WHAT HAVE I BEEN READING?...in short.
Island on the Edge of the World
Deborah Rodriguez
Fiction
This book is predominantly set in Haiti, hence the title, Haiti being the 'Island'.
It's spiritual, atmospheric, moving and entertaining. It follows the journey of 4 (5) women as their lives become intertwined in a common goal...finding Senzi, a young Haitian mother. Rodriguez writes with social conscience as she subtly explores family relationships, predominantly from the perspective of motherhood and responsibility.
Each of the characters, have been given real substance and are cleverly linked by their own personal circumstances. As the story unfolds, the reader is successfully transported onto the streets of Port-Au-Prince with vivid and colourful descriptions from Rodriguez. The atmospheric writing makes for a sensory experience when reading whilst highlighting the very real struggle of Haitian people.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it as a good read. Although the underlying subject is very real and disturbing, there is also humour and warmth in the characters and their relationships.
Another great book from the the author of the highly rated 'Little Coffee Shop of Kabul'.
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