I don't read much classic literature anymore. Because I did my time during the two and a half years of undergrad where I gave up on being a doctor and pursued an English degree instead. Those years gave me a foundation for the staples of literary works, how they have been critically analyzed, and how they fit into current literary theory. And because I went to school in California, even in high school there was a tremendous effort put to include authors who were women and people of color. In college, there was a push for more visibility on queer or non-heteronormative lit.

As an adult, I read mostly for entertainment and gratification, moving away from reading books where I'm easter egg hunting for theme and symbolism. And i tend to like contemporary books that people are talking about now in the modern discourse as opposed to having the same conversations. That being said, it is very important to read books that mattered and were unique voices and perspectives in an otherwise fairly homogenous literary canon. It's also good to reflect on how old books are still applicable to current issues and how they stand in contrast to contemporary mores.

For example: Sophie's shady entrance into the US from Haiti was bonkers. Like, I have no doubt that's how it happened back in the day. But also, how?! You get walked past customs, sure. But did Sophie's mom retroactively get her citizenship because later on as an adult she was able to travel to and from Haiti without a hitch. And really my fixation with the nitty gritty logistics of this is because of a larger obsession with US immigration policy that while not new has taken shape as a very technical, rather than philosophical problem.

First Impressions

My knee jerk reaction is that this is a novel centered around rape and generational trauma. Which is why in the end, I decided against making this into a quippy YouTube review even though I had filmed it. At first I sort of resented that this was the type of book too heavy to write jokes for and required me to go back to my literary analysis roots. But after having more time to process it, I realized that I was only really hung up about the rape and pain because Breath, Eyes, Memory doesn't have a driving plot. This isn't an indictment either. It's probably the primary reason I have switched to female authors. That the driving narrative is not what is happening in the story but is focused on how the characters feel about the world they inhabit and how they fit into it and interact with it. In other words, it's about their narratives; how they see the world.

Personal Impact

Again, I don't want to turn this into a deep dive and I'm not going to spend a lot of time summarizing what happens in the book. Just go read the book. It's super short. Instead, I want to talk about the parts of the book that really spoke to me. However, I did go and check out the Oprah's Book Club discussion questions to see what kind of things other people like to talk about.

1. Rejection of the responsibility to achieve the "American Dream"

My grandparents came over to the US in the late 60s and early 70s, respectively. Both my parents were born in the Philippines, but came to the US as young children and grew up in the States. So I'm technically the first to be born here. My grandparents carved out a life in the US. Their children lived up to that initial investment and sacrifice by earning more than their parents did and could afford bigger houses and for their children to grow up in luxury. Then there's me, who grew up in one house and then an even bigger one that my parents bought during the housing bubble and entered college in 2009, a year after the Great Recession.

If there's a weak link in the family, it's me. The uphill achievement and prosperity pretty much dies with me. But many of my generation, immigrant or no, aren't going to have what our parents did, much less surpass them. But it's tough on us first (or second, depending on the definition) generation Americans. There's both internal pressure from our families and outside pressure from society telling us we need to prove that the immigration experiment was a success.

So I feel for Sophie who just wants to be a secretary and has to deal with the ungratefulness backlash of not fulfilling her mother's and aunt's dreams of becoming a doctor. Yo girl, I just want to not be overly stressed by my career, but earn enough a living to be happy too.

2. The purity or virginity cult

Ugh yeah, I grew up Catholic with traditional/conservative parents too. My mom didn't let me where tampons because she said I had to "save myself" for my husband. She raged at me for being an idiot for scheduling my own gynecology appointment and getting on birth control pills when I started college (she apologized for the "idiot" comment because I was being responsible, but not for getting mad at me). Thankfully I grew up in California and our sex ed was sufficient, if not as comprehensive as it is now.

DEAR GOD THE PESTLE WHHHHYYYYY. BIIIIIITCH WAS THAT EVEN CLEAN?! YOU USE THAT TO CRUSH GINGER FORGODSAKE

In fact, my mother, for all her sex negativity, at least gave me this piece of timeless advice: "If a boy pressures you to have sex to prove you love him, he doesn't love you." This is pretty realistic sex advice, but it didn't come with the accompanying conversation about consent or the even hinting at the possibility that I myself could want sex.

I don't want to make out my experience to be as traumatic as "the test" was for Sophie and it certainly doesn't dog me in my adult life. But when I reflect on it, although I am a very sex-positive and sexual being now, I NEVER was in my mother's house. Not in high school and not in the years when I moved back in during undergrad. I had to be away to have sexual autonomy.

I hope things are different for my younger sisters. And I try to make that happen by talking frankly about my sexual exploits. Plus it's fun to make my mom squirm.

3. Men as life accessories

Dude, Marc and Joseph are barely characters. For all of Martine's purity bullshit, she certainly doesn't give a fuck about to properness of a husband herself. That she kept working to afford an independent household from Marc all her life is #relationshipgoals. And Sophie definitely just viewed Joseph as a means to get out of her mother's house. It would be empowering that these women treat these men as a mere accessory to their lives in order to have their true autonomy. But they don't really like them. They barely enjoy them. Dear god the sex is such a problem. Ew. That scene. Just as bad as the pestle part. Marital rape is rape and if you need resources go here and if you want to read about the legalities, go here.

My personal philosophy that your life as a single person is the main course. You keep yourself nourished with your own career and interests. Your partners are dessert. Life is infinitely better with dessert at every meal, but you don't strictly need it. It's just a wonderful addition that adds joy to your life. When you don't want it, don't have it. When you want something extra, there are many flavors and delights to choose from ;)

Conclusion

I thought it was a brilliant and poignant read, but as this was Danticat's first novel, I would be more curious to read one of her newer books. However, although her work shows a lot of depth, it doesn't have a lot of variation in subject and I tend to lean towards more creative writers. So, personally, I would catch up with Children of Virtue and Vengeance, rather than Dandicat's Everything Inside, even if it did win 2019 Book of the Year.