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suzemo's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautifully and powerfully written novel (generally) covering the lives of three women as they are influenced/seen by an African deity that comes into being with the worship of three slave women who bury a stillborn child in the plantations of Saint-Domingue (what is now Haiti).
The story takes place from the plantation in the Saint-Domingue story, through Jeanne Duval (mistress of Charles Baudelaire), and Thais - a prostitute from Alexandria who travels to Jerusalem and inspires the creation/myth of St. Mary of Aegypt.
Their stories are strong, emotional, powerful - through the deprivations (and depravations) of the women through their triumphs, loves, and feelings for their people, families, and others. The storytelling is great, with my only caveat that since the novel takes place through multiple viewpoints, it can be jarring when the author jumps from one to another.
I think this is one of the best/well-written books I have read in a very long time.
The story takes place from the plantation in the Saint-Domingue story, through Jeanne Duval (mistress of Charles Baudelaire), and Thais - a prostitute from Alexandria who travels to Jerusalem and inspires the creation/myth of St. Mary of Aegypt.
Their stories are strong, emotional, powerful - through the deprivations (and depravations) of the women through their triumphs, loves, and feelings for their people, families, and others. The storytelling is great, with my only caveat that since the novel takes place through multiple viewpoints, it can be jarring when the author jumps from one to another.
I think this is one of the best/well-written books I have read in a very long time.
andrealage's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
loreabad6's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
knretaleato's review against another edition
5.0
Riveting, heart breaking, epic, and intimate. I could not put this down, but sometimes I had to.
winterreader40's review against another edition
DNF at 30% for to much darkness, there's been enslavement, rape, FGM(not on page), and a skinning to name a few and my brain can't handle this stuff right now. Might try again someday because I really enjoy the author though.
babsxi's review against another edition
4.0
This one took me a while to read. Not because the plot wasn’t interesting - it was - but because this is the kind of book that you can’t passively read without missing something important. The narrative switches, sometimes abruptly in the middle of a passage. Sometimes the text includes excerpts from primary sources like Baudelaire’s poems. This method of transition without warning feels difficult to navigate at first, but once all four women are finally introduced it becomes easier. This is definitely a book. You have to just trust the process and enjoy the ride on.
So, what are we doing in this book? Honestly, I’m not really sure. What I think is happening is we are following the journey of Ezili (Afro-Caribbean god) through the lives of three women, and ultimately back to herself. The three women, while in different circumstances, are similar in that they use salt (eg; blood, sweat, tears, semen, etc) to their advantage as a method of survival in a cruel world. Without knowing, or being aware, the three women’s lives are being impacted and influenced by Ezili as she shares their bodies and their experiences. It’s an intimate and brutal look into the sacrifices and compromises women of color have to make. And how love is best practiced in action.
joyful24's review against another edition
5.0
if for no other reason than the use of the line: "No $%^^ babies" i really enjoyed this book . i am a bit confused as to why the spine said SCIENCE FICTION. there was very little science about it. i reckon the author's other works are actually sci-fi; because this book was full of loa, social climbing, promisicuity, bisexuality, and revolution of the personal & societal variety. i can dig it. it was well written. the themes tied together perfectly. characters were excellent. historical references timely (emancipation/earthquake) being that haiti occupies 80% of the text. could not find anything negative to say or feel about it.
charlibirb's review against another edition
Honestly, I'm too depressed right now to read this. Also, I started to get lost as to who was whom and where they all were located. Piss blood magic kind of grossed me out. Maybe at another time.
mikime's review against another edition
4.0
This novel spans across centuries and continents, as a powerful, ancient, possibly divine spirit inhabits and cohabits with different women in different times and places, empowering them, pushing them to fight with unexpected strength for themselves and their friends and loved ones, against oppression, enslavement, violence, racism, misogyny. The spirit herself also ends up having to fight to survive against another dark spirit, as the old ways are left behind, and new ways and new hopes emerge. Unexpectedly captivating, surprising through and through.
micksland's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
Nominee: 2004 Nebula Award for Best Novel
___
I have mixed feelings about this novel. On one hand, it is well-written and has a lot of literary value. On the other hand, its experimental format and lack of a cohesive, traditional plot were too strange for me to truly enjoy. Additionally, one major character really got on my nerves.
The story follows a Haitian goddess who becomes unstuck in time, traveling between the perspectives of various Black women throughout history.
Thais was my favorite character, but unfortunately she had the smallest number of chapters. I loved the setting in Alexandria and Jerusalem, with the alternate explanations for the myths that became the legend of Mary of Egypt. I also loved the story of Mer, an enslaved woman living in Haiti on a sugar plantation. The conflict between the ideas of revolution and survival was mesmerizing.
I really disliked the story of Jeanne Duval, an actress and the mistress of poet Charles Baudelaire. Jeanne’s story was boring and also had the largest number of chapters. Additionally, the sex scenes in this section of the novel were overwhelming. I don’t think they added much to the story and they went on far too long- give me a paragraph or two and move on to the next thing, please. Overall, it was unique, but I am not sure I will be reading much magical realism in the future.
Nominee: 2004 Nebula Award for Best Novel
___
I have mixed feelings about this novel. On one hand, it is well-written and has a lot of literary value. On the other hand, its experimental format and lack of a cohesive, traditional plot were too strange for me to truly enjoy. Additionally, one major character really got on my nerves.
The story follows a Haitian goddess who becomes unstuck in time, traveling between the perspectives of various Black women throughout history.
Thais was my favorite character, but unfortunately she had the smallest number of chapters. I loved the setting in Alexandria and Jerusalem, with the alternate explanations for the myths that became the legend of Mary of Egypt. I also loved the story of Mer, an enslaved woman living in Haiti on a sugar plantation. The conflict between the ideas of revolution and survival was mesmerizing.
I really disliked the story of Jeanne Duval, an actress and the mistress of poet Charles Baudelaire. Jeanne’s story was boring and also had the largest number of chapters. Additionally, the sex scenes in this section of the novel were overwhelming. I don’t think they added much to the story and they went on far too long- give me a paragraph or two and move on to the next thing, please. Overall, it was unique, but I am not sure I will be reading much magical realism in the future.