A review by jordanm77
The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat

4.0

This book sheds light on the little known and discussed Parsley Massacre that occurred during an ethnic cleansing movement started in the Dominican Republic by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. Dominican soldiers would have people along the border say the word “perejil” which is parsley in Spanish - but Haitians pronounce it differently than the native Spanish-speaking Dominicans, and were therefore executed on the spot. It is heartbreaking and terrible - which is why this novel is so important. The narration can be a little confusing and it is not an easy read, but it is hard to put down. The story follows Amabelle, a young Haitian woman living in the DR. Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island Hispaniola, and there has been hostility between the nations for a while. Amabelle’s story is a glimpse into the way that people lived and survived during this time.