“Obstinado silencio” (Obstinate Silence) is the new book by renowned journalist Reinaldo Cedeño, published by Editorial Oriente here in Havana. This text is a fictional portrait of the essence of human beings in any time and place in the world.
According to Cedeño, this is his second volume of short stories, in which he dares to use fiction in 75 pages, offering readers stories about violence, women, sexual diversity, nature and respect for one’s individuality and wisdom.
“In every place, stories are told from the closeness or distance of reality, through journalism and literature, which for me are like two hands; I can’t cut either one off; they’re together,” he noted.
He stated that through fiction, one should and can also recreate and delve into various unsuspected worlds, because “you’re like a god who creates characters and atmospheres, and I enjoy that very much.”
I won’t give up my chronicles or interviews, which are an essential part of my life, nor will I give up touching on topics of everyday Cuba in my work, expressed the recipient of the José Antonio Fernández de Castro Cultural Journalism Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2021.
“The most important thing,” Cedeño affirmed, “is always the human being, through their stories. I am a journalist and writer because I’m interested in people; I’m curious, especially about why you live the way you do, why you defend or love something, why you cling to an idea, and those are facts I enjoy discovering.”
According to the radio host and narrator, silence is very important in life: “It means waiting, respecting, and reflecting; you have to be silent before a grave, when a child is sleeping, so that that personal cry can be better concentrated and the message better conveyed; hence the name of the book.”
“Obstinate Silence” is composed of 15 stories, including Shame, The Clan of the Flying Men, The Switch, Goddess, The Watchman, The Oath and The Last Wish.
The book will soon be presented in Guantánamo and at the Fiesta de la Cubanía in Bayamo, as part of the celebrations for Cuban Culture Day.
Reinaldo Cedeño is a columnist for various print and digital media in Cuba, and has also won important awards from the Cuban and international literary and journalistic communities.
He has published, among other titles, Poems from the Lens, The Bone in the Paper, Being a Journalist, Being Quixote, and The Little Words.
[SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS]
