book, especially since I knew nothing about the political situation that it deals with . It was a touching and humorous real story. "

" very moving especially if you've read his previous book, Waiting For Snow In Havana. Inspiring the way a good memoir should be and a great testament to the human spirit and our ability to thrive even under oppressive conditions. "

" A biography that is actually interesting. "

" This is the story of a young Cuban who was evacuated to the US along with 10000 other Cuban children in the early 1960's. The facts are very interesting, but I was so put off by the style of writing that I did not finish the book. Perhaps it reads better as a book for adolescents. "

" Book Club- Not bad. Good discussion. "

" Fantastic memoir. Loved every page. Well written an understatement. Flows effortlessly back and forth through time - tying everything in- in a way that transcends time. Amazing what children, people, endure, and how they can continue on, overcome, and even shine. I loved this book. "

" I really enjoyed Carlos writing style. Yes the book did go back and forth between past and present but it was well done. I am going to find his first book and read that to. Definetly worth reading. "

" Not a fan of his writing style...or the authors perspective. "

" Good story line, but way too tedious to try to get through this book. "

" DisappointIng after Waiting ... Havana. The marvelous descriptions of his almost magical childhood give way to the pathos & self-pity of Miami. perhaps this book should be viewed more as political comment on the airlift - a sad situation,but less compelling or engaging reading than the first memoir. "

" Liked Waiting for Snow in Havana better but had to know what happened next! "

" Didn't care for the attitude of the author - whiny and blaming, and anti-gay. Rather clouded the rest of his message. "

" Sequel to Waiting for Snow in Havana, a searing look at the aftermath of Los Pedro Pan. "

" oh, look! my navel! "

" Reverent, sweet, joyous, tragic, angry, sarcastic. Written with such consciousness, intelligence and wit. "

" very moving especially if you've read his previous book, Waiting For Snow In Havana. Inspiring the way a good memoir should be and a great testament to the human spirit and our ability to thrive even under oppressive conditions. "

" Most say Waiting for Snow in Havana was better. I found this interesting, sad, uplifting. I love that he loves the library..a poor little branch in Little Havana, Miami. "

" I had no idea so many thousands of children were airlifted out of Cuba in the 1960's and dumped in foster care and group homes. "

" Book Club- Not bad. Good discussion. "

" rather interesting subject matter, handled with terribly drifty writing. too bad. "

" Loved it. Terrible things he went through as a child, and how hard it was for Carlos to push past and let go. I wish I had gone to see him speak when he came to town. Maybe he will come again soon - he lives in Guilford, CT! "

" I enjoy Carlos Eire so much. This isn't disappointing.<br/><br/>As a Floridian I love to read this part of our history...not always pretty, but we know why Florida isn't weird...it's unique. "