Ann Louise Bardach

This meticulously-researched book makes two things abundantly clear: first, that Fidel Castro may very well be a sociopath; and second, that the leaders of the Cuban exile community in Miami are all unquestionably sociopaths.

I think the author did a wonderful job of showing how Castro always operated from a love of his country and a desire to end America's exploitation of his land and people, while at the same time not sugar-coating the fact that he has done terrible things to lots of people in order to reach his goals. She points out how his actions over the past 50 years have catapulted a tiny and little-known country into one of the world's major players. She makes clear that the American government's policies and actions have played right into Castro's rhetoric of a David and Goliath relationship.

The parts about Castro and Cuba were wonderful, but the parts about the Miami exile community were jaw-dropping. The author provides ample evidence that shows the exile leadership has created its own little fiefdom in the city of Miami, where Cubans and non-Cubans alike must conform to the exile leadership's opinions and follow its orders, lest they be blacklisted or even killed. In the case of Elian Gonzalez, the author shows how the Miami exile community would gladly sacrifice the life of a six-year-old child in order to score points against Fidel Castro. Truly, they are disgusting.… (altro)

This book will certainly not get any awards for its writing style. However, as someone with an interest in tabloid culture and the wealthy, I definitely found things to enjoy. The subject of this non-fiction book, Vicki Morgan, was a woman whose only real assets seemed to be beauty and a willingness to be used by a series of wealthy men. The most long standing of these relationships was with Alfred Bloomingdale, of the department store family, and whose wife was best friends with Nancy Reagan.
Although the book was written shortly after Vicki's murder, to capitalize on the rumors related to her murder. I found that the more interesting part of the book was prior to Morgan's death, as the authors explain her ability to live a glamorous and expensive life without ever working and only relying on the men in her life. At one point, she is living in a house rented for her by Alfred and receiving a $16,000 a month allowance. At another, she is cheating on her third husband with a heroin addicted Middle Eastern princess.
The last third of the book, which recounts the trial of Morgan's murderer and then takes a weird turn into a discussion about the failures of the mental health system is less interesting.
… (altro)