Saturday, September 27, 2008

Two Stories

A Review of Brother, I’m Dying by Joseph DelGabbo

Danticat, Edwidge. Brother, I'm Dying. New York: Knopf, 2007. 288 pp., paper. $23.95

Edwidge Danticat’s memoir Brother, I’m Dying weaves together two stories of heart-wrenching impact on readers. Danticat’s career as a novelist draws on the experiences of Haitian men and women and hernew book tells a gripping parallel tale that emerges from her own real life experiences of Haiti.

Danticat’s memoir begins with a compelling revelation: “I found out I was pregnant the same day that my father’s rapid weight loss and chronic shortness of breath were positively diagnosed as end-stage pulmonary fibrosis.” Immediately the reader is invited into a complex narrative where life and death are interconnected. With her richly detailed flashbacks, Danticat skillfully avoids the monotony of a chronological biography while meditating on her youth. Because her parents immigrated to America, Danticat is looked after by her Uncle Joseph. Instantly, the reader senses the strong bond between her and Joseph, who is unlike his brother, and rejects the idea of leaving his country to start a new life. “Exile is not for everyone,” Joseph wisely states.

Danticat experiences a relatively happy childhood and is largely oblivious to the red tape that stalls her immigration to America. Eventually she is reacquainted with her parents in adolescence. Years later, when Uncle Joseph is forced to flee Haiti for political reasons, he is wrongfully taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security and dies while isolated from his family who work desperately to release him. Meanwhile, Danticat’s father is dying of illness as she juggles the emotions of losing her uncle and the discovery that she is pregnant. Her masterful storytelling blends all these elements to create a cohesive narrative that always keeps the reader turning the page to learn more of her intriguing history.

Danticat’s vivid eye for every detail blends perfectly with her flowing storytelling ability. She manages to tell of her father’s distain for the doctor’s office, “He too began dreading that gray dingy room, its stale and stuffy smells, its peeling beige paint and anti-smoking posters,” without losing the pacing narrative. With her imagery she transports us to her home country of Haiti, and the reader can picture the war-torn ravaged streets and hear the, “crisp and distinct: deep and resolute, breathy and jingly when he was angry, steely and muted when he was sad” sounds of her Uncle Joseph’s voice. Throughout the book, Danticat tells the reader of the constant changing political situation and that causes unrest in Haiti. These segment provide valuable historical background and give the audience a glimpse of troubles faced by Haiti's beleagured populace.

In chapters dealing with Uncle Joseph's detention, Danticat’s writing style becomes more documentary. She writes, “At 11:00 p.m., my uncle was given some chips and soda again. At 11:45 p.m., he signed a form saying his personal property was returned to him.” Throughout the pages dedicated to Joseph’s time in prison Danticat does an admirable job in documenting his grim future as he lays deathly ill in custody. Danticat manages to remain a reliable narrator during this time using methodical writing style and keeping her emotions in check. Despite the less intimate style, the memoir still reads smoothly and quickly as the audience is determined to discover Joseph’s fate. After only a matter of days, Joseph dies in custody.

Readers learn that this case was heavily publicized and Danticat's memoir reveals much about the current U.S. immigration policy and the racism Americans express toward foreigners. This criticism is not discussed in depth during the book, but Danticat takes the opportunity in her testimony to the U.S. Congress stating, “They are called detainees, but really they are prisoners. As family members we quickly learn that. But even prisoners deserve to be treated fairly, decently and humanely. This is what we consistently tell jailers of other countries. How about we practice some of it here ourselves?”

Danticat's measured tone is ultimately persuasive, informing readers of the need for change. In doing so, Danticat mixes an entertaining story with her thematic undertones masterfully, resulting in a powerful book that relates to today’s chaotic world.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments