Reviews

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat

tamgperkins's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful words that create haunting pictures. I will read anything she writes.

africanbookaddict's review against another edition

4.0

This is a beautifully painful story. But does Danticat ever write happy stories? (Because 'Krik? Krak!' had some sad elements in most of the short stories lol). I don't even know how to review this... Breath, Eyes, Memory is a sad book that is written in such a calm manner - Danticat style! Its deep with so many issues that span across 3 generations of women. Grandma Ifé (Manman) and her daughters -Tante Atie, Martine (who moved to NY) and her granddaughter Sophie (the main character of this book) seem to be victims of terrible circumstances, constantly living in a nightmare. I have questions though: was Tante Atie a lesbian? Her relationship and attachment with Louise made me think so... Also, was Martine suffering from psychosis?

Reading this book teaches you to empathize with others. So many people in this world are going through shit. Some women can't sleep at night because of sexual abuse; Some (women) hate themselves and their bodies because of sexual abuse; Some peoples' marriages are suffering because of sexual abuse from the past; Cultural/Family practices that police girls' sexuality have severe, adverse effects on women. There are so many layers to this tale and Danticat's passionate writing definitely makes you empathize. I doubt I'd ever read Breath, Eyes, Memory again, but I'm glad I finally read it :)

MORE ON THE BOOK BLOG SOON! - africanbookaddict.com

emsel's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

caitlinblencowe's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

seeceeread's review against another edition

My heart, it weeps like a river, for the pain we have caused you.

Sophie is raised by her aunt, Tante Atie, until in her early adolescence, her mother summons her to the United States. As she matures, Sophie learns she is the progeny of a rapist and is trained to be wary of men, on guard against the assumed indignity of sex without marriage vows. When she starts dating a neighbor, her mother borrows a known practice: "testing" Sophie's vaginal strength and hymen, as a proxy for her virginity, her "purity." Wounded and ashamed, Sophie harms herself and runs away to consummate the sacrilege her mother takes for granted. She's quickly married and pregnant, then struggling with sexual engagement. She flees to Haiti for a few days and reconciles with her mother. But her mother has never healed from her violations, and cannot cope with a new pregnancy and freshly intensified nightmares.

This is a story of intergenerational healing, of naming and exorcising that which keeps us up at night. Between characters gasping at horrors, Danticat slips folk tales, kreyol, and earned wisdom. In fact, the book starts with a lot of these, which makes the difficult ending – narrative weight hefted towards tragedy and pain – that much more heavy to navigate.

I recognize some of the folk allusions – the bird who would carry away a beautiful young girl, to make a gift of her heart. The mermaid who marries to become a woman – and this made the book feel more familiar. If you're less familiar with the transplant of Africans into the Americas, I imagine some of this might feel oblique, haphazard, disjointed. For me though, Danticat's debut is gorgeous 💛

brimnms's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

sam_bizar_wilcox's review against another edition

5.0

Perfection - Danticat's unadorned prose captures a weighty narrative with cleanness and clarity.

kshanabrook's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

3.75

The intense SA triggers made it hard to read sometimes but the ending was very well done. You realize the title is brilliant on the last page. Don’t know if I would read again.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

ldpac's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

jessbank10's review against another edition

challenging informative sad slow-paced

3.75