#638 Seven Stories about Kenel of Koulev-Ville- Kyle Minor
Kenel is a a Haitian young man. He was raised by two English speaking nuns and given back to his father when he came of age. It took him a few more years to re-learn his native language. He is creole and a bit of a con-man and not many respectable people trust him. His good friend from the orphanage, the narrator, tells seven stories about Kenel, and the seven curses that he believes in.
Many of the tales are gruesome or macabre involving voodoo cemeteries or animals eating human remains. They are stories about class, culture and disaster in Haiti. And they are about friendship and trust. The narrator will leave this place and seek out a better life in Florida, while Kenel will eke out any sort of living he can, while trying to help his people.
One of the stories is about recognizing heroes. Kenel tells the story of a thief caught in the village. He is tied up, his toes and fingers cut off, then his legs and arms, and eventually he is burned alive for his crimes. Where is the hero, he asks:
-The store owner was the hero…for protecting his family business.
-No, the thief was the hero, for risking his life to get food for his family.
No comments:
Post a Comment