NEW PALTZ — The
town and gown joined to celebrate the written word when
"The Dew Breaker" author Ed-widge Danticat spoke at
the State University of New York at New Paltz.
The novel was this
year's "One Book, One New Paltz" selection. The
program encourages members of a community to read the same
book and discuss it on a large scale. Founded last year, the
program is also an opportunity to foster closer connections
between the community and university.
Danticat said
Thursday it was wonderful to see programs explaining the
sociology and history of her native country, Haiti.
"Often, when
I come to a community like New Paltz, I have the burden of
explaining everything," she said.
Danticat said this
was the first time she's heard "The Dew Breaker"
being read by a whole town.
The book is a
collection of nine stories about people interconnected by
their relationship to the dew breaker, a cruel torturer in
Haiti.
Studley Theater
was filled to the rafters quite literally as students,
professors and local residents filled most of the seats, even
on the balcony.
"When they
heard we had to limit the number of students, they were
devastated," program Coordinator Rachel Rigolino said.
The book had been selected as the first-year
composition courses required summer reading, too.
The idea for her book came from meetings with
activists who had been brutalized while establishing changes
in Haiti, Danticat said.
The book, she said, is the story of the
tortured and the torturers, but is not an explanation or
resolution of Haiti's strife.
"It's emotional because some of the
questions it addresses are not answered," Danticat said.
SUNY New Paltz junior Marchelly Jodesty said
it was good to see someone who has overcome the tribulations
of immigration. Like Danticat, Jodesty's parents emigrated
from Haiti.
"A lot of people are surprised to see
what they can do, adjust to a new world easily as they do and
do good things. People find that amazing," Jodesty said
of Haitian immigrants.
Programs on the book and Haiti will continue
through the weekend. Events include a film screening and
discussion, resident-led discussion groups and Unity in
Diversity Day today at Hasbrouck Park.
Alice Hunt can be reached at hunta@poughkeepsiejournal.com
