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Concrete Wings: One Man's Fifty Year Journey to Personal Freedom Kindle Edition
Untouched by cynicism but standing on the threshold of manhood, Julian is set on a clandestine quest to recover his family's smuggled treasures and settle his family in America. This formidable task leads him to the pulsating heart of New York City during the peak of the sexual revolution, setting the stage for a journey of self-discovery and the search for freedom. As he explores the intricate tapestry of life in this new world, he finds himself amidst a cultural awakening, experiencing the exhilaration of personal liberty and the complexities of love and identity.
In this vibrant yet tumultuous setting, he forges his path, earning his independence in a land brimming with opportunity and challenge. However, the arrival of his traditional parents, carrying the weight of their own prejudices and refusing to blend with the American mosaic, introduces a stark contrast to his newly found freedoms. The clash of cultures and generations deepens the narrative, presenting obstacles that test his resilience and determination.
Through trials and triumphs, this young man's odyssey is a reflection on the essence of freedom, the price of loyalty, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. It’s a vivid exploration of the immigrant experience, highlighting the relentless pursuit of the American Dream against the backdrop of historical and personal upheaval. This story not only charts the protagonist's physical journey from Cuba to the United States but also his emotional voyage from innocence to maturity, illuminating the profound truth that success is not always measured by what one becomes, but often by what one overcomes.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMarch 22, 2016
- File size3150 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Concrete Wings: One Man's Fifty Year Journey to Personal Freedom by Beverly Gandara is a historical novel that follows the life and struggles of Julian Vida, a Cuban immigrant, and his journey to inner freedom. It is the eve of the event that has come to be known in history as the Bay of Pigs Invasion and a naïve teenage boy, Julian, is charged with saving smuggled family jewels, escaping being drafted into Fidel Castro's army, and preparing a place for his family in the US. This is a coming of age story that explores the political and sexual revolution in the USA. Julian experiences a lot of freedom until the arrival of his parents, who can't blend in with the American way of life. Read on to discover his heartaches, his inner turmoil, and what constitutes his ultimate success.
This is a beautiful story that is beautifully told and the reader is transported into the Cuban world view at the wake of the twentieth century. One of the things that caught my attention was the vivid portrait of the culture as the author weaves cultural elements into the story, allowing readers to penetrate the soul of the Cuban. The historical references come out neatly in the narrative and readers will be absorbed by the social commentary the author makes. The conflict is well-developed and it has a lot of psychological implications for the protagonist. Concrete Wings: One Man's Fifty Year Journey to Personal Freedom is a captivating story that is told in the first person narrative, pulling the reader into the narrator's point of view irresistibly. Beverly Gandara transports readers to a powerful historical and cultural setting and makes them fall in love with the characters.
About the Author
Her first screenplay Concrete Wings inspired her novel Concrete Wings about Julian, a naive teen sent out of Cuba on the eve of the Bay Of Pigs Invasion to retrieve smuggled family jewels. Coming of age in New York at the height of the sexual revolution, he earns his political and economic freedom. By a twist of fate, he begins to lose his liberty when his oppressive parents arrive and refuse to assimilate into American Society.
Concrete Wings received:
2017 Literary Classic's Seal of Approval
2017 New York Book Festival's Honorable Mention in the General Fiction Category
2017 The Reader's Favorite Five Star Seal
Her next novel, Soaring In Silence inspired by Unprotected Witness, a screenplay co-written with Jack Knight is about a young recently handicapped married woman who by her own resourcefulness and the wonders of the Internet overcomes her struggle against the unwanted sexual advances of a dangerous retiree with a buried criminal past.
Bev's comedy screenplay Rent Money earned the Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay at the 2012 Beverly Hills International Film Festival. Rent Money is about a an independent virgin bookkeeper working in the Radio and TV Barter business in Manhattan in 1965 who is focused on two goals. 1. remain independent and pay her own rent. 2. experience womanhood with a handsome neighbor. Stymied by society's changing rules during the sexual revolution, with courage and dignity, she reaches at least one of her goals successfully.
Her other screenplays, a mix of family dramas, dramas and thrillers are all contest placed.
Her heroic characters understand that success isn't always measured by what one becomes but often by what one overcomes
She resides in the southeast with her husband, Armand whose experiences inspired Concrete Wings.
Product details
- ASIN : B01DCO5J6K
- Publisher : Beverly Gandara (March 22, 2016)
- Publication date : March 22, 2016
- Language : English
- File size : 3150 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 306 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,977,807 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #10,875 in Coming of Age Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #24,814 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
- #54,927 in Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Beverly Gandara, an award-winning author and screenwriter, crafts stories that resonate with heart and humanity, providing a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. Through her compelling novels and screenplays, she brings to life the intricate tapestry of human emotions and experiences, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of everyday people.
In her diverse body of work, Beverly explores various themes and genres. The latest (released in October 2023) "When Did You Know and Who Did You Tell?" delves into the lives of 25 LGBTQAI+ role models, offering a poignant look at their journeys to authenticity against societal prejudices. Her books, "Women, Work and Triumph," presents interviews with 26 diverse women from 5 countries in different professions, sharing their unique stories of overcoming obstacles in pursuit of acceptance and respect. Gandara's foray into the suspense and thriller genre is evident in "Soaring in Silence," where a handicapped woman, armed only with her own resourcefulness and the wonders of the Internet, battles against the stalking by a dangerous retiree with a with a hidden criminal past. This novel showcases Beverly's ability to weave suspenseful narratives that keep readers on the edge of their seats. "Concrete Wings," a historical fiction and coming-of-age story, takes readers on a journey from Cuba to New York City at the height of the sexual revolution. This novel, inspired by her husband Armando's experiences, has been recognized with multiple awards and has a screenplay attached, exemplifying Beverly's versatility in storytelling across mediums.
Her screenplays, such as "Rent Money," a comedy set in 1965 Manhattan, and "While I Wait," a drama based on true events during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, further illustrate her wide-ranging talent. These works, along with others like "Misinformed Heart" and "Unprotected Witness," highlight her skill in creating engaging, thought-provoking narratives that resonate with audiences.
Gandara's dedication to her craft is evident in the numerous accolades her works have received, including Five Star Readers' Favorite awards and recognition in various film festivals and competitions.
Beverly Gandara's unique value proposition lies in her ability to tell stories that are not just read or watched but felt deeply. Her works offer a platform for silent voices to be heard, blending the rough edges of reality with the elegance, charm, and warmth that only a skilled storyteller like her can provide. Her books and screenplays are not just narratives; they are windows into the souls of her characters, inviting readers and viewers to experience the world through their eyes.
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From the first page to the last page the author made me feel I was there too. Very few books have a quick pace and a sense of the emotions and moods of the characters. What a brave young boy who became a strong minded man. Where we would hide behind our mother's apron strings he was forced to take on the world. Also it's a love story based on a combination of miracles. Well written and a very emotional book. This is a must read. I already miss the book and will read it again to recapture the spellbinding moments.
The story of Julian starts as a 5year old, only child growing up in Cuba with his indifferent, emotionally retentive parents. His father is a suave, successful business man, his mother, a voluptuary, stay at home mom, having a series of liaisons with a family friend. It is in the era of Batista. A revolution is waiting at every corner.
After Castro creates his police state, Julian's parents devise a plan to send him to Madrid to live with relatives before further on to Manhattan. Into the seams of his departure suit, many of the family’s jewels and money are sewn. His father, rightfully, trusts no one. Barely even his own son. While in the air, it is announced the flight is ordered to return. It is April 15, 1961. The invasion had begun. But luck is on his side, as the pilot and crew are all seeking political asylum. They fly on with a plane full of hopefuls.
Killing time in Madrid while waiting to be allowed passage to America, he takes in the scenery and cultural offerings. It is a richness he will often reminisce about in years to come.
He arrives in NY in July of '61 and moves in with his father’s & wife, who preceding him by several years. Needing work, Julian takes a job as a stock boy in a department store. Quickly integrated into the fold, he attends his first TGIF party and loses his virginity. Julian begins to fully enjoy America.
By18, he is co-managing a shoe store in the Bronx until he gets robbed and decides it is safer to seek employment elsewhere. He and his uncle are still trying to get his parents out of Cuba. Connected, they succeed on Thanksgiving Day, 1965. Which much drama, they arrive and reside in the apartment Julian had attained for them all.
Of course, that was short-lived. Papa is a militant, mama a worry wart. Julian is in love. A studio apartment of his own is the start to his new life. He marries Monique and takes in her young daughter then loses them when she decides to go back with the child's father and he moves back in with his parents. He is not happy living with “the king” and their imposing rules.
Seeking more meaning to life, he converts to Judaism and is readily accepted into the culture and family of church goers.
In his 30's, he meets Lynn, the right woman for him to marry. They move in together long before that happens and, even though his parents would scare any other sane person away, she accepts the bizarre customs they extol and sets into life with Julian.
Lynn gets sick with a hereditary disease that took both her father & his twin brother. There is no cure, but modern science has made advances that give them both hope. By chance, they find Arizona alleviates her symptoms while there on business. They move, his family initially refusing to join them, and start anew. Realizing Julian is not coming back home, his parents, in their 80’s, finally resolve to move out and join them. As per their way, their entire savings and jewelry is encased by layers of clothing. Arizona. Heat.
Were this book written differently (ala Running With Scissors) it would be hysterical, instead it was distressing and often aggravating. But that's a cultural divide. It gave insight into the Cuban ethos and strict patriarchal mindset. It struck me as odd how they escaped Castro, but his mother lived a dictatorship under his father.
They eventually pass on but not before Julian’s father finally gives him a moment he’s been waiting for his entire life.
I'm glad Julian found his own counterbalance and such an amazingly patient wife. Living the dream, living in love.