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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This book is so brilliantly written. It is one story told as several short stories about the Dew Breaker, who was a tonton Macout in Haiti. We get to hear from the different people who know or knew him: His daughter, his wife, his roommate who wanted revenge for the Dew Breaker's murder of his parents, and much more. Each story is a perfect glimpse of Haitian life, whether it is on Nostrand Ave in Brooklyn, or students studying under a street lamp in Port-au-Prince. I did have moments where I caught myself rocking back and forth reading the details of what tortures some endured at the hands of the tonton Macout or the dew breaker himself. The final story about the preach is M I N D B L O W I N G and will leave you in all sorts of emotion. I also felt like a lot of the stories could be real even though this is a work of fiction. I really loved this book so much, definitely getting a copy for my shelf.
A very interestingly styled book. A portrait of a family, a community, an island told through short stories that are one elaborate story but also each their own proper story. As if a normal novel were to give a chapter to every character, to tell their most important story.
Impressively, every story in the book was good.
But this book makes me feel sick.
Definitely going to check out more from Edwidge Danticat.
Impressively, every story in the book was good.
But this book makes me feel sick.
Definitely going to check out more from Edwidge Danticat.
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
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:
Yes
Interconnected stories revolving around Haiti, and the one of the Tonton Macoutes torturers. I love the ambiguity in the book and the moral complexity. What acts can or should be forgiven? How does circumstance play a role? Is revenge worth it? Beautifully written and revealed.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
chouket lawoze or dew breaker (as translated by Danticat) refers to a torturer during the reign of Papa Doc and Baby Doc. The Dew Breaker is a series of stories that are semi-connected. I did not realize this was a collection of stories, I thought it was one central story. This is an overarching connection between the stories. The theme of duality or doubling is most prevalent.
Danticat is an excellent writer and this book once again showcases her prowess. However, this is by far my least favourite Danticat book I've read. The stories were good, but I wanted more from each of them. In a few cases, I wondered why I was reading the current story that I was reading and the connection to the main story. The subtly of Danticat's story connections are great. I liked seeing different angles of Haiti and immigrant life from various perspectives. The Dew Breaker is a shorter book, but powerful in its own way.
Danticat is an excellent writer and this book once again showcases her prowess. However, this is by far my least favourite Danticat book I've read. The stories were good, but I wanted more from each of them. In a few cases, I wondered why I was reading the current story that I was reading and the connection to the main story. The subtly of Danticat's story connections are great. I liked seeing different angles of Haiti and immigrant life from various perspectives. The Dew Breaker is a shorter book, but powerful in its own way.
this is a good "young adult" type novel to turn the kids onto good writing. it's respectable without the tediousness that literature snobs like myself so enjoy.
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is about a 4.5 rating for me. This is the first time I've read anything by Danticat and I'm now curious about her other works. A book club pick I went into this one completely blind with no knowledge of what I would be reading. Needless to say, by the time I got to the 2nd chapter I felt like I was reading another story which in fact I was as this book can be read both as a novel and a short story collection. I wasn't sure I would like the structure of the book but when I started seeing the connections in each of the stories, things started to make sense which made me eager to continue reading. Because of the number of characters and to have a better understanding of who was who & what was transpiring I started making notes, putting the pieces together as well as the characters & eventually I got the rhythm of things and what surfaced was an amazing story. There were definitely several aha moments and Danticat's smooth writing made this a wonderful read. I personally feel she has a very unique writing style, one I'm not used to and it worked well with this story. The characters, while there were quite a few, were likable and I was genuinely interested in what was happening to each of them. Would definitely recommend this as a group read because I'm sure it will garner a lot of good discussion.