39 pages • 1 hour read
Claire of the Sea Light
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
256
Novel • Fiction
Ville Rose, Haiti • Contemporary
2013
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat is a historical fiction novel set in a small Haitian town, depicting the intertwined lives of its inhabitants as seen through multiple perspectives. The story begins on Claire's seventh birthday and unfolds with themes of loss, familial connections, and community within the context of both personal and societal challenges. The book includes depictions of violence and sexual assault.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Emotional
Contemplative
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
12,007 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat is praised for its lyrical prose and vivid portrayal of life in a Haitian village. Reviewers commend Danticat's ability to intertwine multiple narratives and create emotional depth. Some critique the novel's slow pace and fragmented structure. Overall, it is considered a poignant exploration of love, loss, and community.
Who Should Read Claire of the Sea Light?
Readers who appreciate rich, lyrical prose and poignant, character-driven stories would enjoy Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat. Fans of books like Beloved by Toni Morrison and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz will be drawn to its exploration of community, loss, and resilience in a Haitian seaside town.
12,007 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Max Ardin Senior
Max Ardin Senior
An influential figure in Ville Rose who balances his role as a school director with personal complexities, as he navigates social expectations and moral challenges.
Gaëlle Lavaud
Gaëlle Lavaud
A woman marked by loss, who connects with others through shared tragedy while striving to find hope and emotional solace in her interactions with the community.
Max Ardin Junior
Max Ardin Junior
A young man entangled in family expectations and societal norms, whose actions and struggles reveal deeper personal and interpersonal conflicts.
256
Novel • Fiction
Ville Rose, Haiti • Contemporary
2013
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.