Book Club Guide: Next Year in Havana

Romance, political upheaval, history, a search for a family secret, intriguing Cuba, Next Year in Havana has it all. Even though it wasn’t a book we would rave about (check out our thoughts in our Next Year in Havana book review), it’s a good choice for a book club, because there are a lot of things that can make your meeting fun and things to discuss.

Suggested discussion questions:

1. What did you know about Cuba before this? Do you feel you learned anything new from this book or did it leave you wanting to know more?
2. The novel alternates between Elisa Perez’s life in Cuba in 1958 and 1959 and her granddaughter Marisol Ferrera’s trip to Cuba in 2017. Which woman did you identify with more? What parallels can you see between their personalities and their lives? What differences? (Taken from the Next Year in Havana Book Club Kit.)
3. Did you like the way the book was written to alternate between the two stories and timelines?
4. 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 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? (Taken from the Next Year in Havana Book Club Kit.)
5. 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? (Taken from the Next Year in Havana Book Club Kit.)
6. There are several instances of sacrifice in the book. Which one did you feel would have been most difficult for you?
7. Politics and the idea of rebellion are pivotal to the storyline–what are your thoughts on revolution? Could you fall in love with someone involved radically opposed to your government like Pablo?
8. Cleeton has written a second book, When We Left Cuba, that also follows the Perez family, but focused on Elisa’s older sister, Beatriz. Do you agree with this choice or is there another character you’d like to learn more about?
9. Travel to Cuba has somewhat reopened again. Do you have a desire to visit there? Why or why not?
10. Do you think the story would lend itself well to a movie? If so, what actors/actresses would you cast?

Other suggestions for your discussion:

Learn more about Chanel Cleeton (the author) and her real-life family.

Serve up some Cuban cocktails! (I’m partial to mojitos, myself.)

Play some Buena Vista Social Club or other Cuban music.

Watch Una Noche to see what the city really looks like.

Cook up some Cuban food (it’s more than just sandwiches!).