Haiti After the Earthquake

Listeners can immediately believe they are hearing Paul Farmer himself deliver his eloquent broadcast of the voices of those affected by the disastrous earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. Eric Conger captures not only the matter-of-fact tone of Dr. Farmer, founder of Partners in Health and UN deputy special envoy for Haiti, but also the bold yet restrained compassion that fills Farmer's account. Additional essays by friends and colleagues make up the second part of the program. Edwidge Danticat and Michele Montas-Dominique deliver passionate readings of their works. Joia S. Mukerjee's heavily accented delivery of "Neg Mawon" resonates with anger on behalf of her country. Meryl Streep and Edoardo Ballerini give commanding and sensitive performances of several essays. The careful, respectful use of Haitian Creole is a welcome addition, as are clear introductions and an index to the essays. The scenes of unimaginable devastation and loss so vividly described can be hard listening, but Farmer's vision for "building back better" and the hope and commitment of his colleagues and friends remain indelible. S.J.H./R.F.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Starred review from October 31, 2011
A physician and former United Nations deputy special envoy, Paul Farmer shares insights and experiences from his humanitarian work following the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010, while offering supplemental essays from a host of key players in the recovery process. In this audio edition—read by various narrators—Eric Conger effectively captures Farmer’s range of emotions, both those of a physician desperately seeking care for the wounded and of a public policy expert grown weary with the political forces that have contributed to the plight of the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Downplaying her star power, Meryl Streep provides a gentle maternal touch to several of the accompanying narratives and shines as Farmer’s wife, Didi, a Haitian-born anthropologist. And bestselling author Edwidge Danticat provides a memorable performance in describing the anxiety of Haitian-Americans awaiting news about the fate of loved ones in the hours and days following the disaster. A PublicAffairs hardcover.

Starred review from December 1, 2011

Farmer, the UN deputy special envoy for Haiti and chair of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard, describes the horrifying devastation of the 7.0 earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, and points out how colonial rule, brutal dictatorships, ineffective economic policies, and uncoordinated NGO donations contributed to the destruction and slow recovery. He stresses the need to encourage a strong central government with careful planning and management of foreign aid in order to "build back better." Essays by Edwidge Danticat, Evan Lyon, and others provide moving, firsthand accounts of their experiences with the quake. Farmer and Meryl Streep convey hope and concern through their strong, clear narration. Highly recommended for anyone interested in knowing more about this proud nation trying to recover from natural disasters and years of dysfunction. ["Farmer demonstrates his deep love for Haiti while at the same time pushing for the drastic foreign and domestic reforms needed to rebuild this troubled nation," read the starred review of the PublicAffairs: Perseus hc, LJ 7/11.--Ed.]--Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.