Music: Zambita by Gustavo Santaolalla
Che: A Memoir by Fidel Castro is not actually a book written by Fidel, but rather, a collection of the speeches he made, interviews answered and introductions he wrote about Che after his death. Starting from the news of Che's death in Bolivia in 1967, to the time when Che's remains were discovered and returned to Cuba in 1997. It is very clear that Che is a very, very dear person to Fidel. They are the epitome of absolute brothers, they highly respect, trust, understand and would practically do anything for each other. In other words, they are what I would call, "real bros".
His speeches etc are full of reverence of the most famous and recognized revolutionary and guerilla fighter in the world, even if it is only his face that the masses recognize. The famous sillhouette of Che is plastered all over tshirts and posters and buttons. Every action towards a just cause is associated with Che. What most people don't know, is the fact that he is an Argentinian, a doctor by profession, a self-learned economist, a communist, and a damn good writer.
This book can only be read if one has some background on the life and struggles of Che, and I think I accidentally had it right by reading books of Che in the order that I read it. If not, one would not be able to appreciate all that Fidel has to say, because one does not understand why he said it all. The first was The Motorcycle Diaries, a book that I bought when I was in New Delhi, for only RM20. It was about how he travelled throughout Latin America and how he came to develop his ideas and thinking that would later influence his whole life. I also find pleasure in the fact that my itinerary when I went South America is somewhat similar to Che's then. The second book was the Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and the third was the Bolivian Diary, titles are self-explanatory. I almost bought an autobiography of Che by Jon Lee Anderson but I was more interested in what Fidel had to say. Plus the book was too thick and huge. Apart from that, I also watched the movie versions of all the three books mentioned.
I don't support Che in his political ideologies, but rather I admire his attributes. If I were to choose just one word to describe Che, it would be, selfless.
If I hadn't been to South America, I wouldn't have been interested in reading about Che in the first place. (Like if I hadn't been to India, I wouldn't have read the autobiography of Gandhi, which I bought in New Delhi, also, for only RM20, bah so cheap!). It was my first trip of the year and it was the best trip that I've been on so far. And not only after I finished reading this book, that I realized, what a perfect book to end the year with.
So with that, Happy New Year to all!
Che: A Memoir by Fidel Castro is not actually a book written by Fidel, but rather, a collection of the speeches he made, interviews answered and introductions he wrote about Che after his death. Starting from the news of Che's death in Bolivia in 1967, to the time when Che's remains were discovered and returned to Cuba in 1997. It is very clear that Che is a very, very dear person to Fidel. They are the epitome of absolute brothers, they highly respect, trust, understand and would practically do anything for each other. In other words, they are what I would call, "real bros".
His speeches etc are full of reverence of the most famous and recognized revolutionary and guerilla fighter in the world, even if it is only his face that the masses recognize. The famous sillhouette of Che is plastered all over tshirts and posters and buttons. Every action towards a just cause is associated with Che. What most people don't know, is the fact that he is an Argentinian, a doctor by profession, a self-learned economist, a communist, and a damn good writer.
This book can only be read if one has some background on the life and struggles of Che, and I think I accidentally had it right by reading books of Che in the order that I read it. If not, one would not be able to appreciate all that Fidel has to say, because one does not understand why he said it all. The first was The Motorcycle Diaries, a book that I bought when I was in New Delhi, for only RM20. It was about how he travelled throughout Latin America and how he came to develop his ideas and thinking that would later influence his whole life. I also find pleasure in the fact that my itinerary when I went South America is somewhat similar to Che's then. The second book was the Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and the third was the Bolivian Diary, titles are self-explanatory. I almost bought an autobiography of Che by Jon Lee Anderson but I was more interested in what Fidel had to say. Plus the book was too thick and huge. Apart from that, I also watched the movie versions of all the three books mentioned.
I don't support Che in his political ideologies, but rather I admire his attributes. If I were to choose just one word to describe Che, it would be, selfless.
If I hadn't been to South America, I wouldn't have been interested in reading about Che in the first place. (Like if I hadn't been to India, I wouldn't have read the autobiography of Gandhi, which I bought in New Delhi, also, for only RM20, bah so cheap!). It was my first trip of the year and it was the best trip that I've been on so far. And not only after I finished reading this book, that I realized, what a perfect book to end the year with.
So with that, Happy New Year to all!
