Amy wilentz talks with rich fahle about on her latest, farewell, fred voodoo. Amy wilentz is a brilliant writer, an ace journalist and, perhaps most important, she is not an outsider. I feel earthquakes more often than they happen by amy. Wilentz knows the world she writes about very well, and her descriptions have a solid specificity that. Apr 14, 2019 wed hurry to the car to get a meal, then linger again, reluctant to step out of the story. Brown for bringing this item to our attention, a zombie is a slave forever the new york times, 30 october 2012. Madison smartt bell madison smartt bell is a novelist. Coming to california in the age of schwarzenegger she has won the whiting writers award, the pen martha albrand nonfiction award, and the american academy of arts and letters rosenthal award. For veteran haiti fanatics, perhaps the most striking detail in amy wilentzs sad and knowledgeable new book, farewell, fred voodoo, is the change in her understanding of jeanbertrand aristide. I feel earthquakes more often than they happen book by amy. Amy wilentz is a journalist and author whose works focus on the politics and. Amy wilentz has paid exceptionally close attention to this dreamy, nightmarish place for a quarter century, and with farewell, fred voodoo she turns all that careful watching and thinking into a.
Farewell, fred voodoo, by amy wilentz the new york times. She is the author of the rainy season and has written for the nation, the new republic, and the new york times. On january 31st at politics and prose bookstore in washington dc, before a gathering of roughly 75 folks, most of whom held a newlypurchased, yellowjacketed book on their laps, amy wilentz spoke and read from that book, her just published, farewell, fred voodoo. A veteran journalist captures the functioning chaos of haiti. Jan 14, 20 while amy wilentz was talking to me over the phone from her home in l. Haiti since duvalier, of martyrs crossing, a novel and of i feel earthquakes more often than they happen. She has won the whiting writers award, the penmartha albrand nonfiction award, and the american academy of arts and letters rosenthal award. Buy a cheap copy of martyrs crossing book by amy wilentz. Amy wilentz, a nation contributing editor, is the author of farewell, fred voodoo. Jane smiley, author ofthirteen ways of looking at the novel, this is the way to travel through california as a passenger on amy wilentzs remarkable, funny, and vivid trip through the land of schwarzenegger.
Considered the best book ever written about haiti, now updated with a new introduction, after the earthquake, features first handreporting from haiti weeks. By bob maguire, director, latin american and hemispheric studies program, gwu. In her relationship with the country since then, wilentz has witnessed more than one. Join facebook to connect with amy wilentz and others you may know. She apparently got ptsd from being in a car with a haitian rape victim who freaked out at the sight of one of her. Shes the perfect guide through the heartbreak and beauty of postearthquake haiti. Ask amy wilentz january 28, 20 16 members last activity jan 29, 20 03. A few blocks away, i heard an elderly haitian arguing with an officer of the 82nd over a piece of rope or bungee cord the man needed to.
Tragedy and hope, amy wilentz, the university of kansas. Amy wilentz has written for the nation, the new republic, newsday, time, the new york times, and the new yorker, where she was the jerusalem correspondent from 1995 to 1997. Farewell, fred voodoo book by amy wilentz official. One of the great novels to come out of haiti in the 1940s. The awardwinning writer tells time about her new book, farewell, fred voodoo.
Amy wilentzs a zombie is a slave forever repeating. Robert sean wilentz was born on february 20, 1951 in new york city, where his father, eli wilentz, and uncle theodore ted wilentz, owned a wellknown greenwich village bookstore, the eighth street bookshop. Amy wilentz is the author of the rainy season, martyrs crossing, and i feel earthquakes more often than they happen. Amy wilentz the rainy season was my goto book for an inside view of haiti for over twenty years one that i read three times or more, and that put so many questions in my head as history watched aristide come to power, then be disappeared, then become president again, then not. Amy wilentz author of farewell, fred voodoo goodreads.
Amy wilentz won the penmartha albrand prize for nonfiction and the whiting writers award, and was a nominee for the national book critics circle award in 1990. Wilentz is good at these twists that turn received ideas inside out. Martyrs crossing, a novel about jerusalem, and i feel earthquakes more often than they happen. So wilentz resisted headlines and rejected objectivity. Farewell, fred voodoo by amy wilentz the boston globe. Jan 28, 20 amy wilentz is known as a writers writer, creative and courageous in her work for the new yorker and in the nation and in her awardwinning books. When an earthquake struck haiti in 2010, killing thousands, amy wilentz tried to stay away.
Coming to california in the age of schwarzenegger 2006. Author amy wilentz talks about her book farewell, fred voodoo which recounts her trip to haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010. I cant imagine theres a better book about haitia smarter, more thoughtful, toughminded, romantic, plainspoken, intimate, wellreported book. National book critics circle award, 20, for farewell, fred voodoo research abstract amy wilentz is the author of the rainy season. This is a compellingly readable book, and i want another installment. Since the 2010 earthquakes, thousands of wellintentioned americans have traveled to haiti as. Here are excerpts with a link to the original article below. Amy wilentz, a former jerusalem correspondent for the new yorker, is the author of martyrs crossing, a novel about jerusalem, among other books. That love permeates every page of amy wilentzs powerful new book. In her relationship with the country since then, wilentz has witnessed more than one magical transformation. Sep 20, 2006 amy wilentz has written for the nation, the new republic, newsday, time, the new york times, and the new yorker, where she was the jerusalem correspondent from 1995 to 1997. Yes, theyre fun pop fodder, but their history is steeped in slavery, here is related article by amy wilentz many thanks to victoria g.
This could turn out to be an interesting portrait of foreign journalists in haiti. A letter from haiti, at the 2016 awp conference and book fair. I feel earthquakes more often than they happen book by. She edited and translated the parish of the poor orbis books 1990, a collection of the writings of haitian president and political leader jeanbertrand aristide. Farewell, fred voodoo is a journey into the depths of the human soul as well as a vivid portrayal of the nations extraordinary people and their uncanny resilience. She was the jerusalem correspondent for the new yorker from 1995 to 1997. The fred voodoo referred to in the title of amy wilentzs impassioned but lumpy new book on haiti, she explains, was reporters joking name for the haitian man or woman in the. Haiti since duvalier 1989, martyrs crossing 2000, and i feel earthquakes more often than they happen. She is the author of two prizewinning books, the rainy season. By amy wilentz, the acclaimed author of the prizewinning the rainy season, martyrs crossing tells a stunning story of love, fear, divided loyalties, ruined friendships, and personal sacrifice against a backdrop of raging war in the holy land. Martyrs crossing, a novel about jerusalem, and i feel earthquakes mor. The prizewinning author, a lifelong easterner and an outsider in th. From one of our most astute contemporary writers, amy wilentz, comes an irreverent, inventive portrait of the state of california and its unlikely governor, arnold schwarzenegger. They say things like, i am like water for chocolate.
Amy wilentz was green behind the ears when she first touched down in portauprince. One telling moment for me was when mitch kicked amys beloved husband blake ugh hard in the ass one of my favorite parts in the book. Amy wilentz books list of books by author amy wilentz. New yorker writer wilentz has been covering shattering events in haiti since the duvalier dynasty fell in 1986, culminating in her book the rainy season. Haiti since duvalier 1990, martyrs crossing 2000, and i feel earthquakes more often than they happen. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read farewell, fred voodoo.
Amy wilentz revisits haiti in farewell, fred voodoo. As a followup to my cobloggers previous post zombies. Amy wilentz is known as a writers writer, creative and courageous in her work for the new yorker and in the nation and in her awardwinning books. Haiti has found in amy wilentz an author of astonishing wit, sympathy, and eloquence. Wilentzs writing is so lyrical its like hearing a song in this case, the magical, confounding, sad song of haiti. She has won the whiting writers award, the pen martha albrand nonfiction award, and the american academy of arts and letters. She is a professor of english at the university of california, irvine, where she teaches in the literary journalism program. A letter from haiti, which won the national book critics circle award for memoir in 20. Nov 09, 2012 as a followup to my cobloggers previous post zombies.
Amy wilentz is the author, most recently, of farewell, fred voodoo. This is the book all outsiders who write about haiti would have written if we could have. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. She apparently got ptsd from being in a car with a haitian rape victim who freaked out at the sight of one. Dec 17, 20 amy wilentz the rainy season was my goto book for an inside view of haiti for over twenty years one that i read three times or more, and that put so many questions in my head as history watched aristide come to power, then be disappeared, then become president again, then not. Amys surprising reaction was joy, even bragging to a friend about what mitch did and then having a lovely day out with her dad. While amy wilentz was talking to me over the phone from her home in l. Wed hurry to the car to get a meal, then linger again, reluctant to step out of the story. Her relationship with haiti dates to 1986 and the fall of the duvalier regime, tumultuous days she spent traversing portau. If you are trying to figure out the muddle that is haitian political history, this book can help. Since 1986, she has devoted much of her career to understanding the politics and culture of haiti.
It was 1985, her first time in the country, and president jeanclaude duvaliers last. She is the winner of the whiting writers award, the pen martha albrand nonfiction award, and the american academy of arts and. Dec 28, 2012 amy wilentz revisits haiti in farewell, fred. Amy wilentz is the awardwinning author of the rainy season. Amy wilentzs a zombie is a slave forever repeating islands. Amy wilentz speaks on her new book, farewell, fred voodoo. Jan 20, 20 wilentz is good at these twists that turn received ideas inside out. She is the author of a novel and a book about life in california. Wilentz starts out as a somewhat naive reporter disembarking in a country. Wilentz, amy the rainy season 1st edition 1st printing ebay. Jan 08, 20 the fred voodoo referred to in the title of amy wilentzs impassioned but lumpy new book on haiti, she explains, was reporters joking name for the haitian man or woman in the. A plantain leaf, some plastic, and a piece of nylon string, and the haitian market woman, top, trying to ward off covid19, has managed to duplicate part of the 17thcentury costume designed to protect medical men from the plague. Farewell, fred voodoo by amy wilentz winner of the national book critics circle award for autobiography, this is a brilliant writers account of a long. One rainy night at a jerusalem checkpoint, israeli lieutenant ari doron is ordered to refuse passage to a young palestinian mother and her sick boy.
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