A cultural snapshot particularly well told; especially good writing. ( )

This is Julia Alvarez's travelogue/memoir about two trips she took between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, one before the earthquake and one after. I typically love her fiction, and there are certain descriptions in this book that are beautifully written. Also, the various frustrations of traveling across borders in less accessible places are well-described and relatable to anyone who has attempted it. But in trying to cover poverty, culture, politics, colonialism, aging, and a myriad of other issues, she lost some of the narrative force that would have made it more cohesive. It does get bogged down to a very slow pace in some parts. Obviously, Alvarez was going for a more meditative and descriptive story that was not plot-driven but something about it just did not come together for me. ( )

Lots of humor stemming from the typical difficulties of travel in foreign countries - especially poor countries and ones that suffer from corruption by border officials...[[in progress]. ( )

Julia Alvarez shares her true experiences of friendship and learning about the culture of a country that borders her own. "A Wedding in Haiti" exposes the reader to a cultural experience. Readers learn about a culture that may be different from their own, and readers better understand the common experience of humanity that links us all together.

très intéressant ( )