Montecallado Books to Be Featured at Havana’s Sábado del Libro

The traditional literary gathering Sábado del Libro, held on Calle de Madera in Havana’s historic center, will showcase three books from Montecallado Publishing House, based in Mayabeque, on May 10. The featured works are Cantos fáciles…difíciles by Ada Isabel Machín Álvarez; Yo siempre quise gritar esto by Maylan Álvarez; and Eros insomne. Historias de amor y erotismo by Lázaro Alfonso Díaz Cala and Aida Elizabeth Montanarro Torres.

Cantos fáciles…difíciles, winner of the 2021 Francisco Riverón Décima Prize, is a poetry collection introduced by Roberto Manzano. The book overflows with lyricism, with each stanza resonating in musical cadence. “Each verse sings; the rhythm of the language allows it. The symphony that emerges from these pages is born from the seamless union of music and poetry. Together, they form the nourishing source of these perfect décimas,” reads a press note from the Cuban Book Institute.

In Yo siempre quise gritar esto, the second book, Maylan Álvarez introduces Fulanita, a bold, genuine woman who speaks her truth unapologetically. Through candid verse, she unveils long-held emotions and feelings, delivering poetry that is fresh, witty, and provocatively honest. Fulanita’s voice becomes a cathartic cry—a call for reflection, celebrating both womanhood and poetic expression.

Finally, Eros insomne. Historias de amor y erotismo, co-authored by Díaz Cala and Montanarro Torres, presents fourteen short stories intertwining love, desire, and eroticism. Set in Havana, the tales explore the hidden fantasies and emotional cravings of its characters. Written by the married couple, each story offers an intimate, provocative portrayal of Cuban life—where, “beyond appearances and realities, people long to love and be loved.” According to Montanarro Torres, the book was born from a desire to reveal and share the many forms that love takes in human experience.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez