What do you think?
Rate this book
Cereus Blooms at Night
Set on a fictional Caribbean island in the town of Paradise, Cereus Blooms at Night unveils the mystery surrounding Mala Ramchandin and the tempestuous history of her family. At the heart of this bold and seductive novel is an alleged crime committed many years before the story opens. Mala is the reclusive old woman suspected of murder who is delivered to the Paradise Alms House after a judge finds her unfit to stand trial. When she arrives at her new home, frail and mute, she is placed in the tender care of Tyler, a vivacious male nurse, who becomes her unlikely confidante and the storyteller of Mala's extraordinary life.In luminous, sensual prose, internationally acclaimed writer Shani Mootoo combines diverse storytelling traditions to explore identity, gender, and violence in a celebration of our capacity to love.
249 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1996
About the author
Shani Mootoo
15 books189 followersShani Mootoo, writer, visual artist and video maker, was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1957 to Trinidadian parents. She grew up in Trinidad and relocated at age 24 to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
August 12, 2020
This was a phenomenal read. Foundational for all those delving into Caribbean literature!
March 1, 2020
The non-linear narrative of Shani Mootoo’s Cereus Blooms At Night along with its simple, easy-to-grasp language stands in a stark contrast with what governs the lives of its characters. Set in a fictional town in Lantanacamara, Paradise buzzes with a vibrant flora and fauna. Whenever there is a pause in narration, the book depicts it with an insect that is etched so beautifully in the pages that one cannot help but gawk at them. I did not notice any repetition in the insects that are on the pages and I can only wonder how diverse the island must be. This book is one of the few expensive books that I own and its expense should clearly not be a deterrent in owning this book. Its silken pages are a delight to touch.
The novel begins with an elderly woman, Mala Ramchandin, being admitted to Paradise Alms House. Mala has an air of mystery surrounding her which discourages nurses away from her. Tyler, the only man in Lantanacamara to be trained as a nurse, is given the task to look after her and although he is advised to not give in to the whims of the old woman, he looks after her with such love that Miss Ramchandin slowly opens up to him. She barely talks but echoes the sounds of birds and insects and seems to be communicating and being in a close contact with the vibrant fauna of the world around her. Mala grew up in a difficult environment. The difficulties of her life can be fathomed by how she and her sister, Asha, laughed with each other only after making sure that their mouths were cupped. Her father, Chandin Ramchandin, is one of the few early converts of his day who is very close with Reverend Thoroughly, the Christian missionary, and has earned the town’s admiration.
Conversion in Cereus Blooms At Night is quite similar to the Christian converts in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God . It is shown that people converted not because they had faith in the new god that the white missionaries brought with them, but because of a better prospect, a better future that the new religion promised. Most of the dialogues in the novel are in pidgin English, though it was not difficult for me to comprehend what the characters are saying because of my proximity with most of the people who were brought to the town as slaves from India. The novel packs a blizzard of sensitive themes such as gender, identity, sexual as well as physical violence, incest, etc. which made me contort with abhorrence and repulsion. It is so beautiful and yet so painful that I often found myself asking and wondering if I have a limit beyond which I cannot partake in what is a fictional account to me. I cannot imagine it to be anything but fiction because it is so painful that I might lose myself if I do not. At times, self-delusion is a bliss.
The novel begins with an elderly woman, Mala Ramchandin, being admitted to Paradise Alms House. Mala has an air of mystery surrounding her which discourages nurses away from her. Tyler, the only man in Lantanacamara to be trained as a nurse, is given the task to look after her and although he is advised to not give in to the whims of the old woman, he looks after her with such love that Miss Ramchandin slowly opens up to him. She barely talks but echoes the sounds of birds and insects and seems to be communicating and being in a close contact with the vibrant fauna of the world around her. Mala grew up in a difficult environment. The difficulties of her life can be fathomed by how she and her sister, Asha, laughed with each other only after making sure that their mouths were cupped. Her father, Chandin Ramchandin, is one of the few early converts of his day who is very close with Reverend Thoroughly, the Christian missionary, and has earned the town’s admiration.
Conversion in Cereus Blooms At Night is quite similar to the Christian converts in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God . It is shown that people converted not because they had faith in the new god that the white missionaries brought with them, but because of a better prospect, a better future that the new religion promised. Most of the dialogues in the novel are in pidgin English, though it was not difficult for me to comprehend what the characters are saying because of my proximity with most of the people who were brought to the town as slaves from India. The novel packs a blizzard of sensitive themes such as gender, identity, sexual as well as physical violence, incest, etc. which made me contort with abhorrence and repulsion. It is so beautiful and yet so painful that I often found myself asking and wondering if I have a limit beyond which I cannot partake in what is a fictional account to me. I cannot imagine it to be anything but fiction because it is so painful that I might lose myself if I do not. At times, self-delusion is a bliss.
May 3, 2023
I wanted to like this book. It is set in Trinidad, a place full of calypso, and startling scarlet ibis - thousands of which come to roost at night in one area turning a wall of lush green to deep red in a moment - and an unique form of syncretic West African religion, Spiritual Baptists aka Shouters, whose Sunday services aren’t easy to find. Our sweltering 4 hour worship at “St. John Temple” came complete with a new godchild.
But that’s another story.
Mootoo’s book is replete with descriptions of the natural world, an overabundance of these focusing on nature en route to something else. Snails, beetles, worms. Repeat, this time with excrement. I love bugs, as my framed collections attest, but such extensive explications of life morphing stinkily into death and decay with its pungency and moist, imprecise touch go beyond magic and into yuck.
Enough already. I wish there was a chance to imagine what beauty might arise from the slimy compost, because that's where the next life comes from after all, and that's good, if temporarily frowsty.
I enjoyed the occasional pidgin speech patterns and the pomposity of those who learned the language use of the Shivering Northern Wetlands especially the scene in which a departing spouse leaves her husband via a brief note:
”You was simpler when you was sleeping”
When Ambrose found the note he shed a few tears, after which he took a red pen, made corrections to her grammar and saved the paper, just in case she were to return some day and he could explain the errors to her.
Despite some delightful queer characters, the brutality was overwhelming. The helplessness of the victims, the descriptions - true to life - of the ways of coping, was depressing as hell. So much ugliness needs to be balanced by a glimpse of redemption.
But that’s another story.
Mootoo’s book is replete with descriptions of the natural world, an overabundance of these focusing on nature en route to something else. Snails, beetles, worms. Repeat, this time with excrement. I love bugs, as my framed collections attest, but such extensive explications of life morphing stinkily into death and decay with its pungency and moist, imprecise touch go beyond magic and into yuck.
Enough already. I wish there was a chance to imagine what beauty might arise from the slimy compost, because that's where the next life comes from after all, and that's good, if temporarily frowsty.
I enjoyed the occasional pidgin speech patterns and the pomposity of those who learned the language use of the Shivering Northern Wetlands especially the scene in which a departing spouse leaves her husband via a brief note:
”You was simpler when you was sleeping”
When Ambrose found the note he shed a few tears, after which he took a red pen, made corrections to her grammar and saved the paper, just in case she were to return some day and he could explain the errors to her.
Despite some delightful queer characters, the brutality was overwhelming. The helplessness of the victims, the descriptions - true to life - of the ways of coping, was depressing as hell. So much ugliness needs to be balanced by a glimpse of redemption.
October 12, 2007
Cereus Blooms at Night is one of the most powerful and thought provoking books I've read this year. I wish I had finished it before the BTT question last week about obscenity in literature because it makes a good argument for when explicit scenes are needed in a book to tell a story.
Shani Mootoo wastes no words in Cereus Blooms at Night. Everything has a meaning and often more than one. The cereus of the title both refer to the cactus that grows in Mala's yard and to Mala's brief moment of true happiness before her life utterly falls apart.
The island of Lantacamara is named for a flower that now thrives throughout the world and is a popular garden flower for its hardy nature and appeal to butterflies (mariposa being Spanish slang for gays). As Otoh's mother explains: "every village in this place have a handful of people life you. And it is not easy to tell who is who." (page 238)
In the middle of all of this is Miss Ramchandin, a frail old woman accused of murder and dumped in the care of a charity nursing home. It is through the friendship of Tyler, one of Lantacamara's many butterflies, that Miss Ramchandin can finally tell her story.
Go read Cereus Blooms at Night and listen to Miss Ramchandin's story as it unfolds. Be prepared for strong themes and a harsh frankness but it is worth the discomfort.
Shani Mootoo wastes no words in Cereus Blooms at Night. Everything has a meaning and often more than one. The cereus of the title both refer to the cactus that grows in Mala's yard and to Mala's brief moment of true happiness before her life utterly falls apart.
The island of Lantacamara is named for a flower that now thrives throughout the world and is a popular garden flower for its hardy nature and appeal to butterflies (mariposa being Spanish slang for gays). As Otoh's mother explains: "every village in this place have a handful of people life you. And it is not easy to tell who is who." (page 238)
In the middle of all of this is Miss Ramchandin, a frail old woman accused of murder and dumped in the care of a charity nursing home. It is through the friendship of Tyler, one of Lantacamara's many butterflies, that Miss Ramchandin can finally tell her story.
Go read Cereus Blooms at Night and listen to Miss Ramchandin's story as it unfolds. Be prepared for strong themes and a harsh frankness but it is worth the discomfort.
November 20, 2009
I grew up in Trinidad, so it's clear to me that Shani Mootoo is using Trinidad as the basis of her setting of Lantanacamara. Although I wondered initially why she fictionalized the setting, after reading the book I realized that it might be an effort to keep people from assuming that "this is what life is like in Trinidad" -- so hey, good choice there, Shani Mootoo.
But even more than her visceral evocation of the West Indies, Mootoo is notable as a writer who is not afraid to delve into the dirt, the death and decay and rot. This would not be remarkable in and of itself, but Mootoo simultaneously overlays this horror and filth with a clear golden and undeniably beautiful sheen. Nothing is ever completely ugly or completely lovely; the comical is mixed in with the tragic, and occasionally one is mistaken for the other.
Cereus is not an easy book to read (nor should it be, given the subject matter), but it is never without hope and life and light. Most of all, it takes care to show people — all sorts of people, not just the people who are considered the "norm" — in such a richly faceted manner that it makes the reader literally gasp in places, or feel dizzy, or smile before they know it.
But even more than her visceral evocation of the West Indies, Mootoo is notable as a writer who is not afraid to delve into the dirt, the death and decay and rot. This would not be remarkable in and of itself, but Mootoo simultaneously overlays this horror and filth with a clear golden and undeniably beautiful sheen. Nothing is ever completely ugly or completely lovely; the comical is mixed in with the tragic, and occasionally one is mistaken for the other.
Cereus is not an easy book to read (nor should it be, given the subject matter), but it is never without hope and life and light. Most of all, it takes care to show people — all sorts of people, not just the people who are considered the "norm" — in such a richly faceted manner that it makes the reader literally gasp in places, or feel dizzy, or smile before they know it.
February 7, 2017
Cereus Blooms at Night is the partially told story of one woman’s life, beginning when she is admitted to an alms house, suspected of having murdered her father and slowly unravelling back to the turning points, the highs and lows which brought her to be in the state she is in on arrival.
It is a novel narrated in parts, each part focusing on a character(s) who were influential in her life, including the young man who never knew her until this day, the one who became her confidant, perhaps the first man she ever trusted, after all that had passed beforehand. Much of it is told as Mala slips into memories of herself as child, reliving it.
It is set on the fictional Caribbean island of Lantanacamara, in a town called Paradise, the Ramchandin patriarch arriving there from India, trading a life of indentured servitude for little more than the promise of a karmic upgrade for his son, Chandin, who would be taken under the wing of the Reverend in the hope of improving the family prospects.
The young male nurse, Tyler accepted his first job in the alms house and although well-trained and qualified, his employers had yet to extend their generosity towards giving him actual nursing duties. The arrival of the controversial patient Mala Ramchandin, provided him with the first opportunity to exercise his skills.
No one else wanted to go near her, she was bound and believed to be mad and dangerous. Tyler was delighted to be given the opportunity and responsibility and treated his patient with the same compassion he might have offered any patient given the chance. Sensing her distress, he acted to alleviate it regardless of instructions to do otherwise.
As Tyler gained her trust, Mala’s story is revealed to us through him and through the two visitors she received, who on her first day there, unable to see her, left a pot with a cutting of the fragrant night-blooming cereus plant, a gift that clearly delighted her, a symbol of fragrant, nurturing oblivion.
The novel is full of contrasts, moments of delight and anticipation alongside the growing recognition of impending horrors, abuse and neglect. It taunts the reader into a state of hope, as the potential for things to have been otherwise is so close at times, only for the illusion of escape to become shattered by the reality of a situation that holds tight to those who are caught in its web.
The novel is unique in its portrayal of characters whose sexual identity is unclear, exploring hybridity and sexual minorities within a cultural context, in an intriguing, accepting way.
Despite the harrowing nature of Mala’s experiences, the luminous storytelling and unique characters bring light to otherwise dark places, and show that perseverance and allowing space for love, can overcome all manner of tragedy.
It is a novel narrated in parts, each part focusing on a character(s) who were influential in her life, including the young man who never knew her until this day, the one who became her confidant, perhaps the first man she ever trusted, after all that had passed beforehand. Much of it is told as Mala slips into memories of herself as child, reliving it.
It is set on the fictional Caribbean island of Lantanacamara, in a town called Paradise, the Ramchandin patriarch arriving there from India, trading a life of indentured servitude for little more than the promise of a karmic upgrade for his son, Chandin, who would be taken under the wing of the Reverend in the hope of improving the family prospects.
The young male nurse, Tyler accepted his first job in the alms house and although well-trained and qualified, his employers had yet to extend their generosity towards giving him actual nursing duties. The arrival of the controversial patient Mala Ramchandin, provided him with the first opportunity to exercise his skills.
I hardly had opened my mouth to explain that Miss Ramchandin was too frail to inflict even a bad thought when Sister screamed at me for being insolent and blatantly disregarding her authority.
No one else wanted to go near her, she was bound and believed to be mad and dangerous. Tyler was delighted to be given the opportunity and responsibility and treated his patient with the same compassion he might have offered any patient given the chance. Sensing her distress, he acted to alleviate it regardless of instructions to do otherwise.
As Tyler gained her trust, Mala’s story is revealed to us through him and through the two visitors she received, who on her first day there, unable to see her, left a pot with a cutting of the fragrant night-blooming cereus plant, a gift that clearly delighted her, a symbol of fragrant, nurturing oblivion.
The novel is full of contrasts, moments of delight and anticipation alongside the growing recognition of impending horrors, abuse and neglect. It taunts the reader into a state of hope, as the potential for things to have been otherwise is so close at times, only for the illusion of escape to become shattered by the reality of a situation that holds tight to those who are caught in its web.
The novel is unique in its portrayal of characters whose sexual identity is unclear, exploring hybridity and sexual minorities within a cultural context, in an intriguing, accepting way.
By the time Ambrosia was five, her parents were embroiled in their marital problems to the exclusion of all else, including their child. They hardly noticed that their daughter was slowly transforming herself into their son. Ambrose slept right through the month, undisturbed until the first Saturday of the next, and Elsie, hungry for a male in the house, went along with his (her) strong belief that he (she) was really and truly meant to be a boy. Else fully expected that he (she) would outgrow the foolishness soon enough. But the child walked and ran and dressed and talked and tumbled and all but relieved himself so much like an authentic boy that Elsie soon apparently forgot she had ever given birth to a girl. And the father, in his few waking episodes, seemed not to remember that he had once fathered one.
Despite the harrowing nature of Mala’s experiences, the luminous storytelling and unique characters bring light to otherwise dark places, and show that perseverance and allowing space for love, can overcome all manner of tragedy.
September 7, 2020
Having recently read, and loved Shani Mootoo’s recently released novel Polar Vortex I wanted to read more of her work. I was able to borrow a copy of her debut novel Cereus Blooms At Night from a fellow Bookstagrammer so I could read more from her.
The story opens with Tyler who is a nurse at an Alms House on a fictional Caribbean Island. The story is narrated by Tyler who is tells us the story is not about him (even though he inserts himself in the story lol) but about Mala Ramchandin and how she ended up being a patient at an Alms House in Paradise. I absolutely loved how endearing Tyler is and why he decided to tell the story of Mala Ramchandin who doesn’t interact with anyone, was held for the murder of someone but the judge dismissed the case because there was no body.
Throughout the book we learn about Mala’s very traumatic history and what led to her ending up where she is today. We hear about her Grandfather who came all the way from India to carve out a better life for his son, Mala’s father. Her father ends up being adopted by a Catholic Missionary family, he lives with them and ends up falling in love with their daughter, which they forbid because that is basically his sister. Mala’s father becomes enamoured with the daughter which basically lead to the demise of his entire family.
While I did not love this book I have to admit that Mootoo’s writing is phenomenal, from her first novel you can see her promise. A lot of very heavy themes are explored, rape, incest, trauma, grief and mental illness. What really overwhelmed me was the incest, it really broke me. I know it is a little narrowed minded of me but I kept wondering “why didn’t you just leave Mala”, I didn’t see her reasons for staying- and the author did not make a strong case for it… I find.
We meet two non-binary characters in this book and for me, I liked that they were able to be their true self with little trauma or struggle. It was a little unrealistic they were met with little or no opposition especially from the family but even with it being unrealistic it worked for me.
Overall I wanted to love this one a bit more but… I loved loved loved the first 150 pages but after it just went a bit downhill.
Read it for yourself!
The story opens with Tyler who is a nurse at an Alms House on a fictional Caribbean Island. The story is narrated by Tyler who is tells us the story is not about him (even though he inserts himself in the story lol) but about Mala Ramchandin and how she ended up being a patient at an Alms House in Paradise. I absolutely loved how endearing Tyler is and why he decided to tell the story of Mala Ramchandin who doesn’t interact with anyone, was held for the murder of someone but the judge dismissed the case because there was no body.
Throughout the book we learn about Mala’s very traumatic history and what led to her ending up where she is today. We hear about her Grandfather who came all the way from India to carve out a better life for his son, Mala’s father. Her father ends up being adopted by a Catholic Missionary family, he lives with them and ends up falling in love with their daughter, which they forbid because that is basically his sister. Mala’s father becomes enamoured with the daughter which basically lead to the demise of his entire family.
While I did not love this book I have to admit that Mootoo’s writing is phenomenal, from her first novel you can see her promise. A lot of very heavy themes are explored, rape, incest, trauma, grief and mental illness. What really overwhelmed me was the incest, it really broke me. I know it is a little narrowed minded of me but I kept wondering “why didn’t you just leave Mala”, I didn’t see her reasons for staying- and the author did not make a strong case for it… I find.
We meet two non-binary characters in this book and for me, I liked that they were able to be their true self with little trauma or struggle. It was a little unrealistic they were met with little or no opposition especially from the family but even with it being unrealistic it worked for me.
Overall I wanted to love this one a bit more but… I loved loved loved the first 150 pages but after it just went a bit downhill.
Read it for yourself!
June 23, 2012
Here's the thing about Cereus Blooms at Night: it is almost achingly transparently a first novel. Metaphors of all kinds announce themselves again and again and again. The social points are stated kind of obviously (though they are themselves sensitive and perceptive points). The plot, although amorphous, is firmly rooted in one event - but that event is not firmly rooted in anything; rather it happens because it needs to happen in order to allow the rest of the book to happen. (Which, by the way, is fine: but if you're going to use that, you need to leave more mystery behind it, instead of explaining everything, but that one thing on which the entire novel hinges. We only care about parts of a book if a writer directs our attention to them. Don't sabotage willing suspension of disbelief!) I've no idea if Shani Mootoo's writing has improved: this is the only novel of hers I've read, and it's also the most buzzed (my copy has a complimentary blurb from the NYT Book Review), and the only one with a Wikipedia page.
But! But! There's a lot to love about Cereus Blooms at Night, starting with the title. Which is amazing. A++ title there. Almost worth reading this book for the title alone, right? It's weirdly dense, too, although it's less than 300 pages long and the writing doesn't have a lot of frills; Mootoo's style is lush, but not baroque or self-referential - it's not particularly difficult to read, and actually is written in a fairly straightforward way. (And I'm as desensitized to sex and violence as you can get, basically, so it wasn't that either.) I don't know how the book can be written in a way both lush and streamlined, but the result is that it doesn't push you forward as you read. It was a little disorienting. What wasn't disorienting was the setup. You know as soon as Tyler tells you "this isn't my story, I'm hardly in it, actually" that Tyler's story is going to squirm to the front every chance it gets. That's totally fine with me, I liked the humanity and humor of that touch, and I liked Tyler's love story a lot. In addition, the basic facts are set out almost as soon as the novel starts. This isn't a mystery, even in a Dickensian way.
I like what the novel says, but I wish it were better at saying it. There are a lot of first novel problems (in this instance, I don't mean the framing device, although normally I hate the back and forth in time organization), but there's also a . . . lightness, a sense of vigor probably unique to a first novel that I admire. Cereus Blooms at Night is good, but it could have been so much better.
But! But! There's a lot to love about Cereus Blooms at Night, starting with the title. Which is amazing. A++ title there. Almost worth reading this book for the title alone, right? It's weirdly dense, too, although it's less than 300 pages long and the writing doesn't have a lot of frills; Mootoo's style is lush, but not baroque or self-referential - it's not particularly difficult to read, and actually is written in a fairly straightforward way. (And I'm as desensitized to sex and violence as you can get, basically, so it wasn't that either.) I don't know how the book can be written in a way both lush and streamlined, but the result is that it doesn't push you forward as you read. It was a little disorienting. What wasn't disorienting was the setup. You know as soon as Tyler tells you "this isn't my story, I'm hardly in it, actually" that Tyler's story is going to squirm to the front every chance it gets. That's totally fine with me, I liked the humanity and humor of that touch, and I liked Tyler's love story a lot. In addition, the basic facts are set out almost as soon as the novel starts. This isn't a mystery, even in a Dickensian way.
I like what the novel says, but I wish it were better at saying it. There are a lot of first novel problems (in this instance, I don't mean the framing device, although normally I hate the back and forth in time organization), but there's also a . . . lightness, a sense of vigor probably unique to a first novel that I admire. Cereus Blooms at Night is good, but it could have been so much better.
November 27, 2011
A novel like this provokes the reader to think of the tragedies in life and wonder if the beauty of the journey unfolding justifies the tragic end.
I don't regret reading. The author is highly talented and sensitive.
I don't regret reading. The author is highly talented and sensitive.
May 18, 2015
arghhhh I don't even know where to begin. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. It's the most depressing book I've ever read but omg the diction that is used in this book is soo beautiful :')
August 27, 2021
In truth, I don't know how to review this book, except to say this, definitively: I will never be done with it. It will never be done with me.
March 7, 2015
A few months ago when I reviewed Shani Mootoo’s most recent novel, Valmiki’s Daughter, I prefaced the review with an admission that I already loved Mootoo’s writing before I even started the book. It was her first novel, Cereus Blooms at Night (1996), that instigated this love. The worth of something as rich as Cereus would be hard to overestimate. I’ve honestly never read anything that had such a strong sensory effect on me: the lilting rhythm of the language, the bittersweetness of the narrative twists, the tactile images of the natural environment; everything about this novel felt so visceral....
See the rest of my review on my website: http://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.wor...
See the rest of my review on my website: http://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.wor...
October 31, 2014
I am having an eminently hard time trying to marshal my thoughts on this book into something coherent for the written word.
It did not leave me with an obvious reason for liking it, at least not one that I can articulate with a specific set of words.
Despite it's less than palatable story matter, this is a beautiful tale. The author has a deft touch with words and description. Rather than being upset by the story or angry at ineffective characters, I ended the book with a hopeful though sad feeling for the characters and the lives they'd had and the life they still had to live.
It did not leave me with an obvious reason for liking it, at least not one that I can articulate with a specific set of words.
Despite it's less than palatable story matter, this is a beautiful tale. The author has a deft touch with words and description. Rather than being upset by the story or angry at ineffective characters, I ended the book with a hopeful though sad feeling for the characters and the lives they'd had and the life they still had to live.
Read
June 25, 2021A very interesting but tough read. I have mixed feelings for it. I really like the lgbt rep (side characters, not the focus of the book), but I wouldn't immediately recommend it due to the explicit themes of suffering and abuse in Mala's life - it's a good story, but take care in reading if you do.
May 6, 2024
La historia trascurre en un lugar, que la narración se empeña en hacer indefinido, aunque todo nos lleve a pensar que se trata de la isla de Trinidad (Trinidad y Tobago), patria de la autora.
El comienzo se centra en el personaje de Tyler, un eficiente enfermero, quien, por su condición de recién llegado, y su propia inseguridad y sensación de inferioridad por su evidente homosexualidad, se resigna a realizar tareas inferiores. Hasta que se gana un lugar a través de su talento en el cuidado de una anciana misteriosa que ingresa al asilo.
Pero todo esto, son cuestiones menores, a medida que nos adentramos en la historia de la anciana y sus personas cercanas, de una intensidad y dramatismo que por momentos corta el aliento. Y se construye a partir de personajes muy bien delineados, y en la que los hechos responden a una lógica de hierro, absolutamente verosímil, aunque matizado por diversos malentendidos y situaciones desafortunadas que terminan de redondear esta historia con ribetes trágicos. El entorno de una naturaleza que adquiere caracteres maravillosos, y ricos en metáforas, es un bálsamo, cercano a la alienación, que permite sobrevivir al horror y al dolor.
"A medida que se extendía la noche, presenció la lenta danza de los enormes brotes blancos de los cereus -contó sesenta y dos-, que temblaban al desplegarse contra la pared, toda una coreografía de pétalos y sépalos que se abrían al unísono, dispersando un aroma embriagador por todas partes. La luz de la luna se reflejaba en el blanco puro de las flores y lanzaba sus destellos al jardín.
Mala estaba gozosa."
Y algunos milagros menores y tardíos, como el florecimiento nocturno del cereus, también pueden ocurrir, como una especie de suerte pequeña.
Muy buena novela.
La edición leída se titula El cereus florece de noche, de Editorial Debate. He cambiado la edición presentada por razones estéticas (me desagrada la tapa gris con el logro de Goodreads, la única edición que aparece en castellano).
Shani Mooto nació circunstancialmente en Irlanda en 1957, de padres trinitarios, y se crio en Trinidad. Actualmente vive en Canadá.
Trinidad y Tobago es una nación del Caribe integrada por las dos islas que le dan su nombre, y otras más pequeñas. Fue una colonia de Gran Bretaña, y con la abolición de la esclavitud en 1833, se pobló de mano de obra barata procedente de India; actualmente sus descendientes constituyen 35% de la población. Fue el lugar de nacimiento y crianza del escritor V. S. Naipaul, premio nobel de literatura 2001.
El comienzo se centra en el personaje de Tyler, un eficiente enfermero, quien, por su condición de recién llegado, y su propia inseguridad y sensación de inferioridad por su evidente homosexualidad, se resigna a realizar tareas inferiores. Hasta que se gana un lugar a través de su talento en el cuidado de una anciana misteriosa que ingresa al asilo.
Pero todo esto, son cuestiones menores, a medida que nos adentramos en la historia de la anciana y sus personas cercanas, de una intensidad y dramatismo que por momentos corta el aliento. Y se construye a partir de personajes muy bien delineados, y en la que los hechos responden a una lógica de hierro, absolutamente verosímil, aunque matizado por diversos malentendidos y situaciones desafortunadas que terminan de redondear esta historia con ribetes trágicos. El entorno de una naturaleza que adquiere caracteres maravillosos, y ricos en metáforas, es un bálsamo, cercano a la alienación, que permite sobrevivir al horror y al dolor.
"A medida que se extendía la noche, presenció la lenta danza de los enormes brotes blancos de los cereus -contó sesenta y dos-, que temblaban al desplegarse contra la pared, toda una coreografía de pétalos y sépalos que se abrían al unísono, dispersando un aroma embriagador por todas partes. La luz de la luna se reflejaba en el blanco puro de las flores y lanzaba sus destellos al jardín.
Mala estaba gozosa."
Y algunos milagros menores y tardíos, como el florecimiento nocturno del cereus, también pueden ocurrir, como una especie de suerte pequeña.
Muy buena novela.
La edición leída se titula El cereus florece de noche, de Editorial Debate. He cambiado la edición presentada por razones estéticas (me desagrada la tapa gris con el logro de Goodreads, la única edición que aparece en castellano).
Shani Mooto nació circunstancialmente en Irlanda en 1957, de padres trinitarios, y se crio en Trinidad. Actualmente vive en Canadá.
Trinidad y Tobago es una nación del Caribe integrada por las dos islas que le dan su nombre, y otras más pequeñas. Fue una colonia de Gran Bretaña, y con la abolición de la esclavitud en 1833, se pobló de mano de obra barata procedente de India; actualmente sus descendientes constituyen 35% de la población. Fue el lugar de nacimiento y crianza del escritor V. S. Naipaul, premio nobel de literatura 2001.
October 11, 2022
TW FOR RAPE, SEXUAL & PHYSICAL ABUSE, NEGLECT
i went into this book thinking it was going to be some sort of murder mystery type vibe based on the synopsis, however it was much darker and more fucked up than that.
i was between rating it a 3 and 4 stars and settled on 3 for two reasons. One being that usually with a book that has such an awful and traumatizing storyline to it, the characters tend to come out of it better, or at least getting better, and finding hope or something in their lives (which i understand is not always realistic) but this book didn’t have that. it ended quite abruptly without any real wrap up of anything that had been going on throughout, like the search for Mala’s sister, Tyler and Otoh’s relationship, or Mala’s well-being in general. Nothing good happened for the characters that you were supposed to be rooting for.
my second reason for rating it 3 stars is because the story wasn’t even tragically beautiful. some parts in the story were well described and interesting to say the least but it was in no way poetic so the story just ended up being tragic, leaving me feeling nauseous and honestly quite upset. i suppose that was probably the way i was meant to feel based on the contents of the story but it feels weird and wrong if i were to say that this story was a new favourite to me or that i would even recommend someone to read it. it’s so sad and awful what Mala and her sister go through, and it’s a story that happens all around us everyday, but it leaves me with a very sad and conflicted feeling.
for these reasons i couldn’t rate it a 4 star but i also couldn’t give it less than a 3 because although it was full of awful stories and experiences, the book itself was not awful.
i added the trigger warnings at the top because i would have liked to have known about them before reading the book myself and none of the reviews i read warned me.
i went into this book thinking it was going to be some sort of murder mystery type vibe based on the synopsis, however it was much darker and more fucked up than that.
i was between rating it a 3 and 4 stars and settled on 3 for two reasons. One being that usually with a book that has such an awful and traumatizing storyline to it, the characters tend to come out of it better, or at least getting better, and finding hope or something in their lives (which i understand is not always realistic) but this book didn’t have that. it ended quite abruptly without any real wrap up of anything that had been going on throughout, like the search for Mala’s sister, Tyler and Otoh’s relationship, or Mala’s well-being in general. Nothing good happened for the characters that you were supposed to be rooting for.
my second reason for rating it 3 stars is because the story wasn’t even tragically beautiful. some parts in the story were well described and interesting to say the least but it was in no way poetic so the story just ended up being tragic, leaving me feeling nauseous and honestly quite upset. i suppose that was probably the way i was meant to feel based on the contents of the story but it feels weird and wrong if i were to say that this story was a new favourite to me or that i would even recommend someone to read it. it’s so sad and awful what Mala and her sister go through, and it’s a story that happens all around us everyday, but it leaves me with a very sad and conflicted feeling.
for these reasons i couldn’t rate it a 4 star but i also couldn’t give it less than a 3 because although it was full of awful stories and experiences, the book itself was not awful.
i added the trigger warnings at the top because i would have liked to have known about them before reading the book myself and none of the reviews i read warned me.
July 7, 2021
“I wonder at how many of us, feeling unsafe and unprotected, either end up running far away from everything we know and love, or staying and simply going mad. I have decided today that neither option is more or less noble than the other. They are merely different ways of coping, and we each must cope as best we can.”
It's hard to believe that this is Mootoo's debut as it displays such an astonishing skill at writing, such breathtaking craft. It tells the story of Mala Ramchandin in bits and pieces, in a non-linear fashion that eschews clear chronology. Through her disturbing history, it explores the symbiotic relationship between colonialism and religion, gender expression and sexuality, physical abuse and violence, putting the ugliness of humanity at the forefront while making space for some small spark of restorative healing. It is also a book steeped in nature, saturated with it. Floral/faunal imagery is replete.
In short succession, a gay character, a lesbian character, & a trans character. All carefully written, their lives & struggles conveyed to us & their daily negotiations laid bare. In fact, characters are a strong point in the book and Mootoo gives them so much depth, even those vile ones. The prose is not heavily ornamental, deftly embodying the pace & nature of the narrative, lush if it needs to be otherwise not but always cutting to the core, sensory. The language also highlights how Standard English sits close to localized versions of it. Cereus is harrowing and it does not provide all the answers. I would have liked more Asha, more of childhood outside of the trauma, resolutions about their mother but none arrive. Still, it's storytelling at its finest. I very highly recommend it.
February 1, 2021
I read this book for a class entitled "Literature of the Asian Diaspora."
Cereus Blooms At Night is a story of the visceral experience (and present condition) of Mala Ramchandin. The setting is a fictional island called Paradise located somewhere in the Caribbean. As Nurse Tyler cares for Mala Ramchandin, her condition is viewed as insanity as she merely interacts with insects and audibly speaks to herself. The backstory of the novel is a rich and fruitful tale that fleshes out the horrible past of Mala Ramchadin. In what is Shani Mootoo's first novel, the story unpacks subjects of class, race, and sexuality in regards to the formation of identity. The text also highlights the effects of sexual violence and incest in regards to family structure and ultimately - its impact on the individual identity. The most rewarding aspect of the book is by far its dealing with sexual ambiguity as societally acceptable. There are numerous characters (Nurse Tyler, Ambrose E. Mohanty) where questions of gender are directly referenced. In each of the cases, one can read into the perogatives of sexual orientation and/or preference, the multiplicity of gender, and the prejuduices that may be associated. This is a lush and graphic text that makes use of the various senses (mostly smell) to describe locations and characters. It is a remarkable story for a first time author.
Cereus Blooms At Night is a story of the visceral experience (and present condition) of Mala Ramchandin. The setting is a fictional island called Paradise located somewhere in the Caribbean. As Nurse Tyler cares for Mala Ramchandin, her condition is viewed as insanity as she merely interacts with insects and audibly speaks to herself. The backstory of the novel is a rich and fruitful tale that fleshes out the horrible past of Mala Ramchadin. In what is Shani Mootoo's first novel, the story unpacks subjects of class, race, and sexuality in regards to the formation of identity. The text also highlights the effects of sexual violence and incest in regards to family structure and ultimately - its impact on the individual identity. The most rewarding aspect of the book is by far its dealing with sexual ambiguity as societally acceptable. There are numerous characters (Nurse Tyler, Ambrose E. Mohanty) where questions of gender are directly referenced. In each of the cases, one can read into the perogatives of sexual orientation and/or preference, the multiplicity of gender, and the prejuduices that may be associated. This is a lush and graphic text that makes use of the various senses (mostly smell) to describe locations and characters. It is a remarkable story for a first time author.
March 31, 2009
This was a beautifully-written novel about rape, oppressive gender roles, and colonialism, which all intertwine as metaphors for each other ("The Crying Game", anyone?). Although the literary concept works and the prose is exquisitely descriptive, I wished it wasn't while I was reading vividly graphic incest/rape scenes. I accept that this topic needs to be discussed, even in graphic detail, so that survivors have resources and the subject becomes less taboo, but I worry that feminist authors too often resort to using rape as a plot point. Don't colonized peoples, lesbians, transgendered folk, and women in general have enough to be angry about even without rape and incest? Does using rape and/or incest as an allegory in literature lessen its gravity in reality? Perhaps the author was trying to avoid any dismissive acceptance of the topic as a plot point by providing such intense detail of the attacks for the reader. The one star is for the writing quality, as well as for successfully showing by example the obvious answer to anyone who asks of victims of any kind the ignorant question, "why don't you just leave?"
November 14, 2022
It’s rare that a book leaves me with tears but here I am pining for closure for two sisters, Mala and Asha. In her debut novel, Cereus Blooms at Night, Shani Mootoo tells the story of Mala (Pohpoh) Ramchandin who has been recently accused of a crime in the Christian-colonized town of Lantanacamara, Paradise. In a non-linear structure, the story alternates between her childhood as Pohpoh and adulthood as Mala while slowly revealing details around family tragedies and the search for freedom/home for herself and her sister. Time and time again the story made me question the assignment of blame. Representation of gay, lesbian and trans characters is done with such care while highlighting prejudices. Overlaid with sorrow, Shanti Mootoo’s storytelling is powerfully evocative and accessible mixing in local pigdin spoken language. As an visual artist herself, she lusciously paints the local flora and fauna in her narrative, influenced by her Caribbean background. The multitalented author also illustrated this beautiful cover as well as native insects between each section— a small memory of the numerous insects Pohpoh attempted to rescue from their bullies.
June 27, 2021
I love the magical realism of this book, I love the strangeness of Time — “the smell of time itself passing … the aroma obliterated, reclaimed and gave the impression of reversing decay.” (115)
January 24, 2022
Last year I was introduced to Shani's work when I read her novel He Drown She in the Sea. I absolutely loved it and had high expectations for Cereus Blooms at Night. I was not disappointed!
We are first introduced to Tyler, the narrator of the story. Tyler is a nurse at Alms House on the fictional island of Paradise (which can be likened to Trinidad). He is passionate in his storytelling about how Mala Ramchandin, the newest patient, came to be in her current position. From the moment she arrives at Alms House Mala is seen as trouble to most of the staff given her past. Tyler on the other hand embraces her, doing his best to learn her true story.
Shani is amazing in her ability to take us back in time and return to the present without disrupting the flow of the story. Before we can understand Mala's story, we are taken back to her father's childhood and learn about his family, Indian immigrants who came to the island for a better life. Chandin is adopted by a Catholic missionary family who teaches him to spread their word within his community. He falls deeply in love with his adopted sister, which ultimately turns into his demise. Never able to get what he truly wanted, his anger and sadness are taken out on his daughters.
Mala's story is very traumatic and I think it's important to note that there are graphic sexual abuse scenes in this book. I think one of the biggest themes explored was mental health. Mala and Chandin were broken down as a result of trauma and grief they endured. My heart went out to Mala, who was ultimately a smart, independent and caring character. I wish things could've been different for her.
There are a TON of layers to this story, and so much more that could be said. This was an amazing, heartbreaking read and you have to experience for yourself!
We are first introduced to Tyler, the narrator of the story. Tyler is a nurse at Alms House on the fictional island of Paradise (which can be likened to Trinidad). He is passionate in his storytelling about how Mala Ramchandin, the newest patient, came to be in her current position. From the moment she arrives at Alms House Mala is seen as trouble to most of the staff given her past. Tyler on the other hand embraces her, doing his best to learn her true story.
Shani is amazing in her ability to take us back in time and return to the present without disrupting the flow of the story. Before we can understand Mala's story, we are taken back to her father's childhood and learn about his family, Indian immigrants who came to the island for a better life. Chandin is adopted by a Catholic missionary family who teaches him to spread their word within his community. He falls deeply in love with his adopted sister, which ultimately turns into his demise. Never able to get what he truly wanted, his anger and sadness are taken out on his daughters.
Mala's story is very traumatic and I think it's important to note that there are graphic sexual abuse scenes in this book. I think one of the biggest themes explored was mental health. Mala and Chandin were broken down as a result of trauma and grief they endured. My heart went out to Mala, who was ultimately a smart, independent and caring character. I wish things could've been different for her.
There are a TON of layers to this story, and so much more that could be said. This was an amazing, heartbreaking read and you have to experience for yourself!
September 1, 2018
This is a well-written text dealing with extreme trauma. There are many things to like about this book: it’s reclamation of the “crazy witch woman” as trauma survivor and resister to the cruelty of colonialist patriarchy, the skewering of Westernization and education as being irrelevant and impotent with regards to the people in your community, the hyperreferential nature of the text (see The Bluest Eye, or Wide Saragossa Sea, or Corregidora), etc. The text also displays the cumulative set of circumstances that can conspire against an abuse survivor. What really got to me in the end was that even the postman failed to deliver mail that could have helped Mala out of stupidity and bigotry.
Ultimately the story is a plea to build an actual paradise, where the violence and disappointment inherent in the relationships described in the text can be avoided. The text suggests that we can learn about what this paradise should be, at least with regards to gender and sex, by embracing kindness to all creatures and embracing the fluidity inherent in gender and sexual identities marked as deviant.
Ultimately the story is a plea to build an actual paradise, where the violence and disappointment inherent in the relationships described in the text can be avoided. The text suggests that we can learn about what this paradise should be, at least with regards to gender and sex, by embracing kindness to all creatures and embracing the fluidity inherent in gender and sexual identities marked as deviant.
June 28, 2021
This is one of my favorite books. I read it as a part of my postgrad coursework under postcolonial literature, but it stayed with me ever since. The characters are tenderly developed throughout the novel, focussing on various scenes with brutal honestly and on some with a confused retrospective quality. The simple first person point of view works wonders for the story as it makes us relate easily.
Sensitive issues like gender identity and sexual assault are deftly handled, unapologetic in its recounting yet respectful and cautious where necessary. This book has made me ponder, chuckle, groan and cry. It's a piece of art, especially the author's unique style of illustration inside the book which enriches our experience of it.
I read it while I was going through a tough time personally and it felt like a warm hug or a reassuring presence. I'll always remain grateful to this book for making me feel things when I was used to being numb. Must read and recommended for all.
Trigger warning: Sexual Assault, Explicit Content, Mature Language.
Sensitive issues like gender identity and sexual assault are deftly handled, unapologetic in its recounting yet respectful and cautious where necessary. This book has made me ponder, chuckle, groan and cry. It's a piece of art, especially the author's unique style of illustration inside the book which enriches our experience of it.
I read it while I was going through a tough time personally and it felt like a warm hug or a reassuring presence. I'll always remain grateful to this book for making me feel things when I was used to being numb. Must read and recommended for all.
Trigger warning: Sexual Assault, Explicit Content, Mature Language.
May 26, 2017
Most well-written, without being over-written, and enjoyable-but-challenging book I've read in a long time: "When Pohpoh unlatched the window above the enamel sink, yellow light sliced through the opening, hauling in a cold, fresh morning draught."
A unique fictional perspective, uniquely and beautifully expressed.
A unique fictional perspective, uniquely and beautifully expressed.
August 25, 2022
“I wonder at how many of us, feeling unsafe and unprotected, either end up running far away from everything we know and love, or staying and simply going mad. I have decided today that neither option is more or less noble than the other.”
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😖😖😖
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😖😖😖
July 2, 2023
This is heartbreaking and beautiful. I'm speechless, to be honest. This was my first experience reading Shani Mootoo's work, and it was a hit, and I can't wait to read her backlist!
[Physical, borrowed from the library]
[Physical, borrowed from the library]
Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews