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.
Episode Links
Welcome to the first episode of Crossing the Mangrove, by Maryse Condé, where there is a whole host of characters, and one dead man at their center. In this episode, Rhea and Shari discuss the author, Maryse Condé the unique setting of Guadeloupe, the diverse cast of characters, and the strange, mysterious death of Francis Sancher. They talk about narrative voice, this story’s ever shifting point of view, and how we think it affects the telling of the story—or if it’s too early to tell.
Next episode they will be discussing the middle section of the book: pp. 76 - 151.
Welcome to Crossing the Mangrove, episode 2. In this episode, Shari and Rhea dig deeper into narration and what they think Condé’s primary concern is based on the narrative style of the story. They discuss what more they’ve learned about Francis Sancher, the characters, and the community of Rivere au Sel. They spend a long time talking about truth: small “t” truth v. “T” truth and how they see this playing out in the story. They talk about whose narrative they trust, whose they don't. And, they discuss Crossing the Mangrove’s unique narrative arc.
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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So happy I stumbled on this post! I've owned Mangrove for a year so this is a sign to (belatedly) join in
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.