From our Bureau of Socialist Open-Mindedness and Tolerance with some assistance from our Bureau of Woke Consciousness-Raising in Socialist Latrine American Totalitarian Hellholes
Wanna see what American book fairs would be like if the Woke Party were to take over the U.S.? Look no further than Havana, where an international book fair is currently being held, at which only “approved” books are on display. Even worse, many of the foreign books can’t be touched or purchased, and those that can actually be bought are unaffordable. Naturally, this book fair — which is being held at La Cabaña fortress, where thousands of Cubans were tortured and executed by Castro, Inc. — excludes all Cuban writers who have dared to challenge the dictatorship. The Ministry of Truth ensures purity of thought by keeping a long list of “enemies of the Revolution” whose books are banned, including those written by Tres Fotutos. Nice place, Castrogonia. No wonder the Woke Party likes it so much.
From 14yMedio via Translating Cuba
The Havana International Book Fair invited two countries this year: an official one, Brazil, and an “unofficial” one, Russia, whose booth, although small, is located at the same entrance of La Cabaña. This Sunday, however, neither of the two managed to satisfy the readers, who ended the day annoyed not only because of the bad weather, but because the few books they found – in Portuguese and Russian – were “only for display.”
Among the visitors, who were taking refuge from the downpour in the entrance, the irritation was evident: “They should have announced that this was going to be suspended today. Now we are here and can see that the tents are closed.” When the rain abated and the wet mass of people finally began to move towards the Russian pavilion – among others – the disappointment was even worse. “I thought I was going to find many more books. But what they sell is mostly stationery and office supplies,” complained a visitor.
Books from the Spanish publisher Everest, with stories adapted from Disney movies such as Pocahontas and The Ice Age, or from the DC Comics franchise – on several occasions described as “imperialist” and “subversive” on Cuban Television – accompanied the exhibition of Russian titles, guarded by three men who, when asked by some customers, debated whether they should sell the texts. “We should sell the books if no one is going to notice,” the manager told two women who accompanied him, although he did not clarify whose “permission” he needed.
Further on, school notebooks, coloring books, children’s notebooks, crayons, felt-tip pens and pencils occupied several tables, where the majority of visitors crowded around. The reading material, with low-cost books and “gazette” paper, barely showed some classic foreign titles such as The Diary of Anne Frank, The Plague, by Albert Camus and 1984, by George Orwell, ignored by the clientele for their high prices. “The cheapest I’ve seen,” a reader said, “was one about Sherlock Holmes at 1,000 pesos.”
In the case of 1984, whose author was censored on the Island for several decades for his novels, which criticize totalitarian forms of government, there are only a few copies of a Cuban edition, published by the Colombian publisher, Globals Ediciones.
Further on, in the immense pavilion dedicated to Brazil, a presentation of a book in Portuguese barely attracted the attention of those who, more interested in taking refuge from the rain than in listening to the author, occupied the chairs. The exhibition of titles, here also, was one of “you can look but don’t touch,” according to two women.
Continue reading HERE
Oh, I’m sure Cubans are just dying to read Russian books approved by Putin and company. Lameculos.