Haiti's earthquake: recommended reading
Does watching the devastation in Haiti make you want to learn more about residents of this impoverished nation? Here are some books to show you the way:
-- Edwidge Danticat is the acknowledged leader of Haitian writers, and you'll be rewarded with any of her lyrical books. "Breath, Eyes, Memory," a pick of Oprah's book club, chronicles the ordeals of a young girl who moves from the island nation to New York City. "Krik? Krak!" is a YA collection of stories about the island's beleaguered residents. The Dew Breakers recalls the cruelty of some of the nation's leaders; "Brother, I'm Dying" is a poignant memoir.
-- "Song of Haiti" by Barry Paris looks at William Larimer Mellon Jr., heir to a family banking fortune, who established and managed a hospital in Haiti.
-- Madison Smartt Bell, who teaches at Goucher College, has written a trilogy about revolution: "All Souls Rising," "Master of the Crossroads" and "The Stone That The Builder Refused." He also wrote "Toussaint Louverture A Biography." Here's a piece he wrote for The New York Times about other Haitian voices.
-- "Children of Heroes," among the works by comtemporary Haitian novelist Lyonel Trouillot, tells of two children from the Port-au-Prince slums and their fight for survival.
-- "Massacre River" by Rene Philoctete recounts the 1937 slaughter of Haitians by a ruthless dictator.
-- "The Comedians" by Graham Greene tells of a hotelier ensnared in the oppression of the Duvalier dictatorship.
Comments
I would also highly recommend Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World. It's not 100% about Haiti, but most of Paul Farmer's early work took place in Haiti where he established Partners in Health.
Posted by: Danielle | January 18, 2010 9:33 AM
people are going to jump on me for this- but still- i hope some of these writers on haiti are political
the solutions to its problems are political
we need engaged writers (yes i do pound the same note) (see my other haiti entry) (further down the page)-especialliy after the crap nature and our own nature is going to throw at us- ecrivant engage (accent egu) in the french- like camus, genet
i am not going to blame the haitians for their problems? they might say they were "abandoned"- but they can share some of the blame
if i'm wrong- tell me how?
dave and nancy- the capchas in this program can be unreadable
Posted by: david eberhardt | January 18, 2010 4:42 PM
I just picked up 2 Edwidge Danticat books today- Krik? Krak! & Breath, Eyes, Memory. Her prose is beautiful. A few days ago in the Wall St. Journal, Edwidge Danticat recommended some books for people who wanted to broaden their horizons in what they know about Haiti. I have the link in my blog post @ http://tinyurl.com/ya63pgh or you can search Danticat at the WSJ.
Posted by: Suzanne (Chick with Books) | January 18, 2010 10:37 PM
"Breath, Eyes, Memory" Really a book must touch your view n helps to know the suffering n the fact of post disaster period. I read that n recommend always. On that time Haitian suffering went out of description.
In fact it's still nop free from the crisis created from the disaster.
I think at this moment HAITI really needs help to be rebuild.Outgoing Haitian President René Préval has set the presidential elections for Nov. 28, 2010.
According to ma justification,
Charles Henri Baker (born June 3, 1955) should be under consideration as a deserving personality,
who can supply the best support to this contribution.
Thank you.
Posted by: minato-alvin | October 21, 2010 12:38 AM