pernafet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Blood, Self harm, Child abuse, Dysphoria, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Abortion, and Death
Moderate: Body shaming and Mental illness
Minor: Eating disorder
keycard's review against another edition
I read it for a class. it’s probably much more enjoyable for someone who picks it up of their own will, but the content of the book is extremely traumatic and her writing style is not for me. this is more so a criticism of my syllabus and not the book itself, but of the chapters I did read I was either bored or slapped in the face with my own trauma. please read the trigger warnings before buying it !!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Eating disorder
Disassociation during sex, virginity testingclarereadstheworld's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Pain and trauma unite four generations of Haitian women in this profound novel, which explores their shared experiences of gender based violence passed down from mother to daughter.
The novel begins when Sophie is 12 years old. She lives happily with her aunt in the Haitian village of Croix-des-Rosets. Suddenly, one day her mother (who she hasn't seen since she was a baby) summons for her to come to America. Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and everyone she knows and loves to start a new life in America.
I thought this was just going to be an interesting, thought provoking novel exploring the experience of immigration, and the trauma of families separated by immigration. However, half way through the novel Sophie turns 18, falls in love and things take a much darker turn. Sophie's virginity becomes a major obsession for her mother, as it had been for her mother's mother before, and for generations before. In trying to be what she believed to be a 'good mother' she actually inflictes a lot of pain and trauma on her daughter. I found the rest of the novel quite hard to read, as both Sophie and her mum struggled to deal with the traumas inflicted upon them.
Some of the effects of the trauma I felt were very compassionately and very well written, but not all. The last section of the novel felt rather rushed, and several new elements were thrown in without being given the time I felt they needed to be fully explored. I would have liked to have taken more time seeing more detail about what happened after Sophie returns to America for the second time.
I did really enjoy the descriptions of rural life in Haïti (in between all the pain and sadness). Danticat has a beautiful writing style, and I could really feel the village life all around me as I was reading. The sections in Haïti were absolutely my favourite.
I was relieved the novel ended with a cautious note of hope that maybe the cycle of suffering would be broken. I don't think I would have coped otherwise.
Trigger Warnings: Rape and sexual violence. FGM and eating disorders briefly mentioned.
The novel begins when Sophie is 12 years old. She lives happily with her aunt in the Haitian village of Croix-des-Rosets. Suddenly, one day her mother (who she hasn't seen since she was a baby) summons for her to come to America. Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and everyone she knows and loves to start a new life in America.
I thought this was just going to be an interesting, thought provoking novel exploring the experience of immigration, and the trauma of families separated by immigration. However, half way through the novel Sophie turns 18, falls in love and things take a much darker turn. Sophie's virginity becomes a major obsession for her mother, as it had been for her mother's mother before, and for generations before. In trying to be what she believed to be a 'good mother' she actually inflictes a lot of pain and trauma on her daughter. I found the rest of the novel quite hard to read, as both Sophie and her mum struggled to deal with the traumas inflicted upon them.
Some of the effects of the trauma I felt were very compassionately and very well written, but not all. The last section of the novel felt rather rushed, and several new elements were thrown in without being given the time I felt they needed to be fully explored. I would have liked to have taken more time seeing more detail about what happened after Sophie returns to America for the second time.
I did really enjoy the descriptions of rural life in Haïti (in between all the pain and sadness). Danticat has a beautiful writing style, and I could really feel the village life all around me as I was reading. The sections in Haïti were absolutely my favourite.
I was relieved the novel ended with a cautious note of hope that maybe the cycle of suffering would be broken. I don't think I would have coped otherwise.
Trigger Warnings: Rape and sexual violence. FGM and eating disorders briefly mentioned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Body horror
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