Tooth Man: Stories from Nicaragua's Mosquito Coast

by Eric Timar

A fish soup love potion; a theft of gold from an old man’s mouth; a rum-powered boat launching; a dreadlocked baseball prodigy; more. Nine interconnected stories; 144 pages.

Genres: Short Stories

142 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2011

About the author

Lived abroad in Central America for six years -- three in Nicaragua, three in Honduras. Collects peace stories for children. Born on Saki's birthday, not far from Winesburg Ohio.

Reviews

[Sara Van Dyck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Tooth Man, I felt that I was hanging out with a set of amiable story-tellers. The men – a journalist, a anthropologist, and a businessman - are outsiders in a small coastal town, sharing their experiences as they learn how the locals deal with love, death, ghosts, and baseball rivalries.

The stories are variously ironic, tragic, or humorous. The North Americans are all well-intentioned, but the considerable charm – and value - of the book lies in the deft way in which Timar shows how their judgments about the native ways and their attempts to change things fail to grasp the social realities of the community. In the final story, “Nicaragua Spin Cycle,” the unintended consequences of introducing washing machines become apparent. It’s a small-scale version of what’s happened over and over when powerful nations try to ”improve” others.

Drawing on his background from six years living in Central America, Timar gives us realistic atmosphere and details, from how witchcraft is practiced to traveling by panga versus a speedboat. My main reservation is that I found some of the extended conversations lengthy and would like a little more setting or narrative to break them up. But Timar treats his characters generously and with empathy.

The dramas here are personal and local but carry implications in a larger context. It’s a worthwhile book. I would certainly recommend it to those who like a story with an unusual setting, and also hope it could stimulate thought about the way we view other ways of life.

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed quite a few of these contemporary short stories set in a coastal area of Nicaragua. The first couple were about local superstitions, magical figures and traditional healers/shamen. Many of the rest were about the effect of NGO's and the lack of understanding shown by their staff towards the traditions and needs of local people. Although done with irony aplenty, this was depicted in just too black and white a way for me. I got the point being made but effectively all locals good, all outsiders not so good to varying degrees, left me in a grey area unsure about how true a picture was being painted.

Two other stories stood out. The first was about a clash of cultures over a man being allowed credit to buy wood so he could complete the building of his shack and the other about a social experiment regarding the supply of washing machines. The remainder were not for me with the longest story - or maybe it just seemed that way - being about baseball and thus being particularly dull.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Feedback: A well told story and look into the life of a people. You can learn about a new culture through some great storytelling.

Point of View: Told as if by the people of the culture.

Voice: Brings a likable characteristic to a people we most do not know.

Character Development: All the characters are well developed and likable.

Plot: Not a spot on or in it to complain about.

Dialogue: Without really knowing the people of this culture this was a hard one to judge, but after googling that, I found the author was spot on.

Pacing: Each story is well told at a rapid fire pace.

Setting: Just sounds beautiful.

Continuity: Being that these are short stories you can tell where on stops and one starts but looking at it overall you find a culture that amazes you.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of well-told short stories of life on Nicaragua's Mosquito Coast. The stories give the reader a glimpse of the culture, folklore, and superstitions of the Miskito people. I really enjoyed the stories and look forward to learning more about the people from this part of the world.