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yadira315's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
lovelykd's review
3.0
The book tackles a number of issues—wrapped around the tragedy of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake—including grief, the emotional struggles of post-war veterans (most notably the effects of PTSD), cultural appropriation, and classism. To name only a few.
It’s a lot to take in, in less than 300 pages, but Katia Ulysse does a pretty good job.
Jacqueline and Kevin live in Baltimore with their three-year old daughter, Amber. Kevin has had trouble readjusting to being home, after his last tour in Iraq, and his marriage to Jacqueline is not what as it once was. However, the two still love each other and find a tether to that love via Amber.
After an earthquake rocks Jacqueline’s homeland of Haiti, she finds herself pining for the land she abandoned, and concerned for her parents (Paul and Annette)—with whom she has a complicated, and also contentious, relationship—but whose survival is yet unknown.
The book unfolds in quick, succinct chapters, with a lot of imagery offered via the inner thoughts of Jacqueline (an artist).
Jacqueline is a somewhat motherless child, and she holds a great deal of resentment for the way her parents disappeared from her life in favor of becoming jet setters.
At the same time, she’s worried she may no longer have the chance to mend that relationship, in the face of such a devastating catastrophe, and wonders if she’ll even have the opportunity to return to the home she once knew.
There’s an unspeakable tragedy, a reckoning, and a good deal of emotional insight throughout this book. At one point or another we’re given a glimpse into the psyche of each of the major characters.
Even so, most of that happens quickly, and by the
the story comes to a true “fork in the road”, it ends altogether.
You get a bit of understanding, but not nearly enough, so a lot of inferring is going to be done.
In the end, a good story, with a lot happening, but one of which I would’ve liked to have seen more depth offered at certain points.
It’s a lot to take in, in less than 300 pages, but Katia Ulysse does a pretty good job.
Jacqueline and Kevin live in Baltimore with their three-year old daughter, Amber. Kevin has had trouble readjusting to being home, after his last tour in Iraq, and his marriage to Jacqueline is not what as it once was. However, the two still love each other and find a tether to that love via Amber.
After an earthquake rocks Jacqueline’s homeland of Haiti, she finds herself pining for the land she abandoned, and concerned for her parents (Paul and Annette)—with whom she has a complicated, and also contentious, relationship—but whose survival is yet unknown.
The book unfolds in quick, succinct chapters, with a lot of imagery offered via the inner thoughts of Jacqueline (an artist).
Jacqueline is a somewhat motherless child, and she holds a great deal of resentment for the way her parents disappeared from her life in favor of becoming jet setters.
At the same time, she’s worried she may no longer have the chance to mend that relationship, in the face of such a devastating catastrophe, and wonders if she’ll even have the opportunity to return to the home she once knew.
There’s an unspeakable tragedy, a reckoning, and a good deal of emotional insight throughout this book. At one point or another we’re given a glimpse into the psyche of each of the major characters.
Even so, most of that happens quickly, and by the
the story comes to a true “fork in the road”, it ends altogether.
You get a bit of understanding, but not nearly enough, so a lot of inferring is going to be done.
In the end, a good story, with a lot happening, but one of which I would’ve liked to have seen more depth offered at certain points.
readincolour's review against another edition
4.0
A bit of an abrupt ending, so more like a 4.5 but not a 5.
kxmulligan79's review against another edition
2.0
Every story line in this book felt unfinished. It felt as though predictable events were added just for drama but never fully fleshed out so they didn't add anything to the story. I don't understand her husband's position on Haiti, what happened between her and the pastor, and even the issue between her and the parents, nothing was fully explained. I was very disappointed because I had high expectations for this book.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars • I requested this title for review because I am woefully under-read on Haiti, and a book written by a Haitian about the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 sounded like JUST the book to change that status. Written almost like a novella, this 200 page story (also set in Baltimore) is an incredibly fast read while managing to pack in more grief and drama that I would have thought possible. While at times overly descriptive and more dramatic than I perhaps would prefer, MOUTHS still exposed me to two worlds fairly new to me - Haiti and that of a former US Marine suffering from PTSD. Although both of these, in my opinion, could have been fleshed out much more to create a longer work, they combined for a fast-paced and heartbreaking story.
If you are looking to expand your reading and prioritize #ownvoices stories (as I do), add this one to your reading list.
Thanks to Akashic Books for the review copy!
If you are looking to expand your reading and prioritize #ownvoices stories (as I do), add this one to your reading list.
Thanks to Akashic Books for the review copy!
aekua's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautiful and achingly heartbreaking novel set in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.
yanulya's review against another edition
3.0
I vacillated between 2 & 3 stars. I had high hopes for it and the subject matter had a lot of potential. But it wasn't quite realized. The writing had moments of clarity & beauty, yet other moments where it fell into choppy cliche descriptions or just didn't feel believable. It was the emotions throughout that bumped it up to 2.5 territory, and the glimmers of insight into minds & hearts in situations I haven't experienced. I'd be interested to read a 3rd or 4th novel by her.
cleches's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
shaniquekee's review against another edition
5.0
I have SO MANY FEELINGS about this book. So many. Jacqueline and Kevin and Annette and Paul are such complex characters, yet they aren't really. There's so much here about loss and hurt and family and marriage and relationships and wealth and tradition. It made me happy and upset and angry and squicky and sad and hopeful and satisfied and much more. This is one of those books where you sit down to read the first few pages and look up 84 pages later wondering what happened. Katia Ulysse sets the stage well and guides us through to the end. She breaks your heart and puts it back together again, over and over, in a mere 200 pages.