Rating: 
Summary: Riveting Reading
Review: Cuba Confidential is terrific - a thorough and compelling account of the interaction between the US Cuban community and the government of the country they left behind, with all that feeds into and results from their passions. What an eye-opener!
Highly recommended -I couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: A Remarkable Triumph of Reporting
Review: Cuba Confidential is the first book to clearly and sensitively dramatize the Cuban dilemma. I know of no other work that approaches the meticulous research, lucid perceptions and impartiality one finds on almost every page of this book. Ms.Bardach is truly fearless to tread in such troubled waters and we are all the richer for it.
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Summary: Banana Republic Politics and South Florida
Review: Cuba Confidential: Love and Vengeance in Miami and Havana is a definitive look at the two very different communities of the Cuban exiles in Florida and New Jersey and that of the nation of Cuba. Ann Louise Bardach provides an clear and primarily unbiased look at how the Cuban Revolution of 1959 caused a rift not only between America, which used the island as a sin city playground, and Cuba but between families who choose to support Castro and those who opposed communism. Bardach's book is part history and part sociology. Thoroughly researched and written with style of writing that keeps the reader highly interested chapter after chapter, "Cuba Confidential" hits many topics ranging from politcal corruption and terrorism to family values and race relations. Three of the most interesting and intriguing chapters are those of "Calle Ocho Politics", "An Assassin's Tale in Three Acts" and "The Third Rail". I found them the most interesting because they focused on the political climate of South Florida and the overwhelming influence of the Cuban exile community on the government of the state of Florida. As a history and political science major in college, I read about the strength of the primarily conservative Cuban Americans in South Florida but I never researched how pervasive and corrupt it was and still is. "Cuba Confidential" details the long list of injustices committed by some cuban officals in Florida and the Tammany Hall political machines that they run. Even the federal government through such agencies as the FBI are found to be influenced by the power and cohersion of Cuban politicos.
If you want to learn about the darker side of the "Sunshine State" then read this book. While covering topics that have been done to death like Elian Gonzalez, it still serves up more than most readers outside of Miami ever knew about Cuba and Cuban Americans. It is a must have for both the casual reader and someone looking to start a scholarly research into Cuban Americans and Florida politics.
Rating: 
Summary: Ignorance about Cubans and Cuba
Review: Every time I read a book about Cuba I used a highlighter the inaccurate/incorrect statements before search for any sign of bias. This book has the record: +15 by page number 10 (i.e. US Cuban-American population = 100000; black population in Cuba = 70%, etc.). Her exhibition of ignorance about Cuba and Cubans is outstanding. It's amazing how easy some "writers" run to publishers with such a low quality material.
Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting...
Review: From a West Coast reader with no real understanding of the Cuba/US history, this book is very informative and interesting. I wouldn't believe all the naysayers giving the book 1 star reviews. It appears they are quite biased against the viewpoint presented by this book and are opposing it for that reason only. Give the book a read - it's well worth it.
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Summary: Best Book on Cuban Miami Politics Ever
Review: I am a Cuban who lived in Miami all my life and just moved to New jersey; if I were to acknowledge to the Cuban community I left behind that I agree with this book, I could be hurt. Thank you, author, for bringing to light what it's like to live in a world surrounded by the Cuban "Mafia" who wants Cuba back to being in the monstrous hands of Corporate America. I lived close to where the Elian saga occured, and MIami became too opressive for me to continue living there. Every word in this book is factual.On a brighter and lighter note, if you Cubanfiles out there have children or grandchildren and want to get them the greatest little bilingual Cuban picturebook around (all Cuban characters, set in Cuban Little Havana's Calle Ocho Festival, written by a Cuban and illustrated by a Cuban), find, DRUM, CHAVI, DRUM!/TOCA, CHAVI, TOCA! This Cuban book isn't about politics, but it depicts the livlier and more beautiful side of Miami Cubans (we are not all monsters as the media sometimes loves to portray us!) This book is a must. I applaud the author for the impeccable research. I wish a Cuban would write a book like this, but she might be hurt...
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Summary: Disgusting
Review: I did not rate this 0 stars since that isn't an option. I know some the people accused in this book and I will tell you this is a pack of LIES. Ms. Bardach makes things up or twists things to suit her purposes. Don't buy this book, take it out of the library and THROW IT AT THE AUTHOR!
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone. It is just a great story and Ms Bardach is a skillful writer.
She documents her sources very well.
The topic is so polarizing. At times it seems as if the point of view of the hard line exile community is not being faithfully represented, but they have many outlets.
I would hope many Americans (and all over the world) read this book. It is a great example of how hate closes the mind.
I would have been interested in more details of the atrocities the Castro regime committed since comming to power.
Rating: 
Summary: Why is this "Confidential"?
Review: I found the book seriously incomplete and fairly biased in several respects. To argue that the Elian Gonzalez case reflects the views of the Cuban American community is, in a word, ignorant. Many Cubans in Miami in fact reluctantly favored sending this unfortunate child back to Cuba, in part because they understood that Castro would make political hay from the case. And he of course did. The recent spy cases, including the four "diplomats" sent back to Cuba this week by the US Government, underscores the extent to which Castro has infiltrated the US communities. Some of the most vociferous folks arguing to keep Elian here were in fact Castro "plants" who knew the impact and value of this issue to Castro. Most of the 1 million Cubans in Miami understood the politics and obviously were not among the 100 or so who paraded and hung out outside the house of Elian's uncle. And Cubans in Miami, notwithstanding this book, don't have a monopoly on corruption. ...
Rating:
Summary: This is a good book
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Most of what you hear coming out of Miami and Havana is incredibly biased to whatever it is you support. I found the author's approach fairly even handed. I do think she did herself some injustice by inserting opinions as though they were fact, especially in the Elian issue. Her insight into Jorge Mas Canosa was revealing and her balanced approach to the enigma that is Fidel was very good. I will probably re-read this and enjoy it just as much the second time around.
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