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martieb's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sam_hildebrandt's review
5.0
Great novel of intertwined stories from three generations, and perspectives of influential women. I had never read anything from a Haitian author, and unfamiliar with the political tumult in Haiti, but that didn’t stop me! I loved how Lahens weaves the three generations together. She highlights the simple life that is scared with abuse, slavery and poverty. Also, her inclusion of voodoo / spiritual rituals was a great tool to explain the life in the peasant villages. I did have to look up some political and historical references just for further clarification, but it wasn’t a distraction.
eunicek82's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
4.0
This was one of the more challenging books I’ve read in a while. Her more recent book Sweet Undoings was much more accessible in my opinion. This book required me to slow WAY down and required a lot of my concentration. This was compounded by my unfamiliarity with Haitian history and politics. I think this would be a great book to dissect in a college course. I was very impressed by the writing, the structure and the imagery, but I’m not sure I totally understood all of it.
emzireads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Rape, and Death
overnightdisconap's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
lyrical and beautiful storytelling, just wish there was better cohesion and character introduction. took a little too long for the pieces to fall together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Death
rhi_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Torture, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and War
Minor: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Misogyny
lamusadelils's review
4.0
Me gustó mucho, pero abarca muchos personajes por décadas y décadas de historia, así que me dejó la impresión de que me estaba perdiendo de mucho. Sin embargo, la prosa es atrapante y los temas son intensos, así que es de esas lecturas que se van como agua.
cosmogyral's review
1.5
The narrative perspectives are smart and powerful, particularly the sections narrated by the collective voice of the community ("she told us that..."), but I expected a lot more substance from this book than I got, and I was not impressed with Lahens' handling of rape.
spomincica_a's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
not in the mood
coralang's review against another edition
4.0
Voici un récit Haitien relatant l'histoire de deux familles à travers l'histoire du pays. Un récit troublant reposant sur les croyances, les alliances maudites, la pauvreté et l'espoir trop souvent déçu.