The Garden of Broken Things

Genevieve is a Haitian-born American who is divorced with two sons. She works as a psychiatrist, which provides a life of luxury for her family. Her older son, Miles, has never recovered from his father’s departure. At 15, he has reached an age of rebellion and is only just beginning to understand the difficulties of being Black in the United States. Genevieve decides to take Miles to Haiti to meet his family, learn about his roots, and see for himself how lucky he is to have the life she provides him. Only a few days into their visit, a massive earthquake decimates the country. Genevieve and Miles survive and make a harrowing journey across the country to find help, but they remain haunted by what they have experienced. Momplaisir (My Mother’s House) exposes the ills of the world and brings out the book’s poetic cadence. Narrators Jade Wheeler and Karen Chilton movingly read about such themes as growing up Black, child abuse, man hating, philandering, poverty, and the power of nature, all of which are intertwined in this story.