Vizcaya from the waterfront.

Quite naturally, we read a lot of books about Cuba. Many of the books we read are heartfelt recollections of the pre-Castro days of Cuba. As memoirs, they give great insights into a life and culture that no longer exists in Cuba today. However, many of the Cuba-themed books we read lack a strong literary focus. That's why it was very refreshing to discover a work of fiction that is not only well written, but remains true to its Cuban roots.

"Ghost Heart" is the debut novel of Havana-born Cecilia Samartin. It tells the story of two young cousins divided by the revolution. One cousin's family flees to the United States while the other family elects to ride out what they hope will be a temporary time of trouble. It proves to be a horrible decision for the family that remains behind. This is an excellent novel with strong characters and an engaging plot. Best of all it is a celebration of the things that all Cubans hold dear: family, friendship, and homeland.

Once I started reading this book I found it nearly impossible to put down. One moment it transported me to days long gone filled with happy memories of my early childhood, just to be as easily brought to places in my memory that were filled with nostalgia and sadness.

Samartin was able to describe experiences that were related to me by my brother-in-law Raúl about his time as a political prisoner of Castro. The events she describes that took place in her main character Nora's life as she became "American" were also experienced in very similar ways by my own family members in the exile. This is one book that I am asking my wife and children to read to better understand what has happened in our homeland as well as to see from another source what we have had to endure to adapt to this great land, America.

Rebecca Delgado (New World School of the Arts), currently a student at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and Alejandro H. Fumero (Ransom Everglades School) will play the lead roles in the play, "A Place Without Seasons," by playwright Marco Ramírez (Coral Reef High School).

The story takes place during a civil war in a small rural community that could be everywhere and anywhere in Latin America. A cast of six young performers tells a magical yet realistic story that is both literate and engaging.

Getting an invitation to the festival is a huge opportunity. The trio are now working to raise funds to produce the play this coming August. FringeNYC runs from August 13th-29th, 2004.

More information: ZafraProductions@hotmail.com

Mentirosa®, in Spanish, means "deceitful woman" and as the name implies, this is a game of deceit. A new Mentirosa set is being sold by Robert Barrueco, son of Cuban exiles and president of Yuca Productions, a family-owned business in South Florida.

Mentirosa is actually a very old game whose origins in Cuba go back 100 years or more. Cuban exiles brought the game to the United States in the 1950s. The game uses the same dice used in another popular game, cubilete -- or what are sold in the United States as "poker dice."

In the U.S. the game has experienced limited popularity. However, there are groups of dedicated players in Miami who have kept the game alive. Until now, most players had to fashion their own playing equipment, using such items as soup cans to fashion the special cups needed to roll and conceal the dice.

Barrueco and his family have obtained a registered trademark on the Mentirosa® name and sell a very high quality set for playing. The game includes an exquisite brass and cloisonné glass humidor-style display case topped with the Mentirosa emblem. The set also includes six natural leather playing tubes, casino-grade Spanish Poker Dice, and instructions in English and Spanish.

This is a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys Cubilete or just wants to play a classic Cuban game.