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bougainvillea's review against another edition
3.0
This was fine, but nothing spectacular. I feel like the author tried to put everything in this book, like she wasn't sure if there would be another one. I also got the impression that the author was very conscious of having to explain Haiti and Zaire to her readers. It was distracting and annoying. I like this review I found on sx salon: http://smallaxe.net/wordpress3/reviews/2013/11/18/be-rootful-and-fly/.
I meant to say that this book is beautifully crafted. It was a pleasure to read for that reason. The cover design, the texture of the pages, even the font used... It was all beautiful and well put together. I was constantly reminded while reading this of why I could never only read on an electronic device.
I meant to say that this book is beautifully crafted. It was a pleasure to read for that reason. The cover design, the texture of the pages, even the font used... It was all beautiful and well put together. I was constantly reminded while reading this of why I could never only read on an electronic device.
luananki's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
i absolutely loved the writing and the characters and basically everything that came with the roving tree.
it was definitely not an easy read because of the topics it discusses but i’m very glad i decided to pick it up.
it was definitely not an easy read because of the topics it discusses but i’m very glad i decided to pick it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Slavery, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Medical content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Cursing, Abortion, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Police brutality, and War
Minor: Deportation and Torture
heat_her's review against another edition
4.0
The Roving Tree is so well-written. In addition to being a good story, Augustave manages to fit so many ideas and so much history into 300 pages, and she does it well. I already knew a bit about Haiti’s history under Papa Doc and his son, but I learned so much more from The Roving Tree. I also learned much about Haitian vaudou and the corruption in African countries like Zaire that I wasn’t aware of before. Augustave made me feel what Iris was going through–that sense of loss and not fully belonging anywhere, the feeling of always being the odd one out wherever one is. But while Iris’ story starts out full of loneliness and a feeling of incompleteness, it ends with a sense of fulfillment and happiness as Iris learns more about herself and her family in Haiti. It’s this feeling of belonging and knowing who she is that she wants to pass down to her newborn daughter.
The Roving Tree is Elsie Augustave’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Augustave writes beautifully and it’s obvious that she cares a lot about the subject matter she chooses. I definitely recommend The Roving Tree to anyone who likes reading literary fiction and/or to anyone who is interested in the ideas and history portrayed in the book.
Read my full review on Between the Covers...
The Roving Tree is Elsie Augustave’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Augustave writes beautifully and it’s obvious that she cares a lot about the subject matter she chooses. I definitely recommend The Roving Tree to anyone who likes reading literary fiction and/or to anyone who is interested in the ideas and history portrayed in the book.
Read my full review on Between the Covers...
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