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jskipworth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mikelchartier's review against another edition
5.0
It turns out that genocide isn't really funny after all!
k8rbennett's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I can't remember the last time a book broke my heart like this. In spite of that, I can't recommend it enough; an incredibly poignant, touching, and heart-wrenching novel about a little-known piece of history.
chekareadswhat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
roomb31's review against another edition
4.0
a good insight to the tragedy in Haiti contre the Dominicans, but a little slow paced, still nice to read something different.
evelikesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I found it hard to engage with and follow the story. The second half is more compelling than the first.
linneakarchibald's review against another edition
4.0
My first introduction to Edwidge Danticat's work was more than eight years ago when I read Krik? Krak! for a class in college. I loved it then and I'm still captivated by her writing today in The Farming of Bones.
Few authors have the ability Danticat has to tell a truly heartbreaking story of loss and yet highlight the beauty of love, home, and community. This is not a book with a happy ending where everything turns out perfectly for all our favorite characters, yet I found myself turning the pages late into the night, compelled by Danticat's powerful writing and characterizations. She's able to tap into a deep sense of longing and pain without making the reader want to turn away.
While The Farming of Bones isn't a novel for those looking for an escapism read, it offers a window into a context most American readers simply don't encounter. Personally, I don't have much more than a cursory understanding of the tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This novel offers a starting point into that context and that experience that is invaluable.
Personally, I think those who enjoy Zora Neale Hurston's work would also enjoy Danticat's. While she doesn't share Hurston's propensity for dialect and folklore deep-dives, the sensibilities are similar and the importance of dreams and longing feature prominently in both.
Few authors have the ability Danticat has to tell a truly heartbreaking story of loss and yet highlight the beauty of love, home, and community. This is not a book with a happy ending where everything turns out perfectly for all our favorite characters, yet I found myself turning the pages late into the night, compelled by Danticat's powerful writing and characterizations. She's able to tap into a deep sense of longing and pain without making the reader want to turn away.
While The Farming of Bones isn't a novel for those looking for an escapism read, it offers a window into a context most American readers simply don't encounter. Personally, I don't have much more than a cursory understanding of the tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This novel offers a starting point into that context and that experience that is invaluable.
Personally, I think those who enjoy Zora Neale Hurston's work would also enjoy Danticat's. While she doesn't share Hurston's propensity for dialect and folklore deep-dives, the sensibilities are similar and the importance of dreams and longing feature prominently in both.