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A review by sadiereadsagain
Waiting for the Waters to Rise by Maryse Condé
3.0
I think what drew me to pick up this book was the mention of Haiti, as I've not read a book set in that country and know very little about it. Plus, the premise sounded intriguing - an African doctor, Babakar, is left holding a baby after her mother dies in childbirth, and takes it upon himself to return her to her mother's country of Haiti in order to reunite her with her family.
So, on the Haiti aspect this book really delivered. The power struggles, international aid/interference and impact of climate change are all discussed as the story unfolds. But it isn't only Haiti this book takes you to - whilst the second half of the book is all set there, we travel through many different countries on the way and through some thought provoking prose on the nature of belonging, home, displacement and what makes a motherland. This is done not only through the story of Babakar, but his companions - a Palestinian in Haiti, and a Haitian who had fled to Guadalupe. I was glad of this, as I didn't really warm particularly to Babakar.
The story of returning the baby does get a little lost in all that other context though. She, like women in general in this books, is very much just a plot device with which to link the stories of the men together. I wasn't keen on that aspect, and coupled with the lack of warmth I felt for Babakar I found that something in this book just didn't touch me in the way I had hoped it would. It's a solid book, but not one I connected with particularly deeply.
I received a Netgalley of this title from World Editions in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
So, on the Haiti aspect this book really delivered. The power struggles, international aid/interference and impact of climate change are all discussed as the story unfolds. But it isn't only Haiti this book takes you to - whilst the second half of the book is all set there, we travel through many different countries on the way and through some thought provoking prose on the nature of belonging, home, displacement and what makes a motherland. This is done not only through the story of Babakar, but his companions - a Palestinian in Haiti, and a Haitian who had fled to Guadalupe. I was glad of this, as I didn't really warm particularly to Babakar.
The story of returning the baby does get a little lost in all that other context though. She, like women in general in this books, is very much just a plot device with which to link the stories of the men together. I wasn't keen on that aspect, and coupled with the lack of warmth I felt for Babakar I found that something in this book just didn't touch me in the way I had hoped it would. It's a solid book, but not one I connected with particularly deeply.
I received a Netgalley of this title from World Editions in return for a review. All opinions are my own.