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A review by caitfoges
Ayiti by Roxane Gay
4.0
"For many years, we didn't realize our parents had accents, that their voices sounded different to unkind American ears. All we heard was home.
Then the world intruded. It always does." (17)
Some stories in this collection were brilliant; some didn't quite hit the mark, but still had redeeming elements. Altogether, Roxanne Gay's writing is raw, sensual, and deeply affecting. I felt my heart break over and over, reading about kidnapping, rape, genocide, and poverty on the island of Haiti. I shuddered at the the hopelessness of dreams unfulfilled despite the dreamer's relentless sacrifices. I shook with both anger and awe at what it means to be a woman in this world. I had to take a break from reading at times. I returned and found myself amazed at the power of a story told solely by a list of items bought and sold, then ashamed by the oppressive naïveté of most American tourists.
Roxanne Gay takes risks in her writing, and though the results are not always precisely perfect, she stands to be admired. Her words ought to be savored, yet when necessary, spit out due to the taste of blood.
Then the world intruded. It always does." (17)
Some stories in this collection were brilliant; some didn't quite hit the mark, but still had redeeming elements. Altogether, Roxanne Gay's writing is raw, sensual, and deeply affecting. I felt my heart break over and over, reading about kidnapping, rape, genocide, and poverty on the island of Haiti. I shuddered at the the hopelessness of dreams unfulfilled despite the dreamer's relentless sacrifices. I shook with both anger and awe at what it means to be a woman in this world. I had to take a break from reading at times. I returned and found myself amazed at the power of a story told solely by a list of items bought and sold, then ashamed by the oppressive naïveté of most American tourists.
Roxanne Gay takes risks in her writing, and though the results are not always precisely perfect, she stands to be admired. Her words ought to be savored, yet when necessary, spit out due to the taste of blood.