Who Slashed Celanire's Throat? A Fantastical Tale

This remarkable story has come to an end, and I leave it and the people in it sadder at its end, happier after reading it and I’d like to think more knowledgeable than I had been before I started it. Where to begin with this exquisite terrifying tale? It starts off on the coasts of modern day Cote D’Ivoire during French Colonization. Celanire, the protagonist of this tale is the most well written villain I’ve read in a while. So well written and so complex and mystifying that it is still difficult to say just how she is evil. An orphan from Guadeloupe, she grows up and studies under the care of nuns and is sent to oversee a home for biracial children abandoned by their white colonial fathers, where destruction and death follows show more this mysterious figure wherever she goes.

Going from the coasts of West Africa, to the islands of the Caribbean and northern South America, we’re led with brilliant words that give such a vivid picture of the various settings this story takes place in as we trace the origins of Celanire and the history that gave rise to this formidable character. Reading this story I’ve come to know more about maroon communities, traditions shared between the different communities of the African diaspora and generally about the history and geography of the multicultural regions the book is set in.

The most fascinating bit of this story for me was how a story, an incident, narrative, history takes a life of its own as it passes from individual to individual and through time. The story of Celanire, told through different characters gains form from the different individuals, each side enriching the story and driving the tantalizing and equally frightening and macabre story forward. Celanire was such a fascinating character, her motives and their reasons become clearer as the narrative progresses but her character remains just as elusive till the end. The second book to have read by this author, I've really enjoyed it and borrowed some more by her from the library that I can't wait to read. show less

This book was phenomenal! The author begins with a subtle Celanire who is yet mysterious to everyone. No one knows why there is always some type of ever present neckband/choker around her neck. Celanire is known as an "oblate" dedicated to God and the Catholic religion but not devoted enough to be a nun. She was sent to remote African village to assist the director of an orphanage. Upon her arrival the director dies. This is only the beginning of many horrible deaths that seem to be associated with Celanire's presence. Everywhere she goes she brings good and evil. She has a presence that brings everything and everyone to an abrupt stop.

The characters in this book were simply epic. They are extremely complex and weaved together by one show more common thread, Celanire. The only other author that I have read that develops characters such as Maryse Conde is Edward P. Jones. They give you the history of the character upon their initial introduction and then put you right back in the present without you ever being getting lost. Very hard technique to master without losing the reader.

Beside the characters being so captivating the landscapes, animals, flowers, and architecture have you feeling like you were right in the midst of them. Seriously, I really don't know who was telling the story that never seemed to be concrete. The language was little hard at times there were a lot of French terms. This book was based on evil and revenge and how it comes full circle. show less