Breath, Eyes, Memory

It is the second book I have read by Edwidge Danticat, this one is Breath, Eyes, Memory.  The story of Sophie Caco, a twelve year old Haitian who lives with her aunt (Atie) after her mother left for the US, is broken into four segments.  The first presents the story of Sophie’s  days with her aunt Atie, the second phase outlines the experience of going to America, the third her trip back to Haiti with her mother, and the fourth the separation and conclusion to the relationship between Sophie and her mother. The reader learns firsthand of the loving relationship between Sophie and her illiterate aunt, which comes to an end when Sophie’s mother sends an airline ticket for Sophie to finally join her in the US.  Sophie reunites with her mother and learns the horrific story of how she was conceived, through stranger rape.  The rape and the Haitian tradition of mother’s “testing” their daughters to ensure the daughter is pure for future suitors lead to Sophie’s mother’s nightmares and mental health issues.  Women have special challenges growing up in a culture that is male dominated, poor, and uneducated.  Sophie’s mother never is able to cope with the tragedies that she faced in Haiti which are repeated in some ways with Sophie upon her 18^th birthday and feelings towards an older neighbor, Joseph, whom she finally marries.  Sophie’s mother never can escape her past even with the help of her lover Marc, whom she tries to open herself up to.  All of the female characters have similar scars and the cycle does not seem to end.  I was really shocked by the ending of this book, which bothered me to the core.   It appears on many levels that Sophie’s world will change as will her mother’s fate, but….. this is not a happy story but does present a story that needs to be told.  One can only hope that Sophie can break the chains that imprison women in the Haitian society.  There is much work to be done for sure.  Danticat once again provides a perspective that needs to be shared globally.  Tough read, but nice and short.  Worth adding to your list.  Falls in the series of books from other third world countries that women are seen as objects.  Sad.