A review by jayisreading
Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

My knowledge of Haiti’s history and culture is rather limited, but I felt I learned so much from Danticat’s beautiful (even mystical) writing and the glimpses she gave of this country. Like many short story collections, some stories were more compelling than others, but I found that Danticat had a distinct voice that would always draw me in. There were themes that tied all of these stories together, much of which reflected on memory, identity, and suffering from the perspectives of women. Furthermore, characters and stories overlapped to create a strong sense of cohesion.

While pain and grief are at the forefront, Danticat doesn’t leave the reader in a state of despair. There are still glimmers of hope that reveal the complexities of Haitian life, whether it be in Haiti or in the United States as a part of the diaspora.

There was and still is a lot to think about, considering how much Danticat packed into each story. Some of my favorites were: “Children of the Sea,” “Night Women,” “The Missing Peace,” “New York Day Women,” and the epilogue, “Women Like Us.”
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