The Roving Tree

by Elsie Augustave

"A gorgeous new novel about a Haitian adoptee finding her way in many different corners of the world."
--Edwidge Danticat, New York Times

"Augustave, a first-time novelist, pens a well-balanced story about a young woman, caught between two worlds, who struggles to connect with her heritage...a polished narrative that addresses racism and cultural and class differences and provides a wealth of information about vaudou beliefs."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Augustave… illustrates the devastating rootlessness of cultural disaffiliation."
--World Literature Today

"The Roving Tree is both a song and a social essay. It provides a window on a world and rounds out by circling back to the prologue."
--Asheville Citizen-Times

"Augustave creates a stunning tale with beautiful language that dwells in the realm of magical realism…The characters are rich, complicated and full of color and nuance."
--Mosaic Magazine

"The Roving Tree is truly an enthralling debut novel that deserves a wide audience; readers will undoubtedly be enriched by their engagement with it."
--SX Salon

"The beauty of this book lies in its simplicity. An engaging read that packs a powerful punch."
--Historical Novel Review

"The Roving Tree is Elsie Augustave’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Augustave writes beautifully and it’s obvious that she cares a lot about the subject matter she chooses. I definitely recommend The Roving Tree to anyone who likes reading literary fiction and/or to anyone who is interested in the ideas and history portrayed in the book."
--Between the Covers

"Augustave is a talented writer who brings her varied characters to life and shows readers parts of the world that few of us have experienced. Her book is an excellent anecdote to books about immigration that, intentionally or not, present the western world as the favored or inevitable destination…I strongly recommend The Roving Tree to all those who are interested in Haiti, Zaire, and African traditions more generally."
--Me, You, and Books

"A beautiful, layered, nuanced story about a woman finding herself."
--NBC COZI TV, Essence Magazine summer reading pick

"A fulfilling, exciting and ultra-lyrical read, The Roving Tree is really a novel about a lost soul’s identity quest."
--Kreyolicious.com

"A fresh new voice who adds her own charming, beguiling brand of lyricism to the growing body of Haitian American stories. The Roving Tree is a unique and fascinating book, and I for one look forward to hearing more from this writer."
--Lorna Goodison, author of From Harvey River

Elsie Augustave's debut novel explores multiple themes: separation and loss, rootlessness, the impact of class privilege and color consciousness, and the search for cultural identity. The central character, Iris Odys, is the offspring of Hagathe, a Haitian maid, and a French-educated mulatto father, Brahami, who cares little about his child. Hagathe, who had always dreamed of a better life for her child, is presented with the perfect opportunity when Iris is five years old. Adopted by a white American couple, Iris is transported from her tiny remote Haitian village, Monn Neg, to an American suburb.

The Roving Tree illuminates how imperfectly assimilated adoptees struggle to remember their original voices and recapture their personal histories and cultural legacy. Set between two worlds—suburban America and Haiti under Papa Doc's repressive regime—the novel offers a unique literary glimpse into the deeply entrenched class discrimination and political repression of Haiti during the Duvalier era, along with the subtle but nonetheless dangerous effects of American racism.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Race

311 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Papa Doc and his militia the Tonton Macoute make life in Haiti a danger and a struggle. When Hagathe has Iris, she wants better things for her child and when a white couple offers to adopt her child, with much heartache, she agrees. In America for the first time, Iris encounters prejudice and a hatred for her colored skin. Iris does not return to Haiti until news of the death of her birth mother leads her to return, where she is re-acquainted with her family memebers that are left. Eventually she will take a job in Zaire and find she can at last have a life that feels right. In a well drawn narrative the author takes the reader through the political repression of the dictatorship of the Duvalier era. I never knew that such a rigid class system existed in Haiti. I was also fascinated by their vaudou beliefs and how the Haitians mix this with Christianity. It also led me to think how hard it must be for an adoptee in a different county, being estranged from your own heritage and culture. Also how very difficult and loving one must be to give up one's child for the chance of a better life. Another new author to expect good things from.

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The motifs of race, culture, religion, consciousness and class are explored in this very good debut novel. Iris is given up for adoption by her mother Hagathe so that she can live in America and have access to a better life than the one her mother is currently experiencing in her native Haiti. Iris at 5 is adopted by a white New York couple and thus begins her journey. The prose is plain and sparse, and the story is told in a straight organized manner. The history of how Iris came to be adopted and reared in America is told in various italicized chapters. And thus the back story gets filled in while always keeping the reader in the present.

The author gets a chance to explore varying perspectives on consciousness amongst African people, who often engage in class conflicts of the haves and the have-nots, or as Iris says, The way I see it, one group is meant to serve and the other is to be served." Iris as protagonist is uniquely able to voice her concerns because though she is Haitian and African by legacy and heritage, she is not centered in that rich history and culture. She has much to learn about her Haitian roots and the motherland that she yearns for. I think this is the strength of the novel, as Iris journeys after College to Haiti and subsequently to Africa, the contours of her family history are suffused.

We watch Iris grow into a young lady and discover things about her homeland and facets of her own personality. The first person account given to us by Iris is both fascinating and sometimes gloomy. I read this book in one sitting because the prologue is very intriguing and although the end is highly suggested in the beginning, I was hoping for an alternate conclusion. Readers will definitely be pleased with this breezy tale that is unpretentious in its presentation and yearning.

[Lysander Tvlasda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. To put it simply, it could not have been read at a better time when there is so much struggle and upheaval happening in the United States. There's so much about these characters that will absolutely stick with me. I don't want to give too much away, but Iris opened my eyes to a perspective that I could not have experienced had I not read this novel. After I finished it, I lent it to my roommate, who is of Haitian & West Indian decent and it brought her to tears.

Iris delves into what it's like to be raised with a foot in two worlds, the struggle of finding her identity in a world that condemns her roots and leaves her afloat in a sort of limbo. Navigating a cultural tradition that is so deeply ingrained in Haitian culture is not easy, but it is done so beautifully. This novel was informative and touching in a deep way, allowing the reader to explore more deeply ideas and cultures that one may not have fully understood before.

And Augustave's writing is magical, there's no other way to put it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting story about a woman adopted from Haiti who discovers her roots. The unique narration from beyond the grave means reading it knowing how it ends. What was the point? She may have found some of herself, but I felt she lost herself too, once she fell in love.

[Mary Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it told a story of life in Haiti, an island of great poverty. It is a story of sacrifice, searching for self, and learning to adapt. Although the main character of the book was a girl named Iris who spent much of her life in the United States, I thought it was also a story of Haiti and the people of Haiti. The author's writing was very good; the story moved quickly; and it kept my interest.

[Adam Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Elsie Augustave’s The Roving Tree. First of all, let me say I usually don’t go for stories involving ordinary humans in relatively ordinary situations. It’s not that average everyday humans are boring, it’s just that as one of those average everyday humans, I could easily be reading a diary about my own life if reading about an ordinary human is what I want to do. That said, The Roving Tree is one of those stories that pleasantly surprised me. It captured me with its genuine tone and subject matter, ordinary humans notwithstanding.

The story starts out in a manner similar to the novel, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, another fine book I highly recommend. By similar manner, I am referring to the fact the story is told in past tense with the narrator/protagonist speaking from the spirit world after her death. What follows, however, is not a murder mystery for those left behind, but a retelling of a young woman’s story of family and sense of self, as she struggled against racism, cultural confusion and long-held secrets on a quest to find her place in the world.

The author’s take on a young woman of Haitian descent adopted into a Caucasian American family showed considerable knowledge about Haitian, French and African (Zairian) culture. One of the glaring examples was her choice of describing one of Haiti’s ethnic traditions as vaudou (instead of voodoo). Iris, the story’s narrator and protagonist, learns about it for the first time through a psychologist her adoptive parents take her to in order to help her sort through her feelings of anger and confusion surrounding her ethnicity and the differences between her and her caring family. Vaudou seems to be the way in which her Haitian family navigates an interesting line between the physical world and the spirit world. Many of the scenes relating to this were rather humorous, but primarily showed how accustomed they were to another world being very much a reality.

Much of the story seems to take place in the early 1960s through the 1980s, a period of much turbulence for the United States as well as for Haiti. This was during the time of blatant racism, bold social activism and, in the case of Haiti, tyranny. The author did well in weaving her story through the timeline involving the Duvalier reign over Haiti through Papa Doc and later Baby Doc. It was interesting to see how Haitian people might have dealt with that reality, being under such tyranny and yet carrying on about their lives the best way they could, regardless. It was unfortunate that Iris ultimately finds conditions to be much the same in Zaire.

Another thing about the story I found interesting was how the United States, Haiti and Zaire had problems with classism. I had heard of the mulattos and their place among the most affluent of Haitians while their “darker kin” among the poorer folks tended to be kept at a low position in their society. Much of that mirrored societies in the US. It was jarring to “see” some of the mulattos treat their poor Haitian servants with such disdain or condescension. I found myself wondering what they could have done to deserve such harsh treatment at their hands. Of course, the book did a good job of showing that it wasn’t all affluent people, but things like servants being beaten for things that weren’t their fault happened. Knowing what I know about the US government, I hesitate to say Haiti and Zaire had more government corruption. I’d say they were about the same there as well. The US just had more money and resources.

One can easily see throughout the book, especially in Iris’s college years and beyond, there was much to do about politics and various social issues. For me, the story seemed to provide a window into a different time through the eyes of just one of Earth’s many citizens living during that era. Speaking of which, the author’s heroine, Iris, is quite a character. From the vague descriptions afforded her, Iris seems like an attractive (or mildly attractive) woman of medium brown skin tone. This was fairly important, as it showed in how people treated her throughout the book. It was fairly easy to tell Iris was seen as attractive by some of the people she came in contact with. More important, however, was Iris’s personality. I can’t say whether it was her growing up with her strange circumstances, a natural aspect of her spirit or a mixture of both, but Iris was a woman who dealt with a lot of confusion. She made some decisions I personally thought were quite foolish, yet I admired her bravery in travelling the world to find herself, no matter where that journey lead. The end of the story was both tragic and hopeful and left me wondering about the later years of another girl born into strange circumstances in the book.

For some people I imagine the Roving Tree could be interpreted as a story of triumph. Others might see it as an interesting look into another culture or two. No matter who you are though, you can only conclude this is a well-written story with fleshed-out characters who are very much products of their time. This was not a book about superhumans or gods or aliens or incredible circumstances involving any of the above. However, this story made me realize how much of a force of nature ordinary people can be.

[Jamie Barringer (Ravenmount) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent novel about a Haitian girl who grows up in a nice, upper-middle class White family in New York, and spends her adulthood finding and reconciling herself with her roots and her contexts.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Haitian girl is adopted by a white family when she is five years old. The writing is OK and the storyline Not particularly believable but predictable. Of course she is exceptionally beautiful and talented.

[Alison Roybal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was beautifully written and I found myself looking for videos to see what Iris saw when she went to Haiti.

[LisaMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out really fascinating but then story just got slowed down with weighty details.

[Mirella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Roving Tree is a poignant revelation about racial and cultural prejudices told through the eyes of a young black Haitian woman named Iris who is adopted by a white American family. Born into poverty and threatened by a black radical leader, Iris’ mother willingly gives up her young daughter to an American family in the hopes of protecting her and giving her a better life. The story then takes the reader through various circumstances and stages throughout the heroine’s life. It gives readers a strong perspective on how racial differences affect people.

Beyond the deep, underlying messages of religion, culture, social classes, and prejudice, there is a darn good story being told. One cannot help being engaged with Iris’ plight of being at the centre of two racial worlds.

The prose is written in first person, gentle and easy to read. The story unfolds in the present with clever use of flashbacks that reveal the past without breaking the flow of the story. I liked the Haitian/African background of the heroine because it brings about awareness of the social and political background of that country. Most of all, this is a novel about a young woman’s awakening to her roots as she travels from Haiti to American to Haiti and Africa. The beauty of this book lies in its simplicity. An engaging read that packs a powerful punch.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to review 'The Roving Tree' by Authors Large and Small.

The Roving Tree tackles an ambitious scope of issues and themes, from the damaging nature of internalized racism to the impact of heredity versus environment. Adopted from a small Haitian village at the age of five, Iris’ life often reads like an all-too-real fairy tale in a United States poised to enter the Civil Rights Movement.

The clarity of Augustave’s writing is admirable. Unadorned and deceptively simple, she packs the entirety of a life into a relatively short span. There is no flowery, puffed-up prose to be found here, yet the story does not lack for emotional depth. If pressed to note a single flaw with The Roving Tree, in fact, I would say that the author occasionally tries to recreate too much of Iris’ life, since the narrative begins with her early childhood and ends in death, moving in near chronological order. However, this is the account of a mother describing herself to the child she will never meet, so it might be unfair to ask for any curtailment at all.

Overall, The Roving Tree is a layered and contemplative debut by a promising new author.

[D.A. Spruzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delight of a novel has a wide sweep, taking Iris as a bewildered five-year-old from Haiti to a New York suburb, back to Haiti as a college senior, and after graduation, to a job in Zaire. Iris only learns much later why she was given up to be adopted by a kindly American couple, John and Margaret; Margaret is an anthropologist visiting Haiti to study the culture. They raise her and her white sister Cynthia (also adopted) with empathy and wisdom, and they form loving family. The book is full of rich detail—of landscapes, customs, characters, and history, particularly in the portion set in Haiti. The paranormal aspects of Haitian culture run through this splendid story from the prologue to the epilogue, especially as Iris becomes more attuned to her origins. They serve as a gentle reminder that we should all listen more closely to our inner selves.

[Purple Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, but nothing spectacular. I feel like the author tried to put everything in this book, like she wasn't sure if there would be another one. I also got the impression that the author was very conscious of having to explain Haiti and Zaire to her readers. It was distracting and annoying. I like this review I found on sx salon: http://smallaxe.net/wordpress3/review....

I meant to say that this book is beautifully crafted. It was a pleasure to read for that reason. The cover design, the texture of the pages, even the font used... It was all beautiful and well put together. I was constantly reminded while reading this of why I could never only read on an electronic device.

[Tracee - LN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in the first reads giveaway. I want to thank the author for this book and those involved in the giveaway.

I enjoyed reading about Iris and how she transitioned from Haiti to America with a family and culture different than her own. I learned about the Haitian culture and Hagathe's life, which granted me an understanding of why going to America was best for Iris. Despite Iris trying to come to terms with her life and the lives of her parents, it seems to me that she truly didn't. Although the ending was suggested at the beginning, I did wish for a different conclusion.

I look forward to reading more titles from this author.

[Demetria · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Roving Tree" is a beautiful debut novel from Elsie Augustave. If you like Edwidge Danticat, you'll like this book. The main character's multi-country journey to find her place in the world is a very engaging tale that takes the readers from New York to Haiti to Zaire and a few other places as well. Read more of my thoughts on this book here: http://bit.ly/1uNwrD4

[Lizzie Vollmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the character of Iris and how Augustave developed Iris' struggles with identity. However, the story contains too much plot, with unrealistic twists that soon become predictable. An original story with lovely characters, and the writing is mostly engaging, but it lacked subtlety.

[Mrs Suvi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I have to finally give up on this one as I'm unable to continue due to the most boring and longwinded storyline I've come across in many years. Was lured in with the aspect of adoption but even that could not keep me interested.

[Karen Ashmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book full of twists and turns and a shocking ending. I recommend this book if you are interested in transracial adoption, Haiti, vodou, searching for identity, Zaire (now DRC), central African culture, and family.

[Kelley King · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a beautiful story with a really good look into a whole different culture

[Kari Dunmars · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent story. the historical portions were great. I loved this book.

[Joan Cavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good contrast of cultures. Story line a little confusing at times as different characters reappear but in a different context.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Haitian adoptee's journey of discovery with sad end in Zaire.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyrical

I enjoy narratives that weave cultural contexts into the story. This was a compelling tale of a young women's journey of discivery fom Haiti to NY to Zaire

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reviewed this book here: http://turnthepagelisa.com/2014/05/31...

[Missy Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I was excited to read about Haitian culture and the adoptee perspective, I got half way through the book and had to stop the book because it was ultimately too dark spiritually.

[Kate Ly Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

My French teacher wrote this lol

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should be 4 or 5 stars, but I hated the ending.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartwarming story of a young woman's journey of self-discovery, love and family.