Mona and Other Tales

Reinaldo Arenas, author of the memoir, Before Night Falls, brings us an imaginative collection with Mona and Other Tales. 14 short stories and one essay comprise the posthumously published book. Arenas, a self-imposed Cuban exile, fled for New York City in 1980. Castro's iron fist fell harder on Arenas, a gay intellectual. The author was a political prisoner in Cuba for much of the 60s and 70s for his writings and lifestyle. His novel, Hallucinations, had to be smuggled out of Cuba. The book propelled him into international fame, however the author died in 1990. No one word or phrase can accurately describe Arenas' energy. He weaves sentences succinctly and soon, a beautiful tapestry lies before one's eyes. Like an acrobat who has perfected his or her art, there is no strain here. Arenas' words flow across the page. His humor is quick and subtle. Most interesting is the footnotes in the short story, "Mona"-both bizarre and hilarious. In the first footnote, the author pokes fun at himself. "Besides being frivolous, Arenas was a real ignoramus.""Mona" also verges into the fantasy genre. The main character, Ramon Fernandez, seemingly attacks the Mona Lisa painting at the Metropolitan Museum. I say seemingly because the strange story becomes stranger as it unfolds in a high-paced manner towards a surprising conclusion. The short stories "Parade Begins" and "Traitor" bear out the raw, difficult life in Cuba. One can feel the anguish of living in a non-tolerant Communist Cuba. My personal favorite, "Halley's Comet," follows the five Alba sisters in 1891 from their Andalusian home to a small town in Cuba. A simple, pure joy is expressed in this amorous short story that was inspired from Federico Garcia Lorca's play, The House of Bernarda Alba. Mona and Other Tales showcases Arenas' versatility. We peer into the mind of a sleepless boy on Christmas Eve, delve into an essay on Latin-American literature, understand the psychological horror a Communist regime dispels, and so much more is offered-a cornucopia of thoughts and emotions. Arenas will delight and horrify-an amazing collection of short stories that will jumble the brain with its originality.Bohdan Kot

Glorious work of amusing short stories. Reinaldo is able to weave entire worlds even in the span of just a few pages. Old Mona is fantastic and truely diffrent. I will never look at the Mona Lisa again in the same way. Bravo Reinaldo.

I was quite suprised that I had never heard of Reinaldo Arenas. He had to be one of the best writers that I had read. His language was certainly well-developed, had a certain sense of whimsy and captured the feeling of moments. I truly thought that Mona was interesting, with his twist on the Mona Lisa. He really captures the modern world in his speach, and I suggest anyone to read his writings.

Not an easy read - but a classic . Best to read Arenas last book first - (before night falls) to fully understand his life, then work back..