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in French]
(Reviews by Amazon.com)
 Voodoo
in Haiti
by Alfred Metraux, Hugo Charteris, Sidney W. Mintz (Illustrator)
If you want to learn something about Voodoo, then start with
Alfred Metraux's "Voodoo in Haiti". It's the most
straight down the line, objective, anthropological study of
voodoo that one can find. Often, better editions of the book
are accompanied by Metraux's photography, which in itself tells
one a great deal about this religion. Factual evidence is the
priority here and for that reason alone, it's a respectable
book that doesn't tell any lies. Metraux is the classic 'outsider'
who is looking in at Voodoo, and his viewpoint is never marred
by Western conceits or judgements. "Voodoo in Haiti"
firmly puts Voodoo in its place alongside every other religion
in the world: it has value, merits, problems and practices.
Most importantly of all, Metraux does not once mention "Live
and Let Die".
Walking on Fire : Haitian Women's Stories of Survival and
Resistance
by Beverly Bell, Edwidge Danticat
 This
item will be published in December 2001. You may order it
now and we will ship it to you when it arrives.
The Neglected and Abused : A Physician's Year in Haiti
by Joseph Francis Bentivegna
I have been to Haiti many times and the book seems to present
a very realistic picture of the people and problems in Haiti.
Dr. Bentivegna simply tells it like it is--he realizes that
problems like malnutrition, unsanitary water, and lack of vaccination
programs and birth control compound any doctor's best efforts
to provide medical care to the poor in Haiti. He does not hide
his frustration as he encounters these things and others as
his year in Haiti progresses. Along these lines, he states in
the epilogue: "The problems that initially seemed so easy
to solve became infinitely complex the better I understood them"
(p. 161).
The title of the last chapter in the book is "Questions
Without Answers," and includes story upon story of
ethical dilemmas he encountered in Haiti (which are so different
from the dilemmas encountered in 1st-world medicine), and
how he chose to act in these situations. They illustrate
how gray the lines can be, and how he had to, as he says,
"play God" in Haiti. He also points out the problems
that occur when people and groups attempt to impliment short-term
solutions to long-term problems. It's very eye-opening.
In the midst of this, it is obvious that Dr. Bentivegna loves
and respects the Haitian people, and that he is torn by their
plight. Sadly, though this book was written more than a decade
ago, it might as well have been written last month. We can
only hope and pray that Aristide's leadership will bring infrastructural
changes and economic development to Haiti in the coming years.
It is only these things, as Bentivegna notes, that will provide
long-term change in Haiti.
Creole
Made Easy
by Wally R. Turnbull
 "Creole
Made Easy" gives the reader every day words and sentences.
I keep this book with me while at work either in the office
or field in order to get a better understanding of what is
happening around me. It gives you a base that you can start
to "speak creole" the same day you pick it up.
However by learning these simple 16 steps and using them
each day in some sort of converstion with the Haitian people,
you can start to pick up on the meanings and uses that each
word has. For example, most commonly used to refer to a
person, place, or it, is li. This is spelled out and used
in the first lesson.
I will say that one of the most important thing to remember
to learn is tann isit, wait here, this will help you out
when you want your cab (top-top), to wait for you while
you are either shopping or asking information.
The dictionary in back of the book helps to explain different
words and give you an idea of the English to Creole-Creole
to English explaination.
Secrets
of Voodoo
by Milo Rigaud, Odette Mennesson-Rigaud (Illustrator), Robert
B. Cross (Translator)
Although this book is not for beginners, it provides a wide
and varied assortment of notes from the author's thirty-year
study of Voodoo/Voudou, mostly in Haiti but also in the Americas.
Originally published in the 1950's, this book includes folklore
and legends, as well as academic notes.
If you're interested in this subject, "Vodou Visions"
by Glassman is a better choice for beginners, or "Jambalaya"
by Luisah Teish to explore women's spirituality, particularly
Voudou- and African-related. Both of those books are vastly
easier to read, and more current.
However, for thorough research into Vodun/Voudoo/Voodoo,
this book provides extensive information, and some unrelated
but insightful notes to lead you deeper into the context of
African-based traditions.
Basic
Creole (Kreyol): An Introduction to the Language of Haiti
by Brewster W. Moseley;
 I
have traveled to Haiti twice and feel the course is of inestimable
value. The dictionary includes all the words I would need
in normal tourist-to-Haitian conversations...and then some.
The voices on the cassette are well-modulated and easy
to understand. The course itself is clear and well-organized.
It seems to include all the information any traveler would
need on a visit.
One criticism: there are no pauses on the tape, and it's
difficult to assimilate the information without stopping
the tape in several places. But that's actually not a problem.
I would rate this course 5 out of 5 because, although not
exhaustive, the course includes much more information than
I could ever use, the materials are attractively packaged,
and the lessons are well-organized and easy to follow.
Haitians : Migration and Diaspora by Anthony Catanese
Studies the migration of Haitian people during the latter
part of the twentieth century, from their rural beginnings
to their lives in the U.S., a human movement ending in one
of two urban locations, Haiti's capital or the U.S. Atlantic
Seaboard.
The
Magic Orange Tree : And Other Haitian Folktales by Diane Wolkstein
(Editor), Elsa Henriquez (Illustrator), Edwidge Danticat
 I
lived in a remote village in Haiti for five years and found
this book while home in the USA for a visit. I found its stories
unusual and charming -- and authentic! When I returned to
Haiti I had a wonderful time with my Haitian friends as I
related the stories I had read in this book and they would
finish telling them with me and share how their mothers and
fathers had shared these same stories with them.
Haiti
: Or the Psychology of Black (Spring, 61)
by James Hillman (Editor), Henry Hogarth, Judi Bertoia, Charles
Boer (Editor)
Night
of Fire : The Black Napoleon and the Battle for Haiti by Martin
Ros, Karen Ford (Translator);
Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the slave revolt in
1791 that successfully fought French, Spanish, and British
armies and eventually established the Haitian republic, is
one of the more famous names in black history. A brilliant
leader, tactician, and statesman, Louverture has been the
subject of much interest over the years. Ros's book, first
published in Amsterdam in 1991, is not only the story of Louverture
but of the conditions leading to the slave revolts and the
shifting social and geopolitical alliances that affected the
outcome of the revolt. Ros, a Dutch writer and radio personality,
has produced a popular history, suitable for general readers
and one that makes fascinating reading. Recommended for public
libraries.
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