An Evening with José Sotolongo

Hear author José Sotolongo discuss his debut novel The Optimistic Cuban during a literary evening at Books & Books.

An Evening with José Sotolongo takes place Friday, October 17, and includes a reading and conversation centered on his historical novel set in 1959 Havana. The story follows Fernando, a middle-class student activist whose early hope in the Communist Revolution gives way to disillusionment as political repression intensifies. As tensions rise, he must navigate ideological divides, social upheaval and a complicated relationship with Julia, whose continued faith in the revolution contrasts with his growing doubts. Admission is free, and books will be available for purchase at the event. Sotolongo’s fiction has appeared in The Southampton Review, Third Coast, Atticus Review and other literary journals, with nominations for both the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.