The Dew Breaker (Vintage Contemporaries)

From the evil and dysfunction of Haiti, this novel tells a story from the perspective of related characters derived from the crime or crimes committed by one man, an officer of the Haitian government who immigrates to the United States, New York, and with his wife, begin a new life, harboring his secret past. The structure of the novel is superbly handled, the story is well imagined, and the writing is tight and confident. A novel about the murderous actions of a single character and their consequences from an ensemble of related characters comes together nicely. Feelings of dread lingers after reading.

The cycle of nine stories that make up "The Dew Breaker" revolves around the central character that haunts all of them: a loving father and husband living in New York who was once a member of the Tontons Macoute, paramilitary torturers during Francois Duvalier's despotic regime in Haiti. Only three of the stories deal directly with this man and his family, but the other six deal with his victims, their families, or their friends. Although I often feel that stories-as-a-novel (or fix-ups) are not convincing--the distraction of the seams can sometimes overpower the whole--this is an exception: if anything, the jigsaw-puzzle approach more powerfully shows how disparate lives have been shattered by one "evil" man.It's a heavy topic, and much of the book is melancholy and even gloomy--but Danticat is expert at throwing in both comic relief and the perfectly placed awkward moment. All nine stories are superb, but even so there are four the truly stand out. The opening story, "The Book of the Dead," describes a semi-vacation trip to Florida taken by the now-elderly man and his daughter, Ka, who has sold a sculpture based her father's image to a famous Haitian American actress. When the father (with the artwork) disappears, secrets are revealed, Ka's adoration of her father is tested, and the obligatory meeting with the actress is both uncomfortable and unforgettable. In "Seven," an immigrant living with two bachelors in a basement apartment gets ready to receive the wife he hasn't seen in seven years. (One of his initial concerns: his apartment-mates need to stop sitting around in their underwear.)My favorite section, "The Bridal Seamstress," features Aline, a young, idealistic journalism intern who interviews a woman who is about to retire from a career making bridal dresses for other Haitian immigrants ("they come here carrying photographs of tall, skinny girls in dresses that cost thousands of dollars. . . . It's part of my job to tell them, without making them cry, that they're too short, too wide, or too pregnant . . ."). The story turns darker when the older woman describes the new neighbor who, she claims, is the man who tortured her in Haiti. And, the longest and final story, "The Dew Breaker," takes us back to 1967, when the man who will be the cause of so many future nightmares conducts his last murderous assignment in Haiti, and then takes us forward to 2004, with the story of the woman who saved, forgave, and (if such a thing is possible) redeemed him.

Una novela extraordinaria: tanto el modo en que Danticat urde la trama como su lenguaje son ejemplares. Una visión de Haití y una época que sobrevive en nuestra memoria.

The Dew Breaker is my first taste of the gift of storytelling by Edwidge Danticat......but it won't be my last!As the novel opens, revealing shocking secrets of the past, it's clear that the reader will not be disappointed.The Dew Breaker's title comes from a Creole phrase referring to `Tontons Macoutes' (Haitian volunteer torturers) during the regime of the Duvaliers in Haiti. They would often come in the early dawn to take their victims away...thus the broke the serenity of the grass in the morning dew. These `Macoutes' tortured and killed thousands of civilians, many for trivial incidences.Beautifully written, the chapters overlap and wind back around each other as the novel slowly reveals the ghosts of the past within the culture's stories of miracles and spiritual beliefs.Now, living in New York, trying to erase a past that shadows him continually, we meet a good father and husband with a horrible scar on his face and an agonizing secret embedded deeply in his soul...and now...finally it must be unmasked!

Not bad. A good read if your into adultery and torture and the mentally ill. Everything was bearable except for the adultery, that almost made me put the book down forever but alas, I had to read it for class.I liked how all the stories interlaced, that was really cool. Everything else was pretty eh. I probably won't read it again, but I don't 100% regret having had to read it.

Had to read this for school. Did NOT like the teacher.However, the book really isn't that bad. Told through multiple stories, see if you can find the connections. It's a very interesting take on an issue the media doesn't seem to want to focus on. It's a good. I can't give much a better review then that.If you are into these kind of books, then you will like it. If you are going to be forced to read it for school... well there ain't much you can do and, trust me, there are worst books you could get stuck reading.That's as good as I can do. it's not a book I'd normally read but it is good all the same.

A collection of stories intertwined in a genius tale. Danticat brings the story of Haitian people , history , language and culture to light . Tales of brutality and resilience . Wonderful writing that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

This incredible collection of linked short stories is beautifully written and moved me as much as any book ever has. From the first story about a grown daughter and her scarred father, I was seduced by Danticat's beautiful prose. And with each new "chapter" I was brought further into the web of the many lives affected by the acts of the father. The tension in each individual story was enough to keep me reading, but I was also drawn in as I wondered how each new story fit with the previous stories. The final chapter which brings it all together in Haiti in the 60's is incredible. The fact that I continued to read even through the scenes that were painful enough to make me cringe is testament to what an incredible writer Danticat is. Beautiful writing that looks at a very difficult story with truth... even when it's uncomfortable. HIGHLY recommended!

This book is really good. I had to read it for one of modules this year and I enjoyed it far more than I was expecting I would.It's a fascinating and compelling narrative about an aspect of history that is not talked about enough.I loved the format of interconnecting short stories that don't tell the reader everything and allow us to build our own connections and get surprised as we read on.

All good!

... nicht anfreunden. Der Erzaehlfluss war keiner und obwohl es ein kleines Buch ist, habe ich es nicht durchgelesen.

I needed the book for an English course, the shipping was prompt and the price was great (got it used). Maybe not the most interesting, but I'm satisfied with my purchase.

Great seervice