The Guardian newspaper has named two short story collections written by one of UCF鈥檚 English professors to the Top 10 must Reads about Cuba, just as relations between Cuba and the United States begin to thaw.
Cecilia Rodr铆guez Milan茅s was recognized in the Guardian鈥檚 list of ten books to best help understand Cuba.聽 Milan茅s, an associate professor in the Department of English has been teaching writing and literature for more than 15 years. Born to Cuban parents and raised in New Jersey, Milan茅s had a different story of Cubans to tell than what was typically depicted.
鈥淚 wanted to expand the mainstream idea of what a Cuban is,鈥� said Milan茅s as she recalled the highly covered Mariel Boatlift in 1980. 鈥淭hey are not all involved in gangs or resemble Tony Montana from Scarface.鈥�
This recognition comes as the United States and Cuba attempt to repair a long history of hostility dating back to Fidel Castro overthrowing the government in 1959 and nationalizing property across the island. For more than half a century, the two counties have had no diplomatic relations. After years of silence, Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro have decided to put an end to their country鈥檚 longtime hostility and to work towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
Through the fictional characters in her short stories, 鈥淢arielitos, Balseros, and other Exiles鈥� and 鈥淥ye What I鈥檓 Gonna Tell You,鈥� Milan茅s offers readers an opportunity to better understand the life of those living in Cuban communities in the U.S.
In her short story entitled Dr. Cubanita, readers are introduced to Lidia, a young psychologist.聽 On her way to a conference in Tampa, Lidia reminisces on the events of life that has caused the young doctor to go from living a life of lavish in Miami, to returning to live with her mother in the home that once represented her family鈥檚 climb into the middle class. From the separation of her parents, to the downfall of her ex-husband, Sergio, to drugs, Lidia story reveals the triumph of a young Cuban woman.
鈥淢arielitos, Balseros, and other Exiles鈥� and 鈥淥ye What I鈥檓 Gonna Tell You,鈥� came in as number four and five on the Guardian鈥檚 must read list.
鈥淚t was such an amazing surprise that I never expected,鈥� said Milan茅s. The Guardian is the third most read newspaper website, and a recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize. 鈥淥ye What I鈥檓 Gonna Tell You,鈥� is scheduled to be released to the general public in April.
To view the list of novels visit, .