Staff Writer – Latoya Wakefield
Caribbean storytelling. When I say Krik? You say Krak ! and I will tell you a powerful story; one that you will remember all your days. That was my experience when I read “Krik?Krak” by Edwidge Danticat.
This novel consists of nine short stories and an epilogue centered around struggles and survival in Port-au-Prince or Ville Rose, Haiti, and later on in New York where some Haitians migrated .
The name of the novel refers to Haitian story-telling tradition where the narrator says “Krik?” and the listeners answer with “Krak!” and so the story begins…
Children of the Sea commences the book that tells of the pain and love of two young Haitians who were separated by a Political war. The young man had to board a small boat to escape being killed while the young woman stayed in Haiti with her family living beneath the radar of the cruel army that recently took over.
The story moves along with the alternation of letters that the other will never see.They wrote of their love for each other and the horror of an unstable, unsure life, their dead dreams…Separated by seas and mountains, their writings created a heart wrenching and powerful union that gave us the opening chapter.
Edwidge Danticat. Photo courtesy uncw.edu
Nineteen thirty Seven is the second story that speaks of a daughter, her mother in prison and a porcelain Madonna that wept. The daughter, Josephine narrates this story. Her mother, called Mamman, was improsioned because she was believed to be a witch when her friend’s sick baby died after Mamman tended to that child.
Another maginficent story, that is full of depth and imagery.
A Wall of Fire Rising speaks of a small family- Guy, Lili, and their son, Little Guy, live in a one-room shack. The story starts off excitedly when Little Guy barges in saying “Listen what happened today”. Little Guy gets to play a revolutionary at school. And Guy eventually weary of cleaning bathrooms and getting one day’s worth of work at the sugar mill dreams of riding the plantation’s hot balloon. Lilli doesn’t approve and reminds him of his place by her side but Guy’s dream blows reasoning away that led to a sad, strong ending.
Photo courtesy sohopress.com
Night Women – ” I cringe from the heat of the night on my face. I feel as bare as open flesh. Tonight I’m much older than the 25 years I have lived. The night is the time I dread most in my life. Yet if I’m to live, I must depend on it”…Poignant beginning for this chapter and it is as the name suggests. This “Night Woman” has a son and while he sleeps on the other side of the curtain, she works.
Between the Pool and the Gardenias – starts with describing a beautiful baby girl with purple lips. A maid named Marie found her in the road and named her Rose. She took Rose in and took care of her like she was her own that she never quite had. She told Rose her sorrows. After three days, Rose started to smell like “pig’s intestines after they hadn’t sold for a few days”. Marie tried to get rid of the smell until she couldn’t anymore, she was about to bury the child when her lover, A Spaniard grounds man caught her.
The other stories are as follows: The Missing Peace, Seeing Things Simply, New York Day Women, Caroline’s Wedding and ends with an epilogue titled “Women Like Us”.
These stories are all gems and unforgettable. Richard Eder of Los Angeles Times called Krik?Krik! “Pure beguiling Transformation”. Washington Post Book World stated this novel by Danticat was “Virtually flawless…”
I’ve read “Krik? Krak?” several times and the stories never once cease to amaze me. Danticat’s way of telling it is admirably lyrical, mesmirizing and insightful. Just by her writing, you could tell where she’s from without even googling her.
She writes with passion that sears for Haiti and at the time she was just about 26 years of age when she released this book. In conclusion, I highly recommend this book. It is a compelling, moving, must-read.
When I say “Krik?”, you say “Krak!”. Now what are you waiting for, go order this novel now.
