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Taste of Salt
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From: HarrySpenc at aol.com <HarrySpenc>
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 23:30:47 -0400
When I pick up a book by an American author and it's about Haiti, I'm skeptical. What do most Americans really know about Haiti anyway? I can tell from the news that it's not good, because so many people are willing to shove off into the ocean in things you could hardly call boats. Not only are single adults doing this, but the news camera shows families with infant children. If mothers will take such risks with their babies, the place they leave behind must be terrible. I just finished Taste of Salt. The conditions described were much as I had pictured. What I hadn't expected was the strength of the characters that populate the book. It made me wonder about the author. Where did she get her perspectives?
In search of answers, I read through the short biography of Frances Temple in Something About the Author. The woman lived in some incredible times and places. As the daughter of a diplomat, a Peace Corps volunteer and an elementary school teacher, she had the opportunity to learn about all kinds of people and cultures. Very few of us have the chance to gain that kind of perspective about the world. I'm very glad she took up writing when she did, but saddened that she had so little time to do it.
I can't wait to start Grab Hands and Run.
Bridget Hill La Crosse, WI
Received on Wed 26 Jun 1996 10:30:47 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996 23:30:47 -0400
When I pick up a book by an American author and it's about Haiti, I'm skeptical. What do most Americans really know about Haiti anyway? I can tell from the news that it's not good, because so many people are willing to shove off into the ocean in things you could hardly call boats. Not only are single adults doing this, but the news camera shows families with infant children. If mothers will take such risks with their babies, the place they leave behind must be terrible. I just finished Taste of Salt. The conditions described were much as I had pictured. What I hadn't expected was the strength of the characters that populate the book. It made me wonder about the author. Where did she get her perspectives?
In search of answers, I read through the short biography of Frances Temple in Something About the Author. The woman lived in some incredible times and places. As the daughter of a diplomat, a Peace Corps volunteer and an elementary school teacher, she had the opportunity to learn about all kinds of people and cultures. Very few of us have the chance to gain that kind of perspective about the world. I'm very glad she took up writing when she did, but saddened that she had so little time to do it.
I can't wait to start Grab Hands and Run.
Bridget Hill La Crosse, WI
Received on Wed 26 Jun 1996 10:30:47 PM CDT
