Friday, February 27, 2015

Beginning ~ with a freak wave

Claire of the Sea Light ~ by Edwidge Danticat, 2013, fiction (Haiti)
The morning Claire Limyè Lanmè Faustin turned seven, a freak wave, measuring between ten and twelve feet high, was seen in the ocean outside of Ville Rose.  Claire's father, Nozias, a fisherman, was one of many who saw it in the distance as he walked toward his sloop.  He first heard a low rumbling, like that of distant thunder, then saw a wall of water rise from the depths of the ocean, a giant blue-green tongue, trying, it seemed, to lick a pink sky.

Just as quickly as it had swelled, the wave cracked.  Its barrel collapsed, pummeling a cutter calle Fifine, sinking it and Caleb, the sole fisherman onboard.
Those opening lines, along with this description of the novel, make me want to keep reading:
Claire Limyè Lanmè — Claire of the Sea Light — is an enchanting child born into love and tragedy in Ville Rose, Haiti.  Claire’s mother died in childbirth, and on each of her birthdays Claire is taken by her father, Nozias, to visit her mother’s grave.  Nozias wonders if he should give away his young daughter to a local shopkeeper, who lost a child of her own, so that Claire can have a better life.  But on the night of Claire’s seventh birthday, when at last he makes the wrenching decision to do so, she disappears.  As Nozias and others look for her, painful secrets, haunting memories, and startling truths are unearthed among the community of men and women whose individual stories connect to Claire, to her parents, and to the town itself.


Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays.  Click here for today's Mister Linky.

6 comments:

Tea said...

Thanks for the lines and description. Edwidge Danticat is such a special author. She has made me love the people of Haiti.:)

Katherine P said...

This sounds like an intense. I agree that the beginning and the premise would definitely make me want to keep reading!

Lisa Ks Book Reviews said...

I haven't heard of this book. Sounds like it could be very heartbreaking in places. My Beginning can be found here...http://lisaksbookthoughts.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth said...

I love these descriptions.

Sounds like a book I would enjoy.

Will be looking forward to your review. I like the cover too.

Have a great weekend.

Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings

Sandra Nachlinger said...

Oh, my! Was Claire swept away by the wave? Did she run away from home? Is the shopkeeper who lost her child somehow involved? I'd have to keep reading to find out!
My Friday post features A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS.

Gilion at Rose City Reader said...

Sounds great! I haven't been leaving comments for awhile, but I appreciate you participating in BBOF. Thanks!