The Immortals

by Makenzy Orcel, Nathan H Dize (Contributor)

The Immortals is set in an infamous neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, on Grand-Rue, where many women, young and old, trade in flesh, sex, and desire. We learn, in glimpses and fragments, about the lives of women who fall in love with the moving images of television, the romance of a novel, and the dreams of escape. This moving novel asks, What becomes of these women, their lives, their stories, their desires, and their whims when a violent earthquake brings the capital city and its brothels to their knees?

To preserve the memory of women she lived and worked with, the anonymous narrator makes a deal with her client once she discovers that he is a writer: sex in exchange for recording the stories of the friends who were buried beneath the rubble. She tells the stories of women who were friends, lovers, daughters, and mothers--all while their profession sought to hide any trace of intimacy or interiority through pseudonyms and artifice. Ultimately the book reveals how a group of women sought to make a name for themselves in life, demanding that they not be forgotten in death.

Winner of France's 2012 Prix Thyde Monnier de la Soci�t� des Gens de Lettres, The Immortals is the first work of fiction by the celebrated Haitian writer Makenzy Orcel. Mingling poetry and prose, Orcel centers stories that too often go untold, while reflecting on the power and limits of storytelling in the face of catastrophe.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Nate D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dropping the far superior Cécé off at the library, I somehow spotted another novel of the Haitian fringes by a poet, it was too opportune to pass up. While both deal with sex work in a Port-au-Prince devastated by the 2010 earthquake (8 years apart), and both have their share of desperation and despair, Céce managed to tight-rope walk through those with a real warmth for the neighborhood and its people. This, however, feels narrow, lightless, trapped in generational misery without even bonds of family or community to hold its spare, clipped account together. I don't think Cécé's narrative lets the reader off the hook with false hope, it is in fact a pretty cynical book. But this just offers so little, its characters such ghosts, as to vanish entirely.

[Madison Sides · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. I would say more but digital footprints exist.

[adeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une belle lecture, lu d'une traite, très poétique

[Sarah Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Let's begin. I'll talk. You, the writer, you write. You transform. The others always begin with prayer. I want us to begin with poetry. She loved poetry." - Makenzy Orcel, translated by Nathan Dize

[Sylvaine Yvenou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haïti 12 janvier 2010.
"A toutes les putes de la Grand-Rue emportées par le violent séisme du 12 janvier 2010"

Mackenzy Orcel signe un roman incantatoire. Trois voix se mêlent à celle de l'écrivain, la pute, la mère et la petite à travers les mots de son journal intime.
La petite se fait appeler Shakira , elle a quitté la maison familiale, fui une mère bigote qui préférait la soumission à la rébellion. Elle s'est réfugiée chez la pute et a appris le métier pour être enfin libre, libre de vivre comme elle l'entend , libre de dévorer les livres , libre d'aimer ...
La Grand-Rue ...
Mackenzy Orcel manie les mots sans tabous ni pudeur.

Ce premier roman a reçu le Prix Thyde Monnier de la Société des Gens de Lettres en 2012.
Un roman qui ne peut laisser indifférent.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like poetry, and I don’t really care for poetry. I found myself a little lost, sometimes, particularly with the perspective of each passage. An overall interesting concept and unique narrative style.

[Cora Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petit bouquin d'après séisme intérieur comme extérieur.

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 étoiles
Je l'ai lu d'un seul coup, j'ai trouvé le style d'écriture étrange au début mais je me suis habitué au fil de ma lecture
J'ai bien aimé c'est très particulier

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait this was realllly good. Read somewhat similar to Invisible Cities with the fragmented narrative structure. I loved every second learning about the lives of Haitian prostitutes.

[sash. · Rating 5 out of 5]

exquisitely told story about the lives of haitian women sex workers set in grand-rue, port-au-prince, haiti.

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una muy poética narración para describir el impacto del hurracán de 2010 en Haití, desde la vista de las prostitutas de Grand Rue:

"We, the whores of Grand Rue. We are the immortals."

Golpeadas por la pobreza, el abuso, siempre sobrevivientes.

La imagen de la joven prostituta atrapada en el edificio derrumbado, me quedó marcado a fuego en la memoria.

[Èvya Dòsenvil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un texte qui vous prend à la gorge, qui vous bouscule, qui vous raconte l’horreur, la vie et la mort. La terre tremble, voltige, s’emballe, se secoue comme une chienne secouant ses puces. Et cette pute, qui lit Jacques Stephen Alexis, cette autre qui cherche sa fille, celle-là qui raconte ses douleurs et celles des autres à un écrivain. Des voix qui parlent toutes en même temps, jaillissent, s’entrechoquent et se contredissent. Et votre qui bat, au rythme des mots.

[Khetsia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les immortelles. Histoire des putes. Histoire d’une Haïti déchirée entre le fanatisme et la merde. Le tremblement, avec ses secousses, fourre tout ensemble. Au final, une tuerie de femmes, d’enfants déjà à terre…

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je suis malheureusement sûre de ne pas avoir compris de "superbes" choses...

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing lyrical journey into the bowels of downtown Port-au-Prince post earthquake, through the eyes of a prostitute. Rarely is such a hard topic written in such a poetic voice.

[Léa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très beau texte sur Port-au-Prince, le séisme, la prostitution. Comme un recueil de poème avec une structure narrative qui vous invite à connaître la suite. Captivant!

[Elle Za · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent roman ! Un livre très original de par son rythme, sa fulgurance, son thème...

[Frey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Façon originale d'écrire mais je n'ai rien ressenti en lisant le malheur de ces femmes.