
The novel The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat is a haunting tale set in the Dominican Republic in 1937, amidst the genocide of Haitians. The story is narrated through the perspective of Amabelle Desir, a Haitian orphan who has endured immense hardships and tragedy. As she navigates through the violence and heartbreak, Amabelle emerges as a resilient survivor, capturing the essence of humanity in the face of state-sponsored bigotry and brutality. The narrative structure alternates between standard past tense narration and dreamlike present tense fragments, painting a vivid picture of the Parsley Massacre and the profound loss and grief experienced by the characters.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes content warnings for violence, ethnic cleansing, trauma, and death, particularly related to the historical events of the Parsley Massacre.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance in the story as it focuses on Amabelle's love for Sebastien, which is developed amidst the dire historical backdrop.
From The Publisher:
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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About the Author:
Edwidge Danticat is the author of numerous books, including Brother, I'm Dying, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was a National Book Award finalist; Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection; Krik? Krak!, a National Book Award finalist; and The Dew Breaker, winner of the inaugural Story Prize. The recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, she has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and elsewhere. The Farming of Bones won an American Book Award for fiction in 1999.
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