Waiting For Snow in Havana

Introduction:
In Waiting For Snow in Havana by in Carlos Eire, he discusses his memories and experiences of his life in Havana. He begins his story by remembering the day he learned of the truth, when he was barel y eight years old.

"The world changed while I slept, and much to my surprise, no one had consulted me. Thats how it would always be from that day forward. Of course, thats the way it had been all along. I just didnt know it until that momorning. Surprise upon surprise: some good, some evil, most somewhere in between. And always without my consent."

This is when Carlos is told that Batista has fled, and Fidel Castro is now in power.
This quote reveals a lot not only about Carlos Eire, but also of the innocence of a child as theme.
With this news, Carlos' incocence is shattered, and he learns of the arduos fate that awaits him.

The Lizards:
Throughout the book Carlos encounters various lizards. The lizards are symbolic of the things that scare Carlos. Just like the lizards that Carlos killed, he tries to forget about his parents and about all of the happy moments throughout his childhood because he is afraid to remember his love for them. Carlos has always hated lizards as a child, but as a mature adult he learns that underneath the disgusting exterior of the lizards, there is nothing truly disgusting about them. He learns that just like many other things in life, he must learn to deal with all the things that are frightening to him.