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A review by lovelykd
Mouths Don't Speak by Katia D. Ulysse
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.