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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
- Children of the Sea: 4 ☆
- Nineteen Thirty-Seven: 3.25 ☆
- A Wall of Fire Rising: 3 ☆
- Night Women: 2.25 ☆
- Between the Pool and the Gardenias: 3 ☆
- The Missing Peace: 3.75 ☆
- Seeing Things Simply: 3 ☆
- New York Day Women: 3 ☆
- Caroline’s Wedding: 3.25 ☆
- Women Like Us: 3 ☆
- In the Old Days: 2 ☆
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Ultimately, this is an immigrant story. Or a family history, as told by generations of Haitian women. Or a historical fiction about the dystopian-like reality of the Haitian regime under Papa Doc Duvalier (black on black violence) amid terrible poverty and abusive political/military atrocities. A bunch of short stories, in a story arc.
I find it amazing (and sad) that in across one generation, the loss of heritage, and the loss of memory of hardships of the immigrants and the losses they had to endure to reach America, and the gain of the sense of American privilege to ignore what your ancestors did to become Americans.
I hate to shelve this African-American, because they are not from Africa, but Haiti. They consider their homeland Haiti, not Africa. The father wants to be buried in Haiti (not Africa). Alas, I did not have another appropriate shelf to place it.
I find it amazing (and sad) that in across one generation, the loss of heritage, and the loss of memory of hardships of the immigrants and the losses they had to endure to reach America, and the gain of the sense of American privilege to ignore what your ancestors did to become Americans.
I hate to shelve this African-American, because they are not from Africa, but Haiti. They consider their homeland Haiti, not Africa. The father wants to be buried in Haiti (not Africa). Alas, I did not have another appropriate shelf to place it.
Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat is a collection of short stories that follow the women of a matrilineal line. Starting in Haiti, each story comes from a different generation and each is like a mini history lesson, without the boring. They show the pervasive beliefs in superstition and voodoo, the poverty and the institutionalized brutality that has plagued Haiti since Columbus set foot on the island. They're almost exclusively heartbreaking stories full of love, hate, hopes, dreams and despair.
One story is about two young lovers who are separated under the brutal dictatorship of Papa Doc Duvalier and the Tonton Macoute. Another is a story of a mother who has been imprisoned for life after being accused of witchcraft, an allegation so common they have a jail entirely dedicated to housing these women.
Towards the end of the book the stories are about a mother who has emigrated from Haiti to the US and her two daughters, one born in Haiti and the other in the US. These stories show a spectrum of adaptation to US culture and how they are able to blend their own cultural identities with western norms.
I think I found this book on a suggested reading list compiled by Paul Farmer. I've been meaning to read it for years now and I'm so happy I finally got around to it. Although depressing, the stories were so great and well written and informative. Although I've read a fair amount about Haitian history, it's a completely different experience when a story is able to bring that history to life and make it more personal. I can't wait to read more by this author.
www.harperreview.com
One story is about two young lovers who are separated under the brutal dictatorship of Papa Doc Duvalier and the Tonton Macoute. Another is a story of a mother who has been imprisoned for life after being accused of witchcraft, an allegation so common they have a jail entirely dedicated to housing these women.
Towards the end of the book the stories are about a mother who has emigrated from Haiti to the US and her two daughters, one born in Haiti and the other in the US. These stories show a spectrum of adaptation to US culture and how they are able to blend their own cultural identities with western norms.
I think I found this book on a suggested reading list compiled by Paul Farmer. I've been meaning to read it for years now and I'm so happy I finally got around to it. Although depressing, the stories were so great and well written and informative. Although I've read a fair amount about Haitian history, it's a completely different experience when a story is able to bring that history to life and make it more personal. I can't wait to read more by this author.
www.harperreview.com
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Beautiful, insightful prose looking at the diverse experience of Haitians. The stories tie together in a way that was both satisfying and evokative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, War
Edwidge Danticat is a magical writer. She captures the true essence of Haiti in this book. Made up of 9 short stories, you feel the pain, the happiness, and the pride of Haiti.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
I enjoyed some of these stories more than others. I don't know much about Haiti so gaining some insight into their culture and history was great. Children of the Sea was the hardest hitting for sure, and I liked that Caroline's wedding tied in with it as well. Seeing things simply and The Missing Peace were some other favourites.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have wanted to read Edwidge Danticat for some time and this was a perfect intro for me. All the loosely related stories of life in Haiti or in Haitian America are engaging and spot on with no misses or missteps.
Danticat is a masterful writer and will enjoy reading more of her work.
Danticat is a masterful writer and will enjoy reading more of her work.