Reviews

Soucouyant by David Chariandy

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kbrown5455's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful, beautiful book about a son returning home to his mother, an immigrant from the Caribbean to Ontario. This is a book of memories which have shaped a life, told at a time when memory has slipped away from the mother. Gorgeous, evocative prose - traveling into the island past and the frozen Canadian present.

penguinpuffin's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dessa's review against another edition

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3.0

Always a pleasure to read some Canadian lit. Vancouver lit, even!
I liked the link between family history and creepy-ass old-country legends, but I wanted more. More!
As is, more of a historical snapshot of racism in Toronto -- interesting, but not quite my wheelhouse.
Nice little poetic language surprises around some of the corners. Delightful.
We never find out what happens to the brother, except that he's not really a poet. Sad.
This summary brought to you by my head cold.

Reread April 2016:
I agree with my past self that it would have been even better to see more of the folkloric creepiness- but when you're using a cultural monster as a metaphor there's only so far you can push it. But I find myself even more intrigued by Canada's (often transplanted) monsters and monstrousness.

kgraham10's review against another edition

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4.0

A young man dealing with his mother's past and her increasing dementia.

Lyrical. Wonderfully drawn characters. Ending was flat.

adamz24's review against another edition

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4.0

This book has its flaws, but it is fucking devastating and it is beautiful. It is also everything I didn't bother with or avoided for years of literary reading. I was a fool.