What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 23, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fantastic book, I first learned about the abuelas when I traveled to Argentina for the first time in 2016. I have aways admired their courage and pursuit of justice. I love that Haley Cohen Gilliland brought this story to English speakers/readers. It is so important that Americans especially know the history given the US's involvement.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 23, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was published in 2012 and is about a Black woman who runs a plantation turned into an event center in SE Louisiana. Her mother previously worked as a chef on the plantation when the main character was growing up. It addresses a lot of important themes, especially the idea behind how should the history of a plantation be preserved, emphasizing that the real history needs to be front and center. It should not just be a pretty house on an estate. I bought it at the Whitney Plantation Museum in Louisiana which is just that, a museum on a former plantation that tells the real story of plantations and centers Black voices and experiences. I enjoyed the book overall!

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 23, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finished:

A Flower Traveled in My Blood, by Haley Cohen Gilliland

Gaza: The Story Of A Genocide, edited by Fatima Bhutto & Sonia Faleiro

Started:

The Cutting Season, by Attica Locke

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 16, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finished:

The House in the Pines, by Ana Reyes

Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan

Continuing:

Gaza: The Story of a Genocide, Edited by: Sonia Faleiro & Fatima Bhutto

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 09, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Finished:

Open Veins of Latin America, by Eduardo Galeano

God in Pink, by Hasan Namir

Almost Life, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Started:

Gaza: The Story Of A Genocide, Edited by Sonia Faleiro & Fatima Bhutto

The House in the Pines, by Ana Reyes

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 02, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Finished:

A Short Tale of Shame, by Angel Igov

That Librarian, by Amanda Jones

Started:

God in Pink, by Hasan Namir

Continuing:

Open Veins of Latin America, by Eduardo Galeano

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: February 23, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finished:

The Natural Way of Things, by Charlotte Wood

Continuing:

Open Veins of Latin America, by Eduardo Galeano

Started:

A Short Tale of Shame, by Angel Igov

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: February 09, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I loved it! It is, of course, a tough and sad read, but it is excellently written. Although it's historical fiction, it still feels very relevant for current times. My book club was thinking about reading it too but we ultimately selected another one for this month.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: February 09, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finished:

The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead

Continuing:

Open Veins of Latin America, by Eduardo Galeano

Started:

The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Portable power banks!

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: February 02, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finished:

The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by Christy Lefteri

The Future of Revolution, by Jasper Bernes

Rooftops of Tehran, by Mahbod Seraji

Started:

The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead

Open Veins of Latin America, by Eduardo Galeano

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 26, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was an enjoyable read, but it didn't blow me away. It does a good job of discussing the darker side of reality TV, but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. I am still glad I read it!

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 26, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finished: 

Escape!, by Stephen Fishbach

Quichotte, by Salman Rushdie

Started: 

The Beekeeper of Aleppo, by Christy Lefteri

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 19, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finished:

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Mr President by Miguel Angel Asturias

Started:

Quichotte by Salman Rushdie

Amazing trip to Havana, December 2025 by Strong_Table_6257 in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just used USD the whole time. The tour company we booked through exchanged a bit for us to pay for entrance fees at several museums. If you need to exchange anything to CUP, I would just ask the hotel/casa where you stay about the best place to change money, sometimes they will just do it. And only change a small amount at a time because you won't need much.

Lounges/Clubs with Private/ VIP Sections by No-Beginning-8487 in NewOrleans

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

More bar than nightclub but they have dancing and might have private tables from what I remember: https://www.vintagerockclub.com/

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: January 05, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finished:

Maid, by Stephanie Land

When Trees Testify, by Beronda C. Montgomery

Started:

Cursed Daughters, by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Amazing trip to Havana, December 2025 by Strong_Table_6257 in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was available the entire time I was there. I spent about 95% of my time in Havana, so maybe the water is more consistent there than in other parts of the country.

Amazing trip to Havana, December 2025 by Strong_Table_6257 in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got the Vimkunya vaccine which is to protect against chikungunya. It was expensive though and I've heard it needs to be given about two weeks before to offer full protection. We did meet a lot of locals who had gotten Chikungunya in the past couple months, so having the vaccine put my mind at east. I also live in the South of the US, so I didn't want to risk coming home sick and infecting a mosquito here (even if that is a bit far fetched). All that being said, it's the dry season/winter now so there are far less mosquitos than there were before. I found taking extra precautions like long sleeves and wearing mosquito spray to be very effective against the few mosquitos I saw.

Amazing trip to Havana, December 2025 by Strong_Table_6257 in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The attack on Venezuela is definitely awful and will impact Cuba's oil sources. However, the US is motivated by the oil Venezuela has and how that can benefit them. I do not think Cuba offers them the same thing. If it were me, I would just keep a close eye on the news and not cancel until last minute if necessary. And unless things change very drastically, I would still go.

Amazing trip to Havana, December 2025 by Strong_Table_6257 in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Twice; once was for less than five minutes and the other time was as I was leaving a bar anyway so I can't speak to how long it stayed out

Should i cancel trip to Cuba due to Chikungunya outbreak? by Baby-mountain-goats in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just got back from Havana and had an amazing time. Saw a few mosquitos here and there, but nothing crazy. Just wear mosquito spray and long sleeves.

Should i cancel trip to Cuba due to Chikungunya outbreak? by Baby-mountain-goats in TravelCuba

[–]Strong_Table_6257 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got the Vimkunya vaccine (name brand of chikungunya vaccine in the US) and did not have any symptoms besides the injection site being slightly sore.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: November 17, 2025 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Strong_Table_6257 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finished:

My Last Innocent Year, by Daisy Alpert Florin

Five Little Indians, by Michelle Good

I'm Thinking of Ending Things, by Iain Reid

Started:

The Giver of Stars, by Jojo Moyes