Reviews

The Enigma of the Return by Dany Laferrière, David Homel

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karinlib's review

4.0

I had a hard time putting this book down. The main character gets a telephone call in Montreal, telling him that his estranged father has died in Brooklyn. Both father and son are from Haiti, both had fled, at different times the violence. The son returns to Haiti after being gone for 30 years.

I loved that this book was written in both verse and prose.

louisds's review against another edition

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4.0

3,5. J'ai trouvé ce récit très intéressant. Une espèce de poésie qui n'en est pas. Ça m'a donné envie d'en lire plus sur Haïti, sur le poète Césaire. Je me serais parfois passé des quelques grandes réflexions sur l'humanité mais j'ai adoré le portrait de ce peuple et de ces paysages.

libellus's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

mwoof's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

sophiaxlm's review against another edition

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4.0

流亡海外多年的作家在同为流亡者的父亲过世后返乡，时隔多年再次观察海地，这种“归乡游子”的身份让他的观察角度既“内”又“外”——购买一杯路边摊上的果汁可能是想证明自己仍属于这篇土地，不过接下来的发烧腹泻似乎并不像是个肯定答案。诗歌和叙述性描写直接来回切换得很自然，有点思考状态和记录状态交替出现的感觉。家中后辈兴致勃勃地问起加拿大的生活，带着他自己的既有假设。出去再回来的人，大概就像戴上了某种永久滤镜，看什么都总像隔着一层了。