Boring Home
I know of books that have stigmatized their authors and of writers who project a dark shadow over their works. Cases where the writer is as difficult as his texts seem to raise the question, which is hurt more by the other. Orlando Luís Pardo Lazo has been the direct cause of the fact that the stories collected under the title Boring Home were not presented at the Havana International Book Fair of 2009. He and his mania for complicating things, of finding linguistic games in a reality that understands slogans and shouts better. To make matters worse, he's dedicated to stealing, with his camera lens, certain imprudent images that contradict the official iconography. They don't show the apple, or even Adam, just the snake.
The radioactivity Orlando gives off stopped the presses, scared off the editors and keeps some acquaintances from greeting him in the street. His name disappeared from the list of writers promoted by the official institutions and was removed from the catalog of this Fair. However, the nutcase Lawton managed to print his book and now wants to release it. We, his friends -- other excluded people -- have decided to join him in the alternative launch of his writings on Monday, February 16th at three in the afternoon, outside the fortress of La Cabana.
Except for the threats, all this could have taken place with a little group sitting on the grass, talking about a published book. Since yesterday, an email is circulating on the intranet of the Ministry of Culture, warning us of various reprisals for the alternative release of the stories. Intimidating calls, accusations of being employees of the Empire -- how unoriginal they are! -- and even veiled warnings about being beaten up. All this has raised the profile of the release of Boring Home beyond anything we were looking for, giving the greatest prominence to the presentation of a banned writer.
We will be there, we will see if they let us leave.
*Ministry of Culture Intranet email text: Errors in spelling, writing and people's names are from the original.
I've heard a there's a message circulating, by email, promoting the presentation on this coming Monday, the 16th, outside La Cabana, of a book by Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, and that it will be presented by the infamous and counterrevolutionary blogger, Yoanni Sanchez, who is well compensated by the empire.
A few months ago a photo of Pardo Lazo also circulated, masturbating over a Cuban flag, an act that outrages all the sons of this country and of other latitudes because this is an insult to a symbol of the country. His literary work is little known, however this fact was disclosed as part of the propaganda against Cuba.
Pardo Lazo has become a puppet at the service of Yoanni and her clique.
I don't think they would carry out this stupid activity, to do so will give them a fright like that I've read in the "summons," and I've also had news of some disagreeable surprises they are going to find there.
Yoani's blog, Generation Y, can be read in English Translation here.