A BOOK REVIEW BY JONATHAN H ERB ERT Cuba Straits is a truly unique novel that is as much political as it is baseball-centric, with an island feel and accurate prose from a familiar perspective in Doc Ford. Randy Wayne White clearly has a passion for baseball and a long history with Cuba. The action-packed story Randy presents encapsulates both with great precision. Major League Baseball is now in full swing, making this the perfect read for fans of both baseball and the author. "I first visited Cuba in 1976 on a scuba diving trip and have been going back ever since,” Randy said. “In 1980, I traveled on a 55' boat with more than 100 Cuban refugees to Florida. That was a powerful experience." This work is an achievement and possibly his best Doc Ford novel. While Cuba remains a mystery for most Americans, the author’s depiction of its people and temperate landscape prove that fiction can sometimes replace reality. The author has traveled to Cuba extensively since 1970. His understanding of the island and its people gives him a unique perspective to write such a novel. Extensive research only adds to the storyline and authenticity throughout. In Cuba Straits Doc Ford’s friend, General Juan Garcia, is in the business of smuggling Cuban baseball payers into the United States among other profitable dealings described as high-profile collectibles. Through these transactions, he finds a collection of Fidel Castro letters written to a secret girlfriend dated from 1960-1962. This acquisition is beyond Garcia’s comprehension and soon after, he disappears. Then the man who purchased the letters also goes missing. Doc Ford begins his own investigation and is convinced that the letters contain secrets that cannot be made public. Tomlinson is hysterical as usual and the introduction of Figueroa Casanova – Figgy – a light-hearted shortstop who vows to never tell a lie, is yet another great character in this series. The fast-paced storyline will keep you engaged until the very end. In the author’s note Randy describes Cuba and his baseball past. I first saw children playing baseball with bats they’d carved by hand, and balls made of asphalt and wrapped in twine. The pure joy with which they played – wow. The memory stuck with me. In high school, I was a mediocre catcher (as my venerated coach, Bill Freese, will confirm) but I loved the game. My pal Gene Lamont (American League Manager of the Year, White Sox; now a Detroit icon) managed Kansas City’s single A team at the time, and Gene came through in a big way. On my next visit I brought along 100 balls, my catcher’s gear and bags, bats and gloves, mostly major league quality. I returned to Florida with an empty backpack and bigger plans for the future.” The web site randywaynewhite.com states, “In 2002, a one-hour documentary film called ‘The Gift of the Game’ about White’s trip to BOOK REVIEW
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