Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé
February Read!
Join us in Reading Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé!
If you’re reading along with
, Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé is our February read. I started reading it the other day, and I can’t put it down! For those who prefer audiobooks, I’ve had no luck finding one—if you come across it, let me know.Here’s a summary of the book, courtesy of GoodReads!
Francis Sancher—a handsome outsider, loved by some and reviled by others—is found dead, face down in the mud on a path outside Rivière au Sel, a small village in Guadeloupe. None of the villagers are particularly surprised, as Sancher, a secretive and melancholic man, had often predicted an unnatural death for himself. As the villagers come to pay their respects, each person—either through a speech to the mourners or in an internal monologue—reveals another piece of the mystery surrounding Sancher’s life and death. Like pieces of an elaborate puzzle, their memories interlock, creating a vivid and intriguing portrait of both the man and the community. Through lush, evocative prose, Condé has crafted a Guadeloupean wake for Francis Sancher.
Connections Between Crossing the Mangrove and War & Peace
Many of us are reading War and Peace this year, so I encourage you to keep an eye out for places where you see these two texts speaking to one another. I’ve already found a few places that I can’t wait to discuss with
.Reading Schedule and Pronunciation Tips
Below, you’ll find our reading schedule for the month and just a really cool picture of the late Maryse Condé. Since some of the names in this book can be tricky to pronounce, I have attached links to YouTube clips to help you with pronunciation.
Happy Reading,
Links to pronunciations and more:
How to pronounce:
Guadeloupe (French Island)
Sonson (scroll down just a little to find the play button)
Joby (scroll down a little to find the play button)
History of the Island of Guadeloupe
Order the book here! Usually, I would link bookshop.org, but this novel is backordered there, so Amazon it is.
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Nice, I am over-committed for reading, but would definitely join if I had time. I read Condé's Segou many years ago and loved it.