Elisa chooses to save her letters from Pablo and her memories of their romance by burying them in a box in the backyard. What initially attracts Elisa to Pablo? Do you believe they would have been able to overcome the differences between them if they weren’t caught in the midst of the Cuban Revolution? Or was their love fueled by the urgency of the times?ĩ. Do you agree with her decision? Would you have wanted your ashes spread in Cuba or would you have preferred to be buried on American soil? Do you think Marisol picked the best place to spread Elisa’s ashes? Where else would you have considered scattering them? Have you scattered the ashes of a loved one? What was the experience like?Ĩ. Elisa’s final wish is to have her ashes scattered over Cuban soil. What are some examples of this? Did you identify with one character’s point of view more? Are there certain expectations in your own family? Do you feel the need to live up to them? How have they shaped your life decisions?ħ.
Family plays an important role in the novel, and each of the characters face their own struggles in their attempts to live up to their family’s expectations. How do the characters make sacrifices for one another, and what are some examples of them risking their safety and security for their loved ones? How do you think you would have acted in similar situations?Ħ. Sacrifice is a major theme that runs throughout the novel.
What similarities can you see between Pablo's and Luis’s dreams for Cuba? What differences are there in their worldview? How do they go about achieving their dreams for a better Cuba?ĥ. Like her grandmother, Marisol falls in love with a man who has revolutionary political leanings. How much does a physical place define one’s identity? How does Marisol’s trip alter her views about being Cuban and change her perception of herself? How do Marisol and her family attempt to keep their heritage alive in exile? Are there stories and rituals handed down through the generations in your family?Ĥ.
When Marisol arrives in Cuba she struggles with identifying as Cuban because she grew up in the United States and because she has never set foot on Cuban soil. How are the themes of hope and exile illustrated in the book? How does the weight of exile affect the Perez family?ģ. The final chapter ends over a decade later with her posing the same question. The first chapter ends with Elisa wondering how long her family will be away from Cuba. Which woman did you identify with more? What parallels can you see between their personalities and their lives? What differences?Ģ. The novel alternates between Elisa Perez’s life in Cuba in 19 and her granddaughter Marisol Ferrera’s trip to Cuba in 2017.
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