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A review by joanna_banana
A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez
3.0
A quick read covering two accounts of experiences in Haiti: a wedding of Piti, to whom the author and her husband are benefactors, and then a year later their return to Haiti after the earthquake.
The first part recounting the tale of driving through northern Haiti from the DR was a bit exaggerated. Reminded me of my first impressions of Mali until I knew better and made friends. It was interesting to hear about places in Haiti where the project I work has sites.
The second part was better than the first, gave me goose bumps reading about the earthquake stories, the tragedy. Haiti just can't get a break. Having traveled there for work, I've heard stories first hand. However Alvarez' accounts are well written. Though she admits committing "natural disaster tourism" and I don't think she had a good reason to go to PAP other than telling the story again? "It needs to be seen" says one man they meet.
A few quotable quotes:
"There are two kinds of pain: the pain of doing yoga. And the pain of not doing yoga. Life is going to be complicated no matter what, so you might as well open the door and invite it into your house..."
"I sometimes seem to forget: you get all the parts when you love a whole person."
I think I will read some of Alvarez' other books now. But this one was just average.
The first part recounting the tale of driving through northern Haiti from the DR was a bit exaggerated. Reminded me of my first impressions of Mali until I knew better and made friends. It was interesting to hear about places in Haiti where the project I work has sites.
The second part was better than the first, gave me goose bumps reading about the earthquake stories, the tragedy. Haiti just can't get a break. Having traveled there for work, I've heard stories first hand. However Alvarez' accounts are well written. Though she admits committing "natural disaster tourism" and I don't think she had a good reason to go to PAP other than telling the story again? "It needs to be seen" says one man they meet.
A few quotable quotes:
"There are two kinds of pain: the pain of doing yoga. And the pain of not doing yoga. Life is going to be complicated no matter what, so you might as well open the door and invite it into your house..."
"I sometimes seem to forget: you get all the parts when you love a whole person."
I think I will read some of Alvarez' other books now. But this one was just average.