Brother, I'm Dying

By: Edwidge Danticat

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

National Book Critics Circle Award, Autobiography, 2008

Award-winning, best-selling author Edwidge Danticat taps her exceptional storytelling gifts for this memoir of the two men who raised her. When the author was only four years old, her parents emigrated from Haiti to New York in search of a better life, leaving their daughter in the care of her uncle Joseph. A peaceful pastor in Port-au-Prince, Joseph raised Edwidge with the love and devotion of a father, despite facing many hardships in politically turbulent Haiti.

©2007 Edwidge Danticat (P)2007 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"Poignant and never sentimental, this elegant memoir recalls how a family adapted and reorganized itself over and over, enduring and succeeding to remain kindred in spite of living apart." (Publishers Weekly)

The story of brothers living separate but joint lives

The story is beautiful and somber. Such a great depiction of the pride of Haitians and the difficulty of navigating systems that perpetuate this he difficulty we have had since early on.

Interesting

Not a great memoir, but a good one. Haiti has always had an air of mystery to it, and this story helped me understand it a bit. The narrator is one of the best I've heard.

Master Storyteller

A touching remembrance of the love of family over the arc of several generations, beautifully narrated. It lays bare the sacrifices made by immigrant families and the injustices of the American immigration system.

SOBERING SLICE OF A DIFFERENT SORT OF LIFE

This is a wonderful book for someone who wants to learn about other kinds of people, other life challenges. Americans who live in a city may ride the bus beside someone dressed oddly and of a different race. I have tuned in on people this way in San Francisco. But to get such an exquisitely written story of extended family love and cooperation -- as well as history lessons and the shameful story of how the U.S.A. exploited and trashed these wonderful people -- you have to read a book like this. The only Haitian I knew before I listened to this book was a slim and elegant hotel worker who long ago sold my husband drugs. . . . This morning I googled the author's name and finally saw pictures of her sweet face. And she's had another daughter and written more books! . . . The book tells a true story. People lived through this! Horrendous events take place! And yet, the book is not a downer. There is so much love in the family members and their network of associates both in the U.S. and back in Port au Prince. . . . The United States, especially the Immigration people, have much to answer for. Being black is not a crime! Being black and speaking with a U.K. or French accent is also not a crime! Being a foreigner is not a crime! I noticed how many Spanish surnamed people dealt with Edwidge's precious elderly uncle in his last days in custody. For shame! At one point one character says, "It is what it is." And that is more or less how the book ends. Hopefully. Gathering resources to try to live another day. Edwidge has managed to entertain and inform people with her beautiful and sad story. Thank you, lady!

A true storyteller

Each immigrant's story is unique, and the Danticat's are lucky to have such a storyteller as Edwidge in their family to record their own hardscrabble history. Every time I read books set outside my own limited scope of life, I realize how very much I don't know about the world. As I layer on the experiences of others from different walks of life, different continents, different beliefs, different eras, etc., it's helped me to gain understanding and appreciation for the diversity of life paths, and of the privileges I've been lucky to enjoy. My ignorance towards Haiti was pretty profound. I feel like I've still only dipped a toe and wish I had learned more in this book about Haiti, but the story was about her family, not an all-inclusive primer about the history of Haiti, so that's understandable.

The narrator did a fantastic job with the accents. Her pace was a little slow for me, though, so I found that listening at 1.25x speed was just right.

Loved it

Beautiful story, narrator did an excellent job. Loved it a memoir with some Haitian history

A poignant look at a family and their homeland

The wonderful writer, Edwina Dandicat, recounts her life and the life of her family, particularly the Haitian uncle with whom she spent her early childhood. I listened to this just as the recent earthquake and its devastation was being broadcast on all the media and it gave me a human context to the recent history, the land, and its people. However, beyond that, it is a powerful memoir of a family, their love, their courage, and the ties that bind. I enjoyed the reading very much. It enhanced the story.

Excellent Memoir, Excellent Narration

Any additional comments?

What a stunning memoir! I was pleasantly surprised that the book was as much about life as death. Danticat's excellent telling of her story and describing her family members is impressive. The ending is shocking and infuriating. I commend Danticat for writing this part well, without excessive invectives.

I loved the fantastic narration by Robin Miles. I am now a devoted Robin Miles fan.

As a companion book, one set in Haiti, I recommend Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.

gripping perspective

amazing what just trying to come to the US and gain temporary asylum from a personal threat can do simply because of where you're from and what you look like. amazing that a life lived on purpose can be wiped out just like that.
thank you Edwidge for sharing your story...hopefully others can learn.

no words

Any additional comments?

No words can express the power of this story, especially for people from the West Indies