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A review by johannalm
A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez
4.0
A Wedding in Haiti, Julia Alvarez
Alvarez wrote one of my favorite books ever - In the Time of the Butterflies - so reading a memoir by her seemed intriguing, especially when a Dominican-American woman is writing about getting to know the people and culture of her countries's close but maligned neighbor Haiti.
After making a promise to a young Haitian man who works on her coffee plantation in the DR, Alvarez and her husband travel to a remote part of Haiti for his wedding. This first trip, along with a second six months after the earthquake, allows Alvarez to pass on the very sad history of the country while also discussing the real issues of devastating poverty that plague the country today. Alvarez writes in a frank and straightforward way about her fears and anxieties while traveling in a country lacking most basic amenities, along with the warm welcome she gets from the wedding families. She and her husband bicker, many tough situations scare her, and the extreme poverty of the country saddens her.
This is a small book that looks at large issues - prejudice, poverty, community, and also people's natural goodness
Alvarez wrote one of my favorite books ever - In the Time of the Butterflies - so reading a memoir by her seemed intriguing, especially when a Dominican-American woman is writing about getting to know the people and culture of her countries's close but maligned neighbor Haiti.
After making a promise to a young Haitian man who works on her coffee plantation in the DR, Alvarez and her husband travel to a remote part of Haiti for his wedding. This first trip, along with a second six months after the earthquake, allows Alvarez to pass on the very sad history of the country while also discussing the real issues of devastating poverty that plague the country today. Alvarez writes in a frank and straightforward way about her fears and anxieties while traveling in a country lacking most basic amenities, along with the warm welcome she gets from the wedding families. She and her husband bicker, many tough situations scare her, and the extreme poverty of the country saddens her.
This is a small book that looks at large issues - prejudice, poverty, community, and also people's natural goodness