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owenpeak's review against another edition
3.0
The way this illustrated such a vivid portrait of life in Haiti in the transition out of slavery was fascinating; the incorporation of voodoo practices, magic and Yoruba religion into the story made it so engaging and emblematic of a type of slave narrative I’ve never read before. I found the language quite difficult since many of the words were alien to me and Carpentier’s choice to not include any dialogue meant that the plot was quite difficult to follow at times. Even so, I still enjoyed this and found Ti Noel (the narratives only fictional character) such an intriguing and engaging protagonist, especially at the denouement when he reflects upon race and the toxic cycles that are brought about by slavery.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
3.0
This is a modern classic by Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier about the revolution in Haiti. First published in 1949, this is not a book that would be written today; it's overwhelmingly male-oriented, with women existing mainly as objects of lust, prostitutes or to rape. And there's some interesting phrasing around issues of race. But setting that aside, this is an interesting look a the first successful slave rebellion in the western world.
The novel is told primarily through the eyes of an enslaved Black man named Ti Noel, who witnesses the first attempts to break free, lives through the successful revolt, accompanies the man who enslaved him to Cuba and finally returns to Haiti, where he lives through the oppressive reign of Henri Christophe and long after, always just trying to live free in that corner of Haiti he considers home. This is a slender novel that packs a lot in, provides a lot of information while being full of action, magic realism and life.
The novel is told primarily through the eyes of an enslaved Black man named Ti Noel, who witnesses the first attempts to break free, lives through the successful revolt, accompanies the man who enslaved him to Cuba and finally returns to Haiti, where he lives through the oppressive reign of Henri Christophe and long after, always just trying to live free in that corner of Haiti he considers home. This is a slender novel that packs a lot in, provides a lot of information while being full of action, magic realism and life.
bolotareads's review against another edition
3.0
I am sure this is a very important book culturally but I hated reading it...
srudick's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
glittercherry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.5
danacoledares's review against another edition
3.0
I feel all kinds of ways about this, most of it not related to the book, but to the author. It's a novel(la?) whose style the author referred to as the "real maravilloso," marvelous reality, and it strongly influenced magical realism as a style and even genre.
He was born in Switzerland, but his family emigrated to Cuba when he was very young, and he was raised in Havana. As an adult, he lived in Paris and in Venezuela for over a decade each. What was it that made him choose to write about Haiti, a country he'd only visited? It feels somewhat appropriative, and the style and tone reek of exoticism, particularly given the vivid description that is both luscious and putrescent.
I am skeptical of his ongoing apparent derision for earlier styles, his insistence particularly on abandoning European art, culture, and customs – or, rather, the idea that such would even be possible. Ignoring the influence of the ideas that shaped your own just strikes me as incredibly arrogant.
He was born in Switzerland, but his family emigrated to Cuba when he was very young, and he was raised in Havana. As an adult, he lived in Paris and in Venezuela for over a decade each. What was it that made him choose to write about Haiti, a country he'd only visited? It feels somewhat appropriative, and the style and tone reek of exoticism, particularly given the vivid description that is both luscious and putrescent.
I am skeptical of his ongoing apparent derision for earlier styles, his insistence particularly on abandoning European art, culture, and customs – or, rather, the idea that such would even be possible. Ignoring the influence of the ideas that shaped your own just strikes me as incredibly arrogant.
mariana_cscs's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
leeann_deleonm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
joh17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0