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20th out of 297 books
—
35 voters
Haiti Noir (Akashic Noir)
by
Edwidge Danticat ,
Ibi Zoboi (Goodreads Author)
"A wide-ranging collection from the beloved but besieged Caribbean island. [
] The 36th entry in Akashic's Noir series (which ranges from Bronx to Delhi to Twin Cities) is beautifully edited, with a spectrum of voices."
-- Kirkus Reviews
"Danticat has succeeded in assembling a group portrait of Haitian culture and resilience that is cause for celebration."
-- Publishers Weekl...more
-- Kirkus Reviews
"Danticat has succeeded in assembling a group portrait of Haitian culture and resilience that is cause for celebration."
-- Publishers Weekl...more
Paperback, 300 pages
Published
December 7th 2010
by Akashic Books
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This is my favorite volume so far in Akashic Books endlessly protean "Noir" series. Wherever you are going in the world on business or travel, pick up the local "Noir" book--on Cuba, Brooklyn, Portland, etc.--and you'll have a much better understanding of where you disembark.
Every single story in this book is worth reading and most are great. I hadn't come across the editor, Edwidge Danticat, before, but I'll be looking for her books since IMHO it's the editor's judgement that makes or breaks a...more
Every single story in this book is worth reading and most are great. I hadn't come across the editor, Edwidge Danticat, before, but I'll be looking for her books since IMHO it's the editor's judgement that makes or breaks a...more
1 like · like · see review
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Haiti churns out bad news daily whether it is a cholera epidemic, a returning dictator or two or the aftermath of the earthquake of 2010. Visitors to the island nation know there is beauty, culture and miraculous people. The armchair traveler has a plethora of news books out this year written by Haitian authors to choose from. The best way to jump in feet first is with Haiti Noir edited by Edwidge Danticat.
Authors and publishers are taking up the mantle of doing well by doing good. Rebecca Sklo...more
Authors and publishers are taking up the mantle of doing well by doing good. Rebecca Sklo...more
This book is part of a series of 'noir' books which focus on greed, love, lust, murder, and other traditional noir themes. Other books in the series have featured locations such as the Twin Cities, Brooklyn, and Dublin. Haiti Noir is a collection of stories from 18 authors who either live in Haiti or have connections to the country. The noir stories of Haiti deal with those criminals who take advantage of citizens living in poverty or coping with natural disasters. Sometimes the wide-eyed and in...more
This is the first book in the "Noir" series by Akashic Books that I have read. I was interested for the obvious reason - the Earthquake that devastated the country. What would the stories coming out of this country be like? As a bonus, Edwidge Danticat was involved in this collection of stories; so, how could I resist?
I liked the book once I got through Part 1. For some reason, these stories just did not interest me. The beauty of the short story is their length - the pain is short-lived if not...more
I liked the book once I got through Part 1. For some reason, these stories just did not interest me. The beauty of the short story is their length - the pain is short-lived if not...more
My story in here is "The Harem". I think this anthology will be groundbreaking. "Noir" fictio--crime/mystery fiction set in Haiti.
3 likes · like · see review
This is not traditional noir, but rather stories of Haiti, which are dark. All but 2 of the authors are Haitian or Haitian American. The 2 non-Haitians are Mark Kurlansky who worked for 8 years in the Caribbean, writing about Haiti, and Madison Smartt Bell, who has written a trilogy about the Haitian revolution. A number of the Haitian authors wrote in Kreyol and these have been translated. There is an authenticity about this book that I believe is due to Danticat's meticulous job as editor. Thr...more
I read this book with a collection of alumni from my undergraduate university. This is a great book for discussion and for delving into the culture of Noir literature and Haiti. The collection of stories is well balanced. Most were written before the earthquake shook Haiti, but three stories are included on these more recent events (one in the beginning of the book, one near the middle, and one near the end. Good balance!) There are also two stories by authors not of Haitian descent. Many differ...more
I started reading this book before going to Haiti and wound up truly disturbed and even wondering if I should go. Then when I returned and picked up the book again the remaining stories were not so harsh. In my short week in Haiti I had also gained more of an understanding of the country and the country. The book introduced me to a few authors I will read more of, and I am pleased to see there is a Haiti Noir 2 that will be published soon.
If you are thinking that Haiti Noir is going to be especially compelling, you're not wrong; or, as Danticat notes succinctly in the introduction "Noir indeed." The editing is really strong, but, as with any anthology, some stories were better than others. I especially liked 'Claire of the Sea Light' by Danticat, 'The Harem' by Ibi Aanu Zoboi, 'Maloulou' by Marie Lily Cerat, and 'The Last Department' by Katia D. Ulysse.
I really feel like the stronger pieces were at the beginning of the collection. With a lot of the ones at the end, I was left thinking "what was the point of that?". I did not enjoy the David Ball translations at all. They were all awkward and choppy. Large's piece seems to have been written in English originally, with mixed results. A lot of the pieces didn't really seem like Noir to me, but I'm no expert on the genre.
My favorites: Danticat's piece --very powerful and the end just sneaks up on...more
My favorites: Danticat's piece --very powerful and the end just sneaks up on...more
Great stories from a variety of writers about Haiti. Several stories were so good that I had to pause before I moved on to the next one. I would strongly recommend this collection.
A collection of short stories, set in Haiti - mostly by Haitian writers. Some are contemporary ghost stories; orhers a bit more grisly.
Read Claire of the Sea Light...a very beautiful story of a father and a daughter.
While some of the stories were very good, a few were just average. Still, it was something different from what I am used to reading!
not bad - some good yarns but also some not very good ones......
This collection was nothing that I expected it to be. The title HAITI NOIR led me to believe I'd get a collection of hard-boiled stories in a Haitian setting. Not so. Most of these were dark, most of these were horror, either psychological horror or the horror of the human condition. Eventually, after spending some time reading, I was pulled into the surrounds, the patois, the feel of Haiti in several of these tales, and as such worthy as a background. There were not, however, actually that many...more
There were some absolutely amazing stories in this book - and some that I didn't care for at all. Overall a fascinating (but of course dark) look at Haiti.
Really uneven collection, a quality I might attribute to:
1. Writers underachieving or overreaching in their reinterpretation of noir;
2. Literal (and literal-minded) translation.
I loved a few of the stories and hated a few more, but plan on seeking out more from each contributor regardless. Trouble is, many of them have published their best work in francophone literary journals, likely hard to come by via public library here.
1. Writers underachieving or overreaching in their reinterpretation of noir;
2. Literal (and literal-minded) translation.
I loved a few of the stories and hated a few more, but plan on seeking out more from each contributor regardless. Trouble is, many of them have published their best work in francophone literary journals, likely hard to come by via public library here.
Short stories. Prob. deserves more stars but I was a bit lazy while reading...maybe I don't like too mnay short stories in one collection.
Extremely uneven writing, even for the better-known authors in the mix. Perhaps some of the original Kreyol stories suffered in translation. .. the 2011 review.
Reread in 2013, and I appreciate it better after being in Haiti and studying more about Haiti. Definitely captures the flavor of the darker aspects of life in Haiti
Reread in 2013, and I appreciate it better after being in Haiti and studying more about Haiti. Definitely captures the flavor of the darker aspects of life in Haiti
Mar 27, 2011
Wendy
marked it as to-read
So excited by this anthology. The panel editor Edwidge Danticat did with several of the contributors at the Miami Book Festival was excellent. Mark Kurlansky was particularly eloquent in calling us to action in support of Haiti, and Les Standiford was his usual dignified, warm presence.
Well-written and jarring. I won't read noir anymore because it's not my thing and creeps me out too much, but I certainly learned more about Haitian culture than my parents even told me about. It's going to spark some interesting conversation between me and my mother.
Beautiful, but very depressing. Poverty, corruption. The last story about the U.S. dumping toxic waste is probably the worst though.
A very interesting and exciting group of short stories. I liked it very much.
Short stories by contemporary Haitian writers that together create a nuanced and complex view of Haiti and its people.
Jun 17, 2013
Bunny21
marked it as to-read
Jun 17, 2013
Courtney
marked it as to-sort
Jun 17, 2013
Kerri
marked it as to-read
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Edwidge Danticat was born in Haiti and moved to the United States when she was twelve. She is the author of several books, including Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection; Krik? Krak!, a National Book Award finalist; and The Farming of Bones, an American Book Award winner. She is also the editor of The Butterfly's Way: Voices from the Haitian Dyaspora in the United States and The Beac...more
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