The latest book from Oscar Hijuelos' (ee-WELL-owes) - "A Simple Habana Melody - is the story of a Cuban composer caught in Germany during World War II. He's Catholic, but has a Jewish name: Israel Levis (leh-viss). He's thrown in a concentration camp, yet somehow survives. The story opens as he returns to Cuba, and is beset with memories, many linked to a popular tune he wrote long ago. Hijuelos told Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Crann he originally meant to write a ballet. Then he became intrigued with how a single tune can shape a composer's life. He says he even tried to write the music. Oscar Hijuelos' new novel is "A Simple Habana Melody." You can hear a reading from the book and a longer version of Tom Crann's interview on the Minnesota Public Radio website at www-dot-minnesota-public-radio-dot-org