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A review by dessa
Soucouyant by David Chariandy
3.0
Always a pleasure to read some Canadian lit. Vancouver lit, even!
I liked the link between family history and creepy-ass old-country legends, but I wanted more. More!
As is, more of a historical snapshot of racism in Toronto -- interesting, but not quite my wheelhouse.
Nice little poetic language surprises around some of the corners. Delightful.
We never find out what happens to the brother, except that he's not really a poet. Sad.
This summary brought to you by my head cold.
Reread April 2016:
I agree with my past self that it would have been even better to see more of the folkloric creepiness- but when you're using a cultural monster as a metaphor there's only so far you can push it. But I find myself even more intrigued by Canada's (often transplanted) monsters and monstrousness.
I liked the link between family history and creepy-ass old-country legends, but I wanted more. More!
As is, more of a historical snapshot of racism in Toronto -- interesting, but not quite my wheelhouse.
Nice little poetic language surprises around some of the corners. Delightful.
We never find out what happens to the brother, except that he's not really a poet. Sad.
This summary brought to you by my head cold.
Reread April 2016:
I agree with my past self that it would have been even better to see more of the folkloric creepiness- but when you're using a cultural monster as a metaphor there's only so far you can push it. But I find myself even more intrigued by Canada's (often transplanted) monsters and monstrousness.