Our book group just got finished reading "Create Dangerously" by Edwidge Danticat. To "create dangerously" refers to the dangerous political climate that has existed in Haiti for the duration of several regimes or administrations. Free speech was definitely not allowed, and even reading was severely restricted. People would take their life into their hands for saying what was on their mind.
Over the years I had heard stories about how brutal the Duvalier regimes had been, but had never heard first hand stories of this in detail. Ms. Dandicat tells about the repression by these and other regimes. She also recounts some good personal memories.
Of the brutality the thing that stood out in my mind was the seeming randomness of it, which made it even more scary. A story that stood out in my mind was when the Duvalier henchmen went into a concert and randomly started to shoot people. … Another story involved the gouging out of flesh on a woman's face while in custody. …. Speak out against this and one would be in for worse. Try to help one of the victims of the brutality and even that would qualify someone to be arrested, tortured, or shot.
The writer talks about some very nice memories of spending time with her Aunt and other family members in the mountains. She talks about the country's natural beauty. And she talks about the good and reaffirming relationships she has established with Haitians here in the states.
The book is a good history summary of the nation of Haiti, I learned several things I hadn't known. It talks about the remarkable courage and faith of the people who had to endure this oppression. And it talks about how people had to circumvent the authorities to have their voices heard.
This book was part of the "One Book / One Philadelphia" program. It was the first time I had read one of the "one" books.
On one level I'd recommend the book, especially since it is part of the "one book" program. And it is written by one who comes across as a very brave, strong, insightful, and nice person. But no matter how many of her pleasant anecdotes she includes, the intensity and aftermath of the country's long history of repression and impoverishment combined with the natural disasters of recent years and not the strongest current Haitian leadership create an overall feeling of hopelessness that I have a hard time believing they will be able to overcome. In the face of so much adversity she tries so hard to find the positive aspects of life. But after reading about the centuries of tribulations, I find a question mark at best for the story's future ending.
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