Reviews

Masters of the Dew by J. Michael Dash, Jacques Roumain, Mercer Cook

sturmvoqel's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

Charaktere (8/10):

- größtenteils sympathisch, wirken authentisch
- teilweise in ihren Handlungen und ihrer Funktion vorhersehbar

Atmosphäre (10/10):

- Beschreibung des Landes und der Kultur faszinierend
- obwohl mir das Land vorher fremd war, konnte ich mir alles bildhaft vorstellen

Schreibstil (8/10):

- insgesamt etwas altmodisch, nach kurzer Eingewöhnung aber flüssig zu lesen
- Dialoge waren gut eingeflochten und haben den Lesefluss nicht gestört

Handlung: (7/10):

- packend und gut erzählt, keine Längen
- ab gewissen Punkt leider größtenteils vorhersehbar
- Handlung diente dazu um dem Buch eine deutliche Aussage (Zusammenhalt/sozialistische Gedanken, Heimat/Natur erhalten, Religionskritik, Kritik am politischen System) zu geben

Neugier/Interesse (9/10):

- ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen weil mich diese fremde Kultur, deren Lebensweise und die noch immer aktuellen Konflikte so gefesselt haben

Logik (10/10):

- die Geschichte erschien mir in sich stimmig und logisch, die Geschichte hatte keine Längen

Unterhaltungsfaktor (9/10):

- ich fand die Geschichte fesselnd und das Buch hat es geschafft in mir ein Interesse für Haiti und dessen Geschichte und Kultur zu wecken
- einziger Kritikpunkt ist die Vorhersehbarkeit

--> 61/70 Punkte

athenas99's review

challenging mysterious reflective

5.0

bluegrasspam's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

kingofreads101's review

hopeful inspiring reflective

5.0

casey_larsen's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

I had to read this for a class, and if I didn't, I likely never would've picked it up.

Considering this is hailed as one of the great Haitian novels, I was disappointed by the somewhat choppy writing. Now, whether it's the original French text that's choppy or this English translation, I'm not sure. In terms of plot points, there's this Shakespearean family feud throughout the book that I'm still not sure how it started. Maybe it was explained at some point, but if it was, I feel it was breezed over and shouldn't have been, considering it leads to

the main character's, Manuel's, murder.

The other major plot point I had an issue with occurs towards the end when

Annaise starts being called Manuel's wife. I thought their whole relationship was how they had to wait until water was found and brought to the community and only then could they marry once the feud was over. Yet, this doesn't happen as she starts being called Manuel's wife after he dies and before revealing where the water is, and I don't recall any wedding happening, either. It's possible she was called his wife as more of a posthumous thing, but wouldn't it be more tragic/dramatic if it was revealed they never got the chance? Or did Roumain purposely avoid revealing it because then the novel becomes more of a version of Romeo and Juliet than a novel about the Haitian peasant struggle? Whatever, the case may be, calling Annaise Manuel's wife when they didn't actually get married

just doesn't sit right with me.

Overall, not the worst thing I've had to read for a class but also not the best thing.

jz_reads's review

adventurous dark inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

a pretty slow read that made my communist heart so so happy. i've referenced this book in a few papers now on working-class struggle, and the story still impacts me emotionally every time I go back to it. won't be a great fit for you if you're looking for some Orwellian theory, but still a good example of a peasant novel, focusing on class divide, revolution, and poverty in Haiti.

akajujorge's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

miagic_tome's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Had a little bit of everything, good classic read. Read for my college class on Haiti but was one of the better school-required readings I’ve had to do. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

chrrygal's review

hopeful inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

ale's review against another edition

emotional inspiring fast-paced

4.0