The main story in this novel of
interconnected stories and lives focuses on the daughter of a local fisherman,
named Claire of the Sea Light, who goes missing. Her mother died giving birth to her and every
year on her birthday her father talks to the local fabric merchant about
adopting Claire and giving her the life her father is incapable of
providing. He is terrified that he will
die and Claire will be left alone with no one to care for her. Claire, however, has other plans.
While the main story ends happily
enough, there is a lot of despair and misery surrounding the everyday life of
the inhabitants of this small Haitian town.
The reader really understands Haiti and the struggles of the people of
the town. Stories involve prominent
townsfolk (the very few with money), fishermen, gang members, shop keepers and
local radio personalities. The audiobook
is wonderful because the reader really keeps you in Haiti with her slight
accent and her poetic reading of the French phrases interspersed in the
narrative. This is a glimpse into the
life of a town where life is at once fleeting and precious.
