Cultivating roots as a ‘CubaRican’

Eduardo del Río , an emeritus professor in the department of Literatures and Cultural Studies at UTRGV, has written a new book, “CubaRican,” published by Mouthfeel Press, which consists of short stories, vignettes and poems.

Del Río has written numerous essays published in peer-reviewed national and international journals. His most recent prose and poetry can be found in “Voices de la Luna,” “The Journal of Caribbean Literature” and “Label Me Latina/o.” 

The book is a series of bilingual poems and stories based on del Río’s experiences growing up in Puerto Rico as a Cuban exile. 

As a young child, del Río grew up in Cuba and lived in Spain, then moved to Puerto Rico.

“I was born in Havana, the capital of Cuba, and we left there when I was 4 years old,” he said. “And then in Puerto Rico, we lived in various places. I referenced Carolina for the most part, which is a large area in the metropolitan San Juan area. That’s the main setting.”

“CubaRican” can be described as creative nonfiction, according to del Río. 

“The stories and poems are based on events that actually happened that I remember,” he said. “But, of course, I’ve taken a lot of creative license in them. … The story is quite chronological to some degree.”

The author said his journey and adapting to a new country was difficult.

“We left Cuba in 1965, and then we went to Spain for a year and then to Miami for three years, and that’s where I learned English in school there,” he said. “That was extremely difficult, in those days, the early ’60s in Miami was not like it is now. No one spoke Spanish.”

Del Río was hired at legacy institution the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College

in 2002, and moved to the city in 2007.

About 10 years ago, del Río was first inspired to write the book.

“I had some thoughts, some little poems,” he said. “And I wrote those down just for me, and I never really thought anything would come of it. And then about five years ago, I started sending out poems to different journals.”

He started writing the book about three years ago.

“I’ve been working on the stories and poems for many years, but I’ve been putting them together as a complete whole and having a sense of chronology and theme and all of that,” del Río said.

He told The Rider that he thinks readers can identify with his book.

“I found, so far, that a lot of people who are not either from, or nor, Puerto Rican can identify with it,” del Río said. “ … I think there’s a lot of universality in it of how we … want to fit in as kids and how we navigate that identity process.”

The author said one of his favorite stories is titled “Quenepas,” a Spanish Lime.

“If you read the book, it’s a small fruit that grows in Puerto Rico and it’s called mamoncillo in Cuba,” he said.

“And, I guess, it’s kind of a symbol for something that is familiar to both Cubans and Puerto Ricans.”

Del Río said that eating quenepas reminds him of many things.

“Eating those fruits, and the sensation of them, reminds me of many things, of both of my homes, my family, of how sometimes it’s sweet, and sometimes it’s bitter to grow up and try to fit in,” he said.

Kathy Bussert-Webb, an emeritus professor in the department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies at UTRGV, attended a “CubaRican” book reading Nov. 21 at the bookstore Búho in Brownsville and said she identified with his reading and book in many ways.

“I really loved that his book is bilingual and that he speaks about his experiences as an immigrant in the United States,” Bussert-Webb said. “ … I’ve been to Cuba and the people there are very kind and it’s a beautiful country.”

One of the most prominent characters in “CubaRican” is del Río’s stepfather.

“He serves as a symbol, I guess, of one of my two halves, half of the Puerto Rican,” he said. “There’s a sense of conflict with him that is ultimately resolved. You know, that we come together in the end.” 

Del Río has advice for students interested in poetry or writing their own books.

“Write and put yourself out there,” he said. “Write about things you’re passionate about. Keep sending things out to journals, magazines, regardless of how many rejections you might get. … Persistence and passion, I think, are the two most important things.”

Del Río said regardless of one’s background, ethnicity, social or political status, people are more alike than they are different. 

“CubaRican” is available to purchase at mouthfeelbooks.com.