Myriam J. A. Chancy

Village Weavers was a fabulous onion of a book with so many layers to peel back – family dynamics, the bond between Sisi and Gertie, and long-held secrets – all within the context of Haitian history. Deeply character-driven and slow-paced, the narration allows for great exploration of relationships, queer love, race, and class structure as the story spans six decades and multiple continents. Initially, I had a bit of trouble finding my footing. Once I did, the book became quite show more enjoyable. You can feel Chancy’s love for Haitian culture and history in the writing. I came away from this book with new knowledge. I’d recommend to readers looking for queer historical fiction. show less

Oh what devastation. Have mercy. Oh what horror. Have mercy. How does a body, a mind survive the destruction and aftermath? Within the pages of What Storm, What Thunder are the stories of those who survived the massive earthquake in Haiti in January, 2010 and those who did not. So much suffering, so much despair, too much, too much.

Poor Jonas who only has enough money to buy one egg today for his mother, Sara, but she is to be denied even that. She has lost her children - what defined her. show more Olivier, Sara’s husband, has his reasons and his part of the story -his ultimate failure is to not to himself. Sara is to be denied everything.

Ma Lou tells much of the story and while her losses seem insurmountable her spirit is a guiding light for many. She remembers a son, Richard, who has surpassed his surroundings and family and left them behind - he fails - in the end he is rejoined to his beginning.

Dieudonne’ smelled the disaster in the air before it came to pass. Sonia, beauty and grace, desired by many has always turned to him depending on his knowledge and certainty. Together they see the God of Death and are unable to prepare and later wonder why they were spared.

Interconnected - Sonia’s sister Taffia, brother Paul and Aunt; Richard’s daughter Ann; Dieudonne’s distant cousin Leopold; Didier, living in Massachusetts driving a cab trying to play his music, not being able to contact his brother and sisters in Haiti not knowing if they survived - all their stories are told in detail. Their backstories, their relationships, their accomplishments and failures all laid out as are their deaths and survival. All told in exquisite prose describing the frailty of life, remembering that one catastrophic event, the struggle for survival and believing that the only way forward is to embrace the gods that had not harmed you.

Powerful, masterfully written, reminding the reader that everyone matters, then, now, always. Thank you NetGalley and Tin House for a copy. show less

This is the book I have been waiting for for 12 years. Myriam Chancy has been deeply involved in the efforts to support the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She has listened to countless tales of survivors and researched many aspects of the reasons for the great devastation as well as showing some of the post earthquake response globally. All of this informs a very stable narrative, but it is not a book of facts, although they are there. It is a book of people, of show more human beings in their complex lives, all abruptly meeting their tragic deaths or finding their lives forever changed. Beautifully written, calmly told, and deeply compassionate. My heart grieves.

I did not receive a review copy. I heard the book mentioned on the radio and got it from my library. show less

In this novel, Chancy attempts to remember the victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Through the lens of various characters, both onsite and away, dead or alive, she draws the portrait of a life-changing event. I loved Chancy's style: melodic and descriptive which conjured the fear, confusion, helplessness and grief that reigned for months and years as it reshaped the country. The mix of English, French and Kreyol adds a beautiful dimension to the text, creating a rich tapestry.
Almost show more every chapter is told by a new character, which does make the story at times confusing, even if the lives interweave and intersect at regular points. This said, once the names become familiar, the characters take on a touching and deeply moving quality. This is a truly sobering homage to all the victims and survivors which gives an inkling to the world of what the event must have been like. show less