The Farming of Bones
It is 1937 and Amabelle Désir, a young Haitian woman living in the Dominican Republic, has built herself a life as the servant and companion of the wife of a wealthy colonel. She and Sebastien, a cane worker, are deeply in love and plan to marry. But Amabelle's world collapses when a wave of genocidal violence, driven by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, leads to the slaughter of Haitian workers. Amabelle and Sebastien are separated, and she desperately flees the tide of violence for a Haiti she barely remembers.
Already acknowledged as a classic, this harrowing story of love and survival—from one of the most important voices of her generation—is an unforgettable memorial to the victims of the Parsley Massacre and a testimony to the power of human memory.
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Community Reviews
Story: 3.5 stars
The main character, Amabelle, tells the story of her life - one that starts with loss and hardship - through to the events of "Le Massacre" in the Dominican Republic. Danticat weaves in the stories of Amabelle's upbringing, her relationship with Sebastian, and the climatic flight back to her native Haiti. While not page turning suspense, the reader does want to find out what happens next. But, the overall depressing nature of the book spoils the impact.
Writing: 3 stars
Sometimes lyrical and hypnotic, but sometimes abrupt and uneven. Danticat can write a narrative and dialog, but she has more trouble with her characters.
Characters: 2.5 stars
Amabelle seems to go through events like she is hypnotized. Sorrow after sorrow is described as if an emotionless zombie is describing them. Amabelle supposedly has a deep love and passion for Sebastien, but although she searches for him and grieves him, I never felt that passion or love - it's all relayed in a staccato tempo - the same as describing birthing her best friends twins or fleeing the massacre or being beaten, it all feels the same. The other characters are just as shallowly developed - they make an appearance in Amabelle's life with no real explanation of the motivations behind it. I also think that it would have helped to have some happiness to foil all the tragedy of Amabelle's story - the reader gets so saturated with stories of all the horrible things that happen the you almost don't - can't? - care.
Learning: 3 stars
Danticat acknowledges that this is a book of historical fiction, but many dates have been changes and events altered. So, while I learned something of a time in history of which I didn't know before, I'd have to do more research to understand the true facts of the situation portrayed.
Ending: 2 stars
Disappointing. I don't mind being left to decide how things go at the end, but I want to be given some clue - anything to have a direction. As it is, there is no resolution for Amabelle.
Overall Entertainment: 3 stars
Not an uplifting story - hard to describe as "entertainment" at all, but it's one of those books that keeps your interest (I wanted to finish it - even if it did take me 13 months!), and you are glad that you read it, but I'm having a hard time thinking of anyone to whom I would recommend it.
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