James Hannaham Livres

Aucune enquête, aucun chiffre, aucun reportage ne saura nous faire prendre en haine l'esclavage contemporain comme l'image des moignons maculés de sang d'Eddie, 17 ans, conduisant sa Subaru dans la scène d'ouverture, hallucinée, de ce roman. Il vient de s'évader de la ferme Delicious Foods, exploitation géante - et pas seulement agricole -, au cœur de la Louisiane où Darlene, sa mère, a été recrutée 6 ans plus tôt, comme d'autres toxicomanes. Productrice de fruits et légumes, Delicious Foods maltraite ses ouvriers et les maintient prisonniers au cœur de la Louisiane grâce à la triple contrainte de la terreur physique, d'un endettement perpétuel à l'entreprise et d'une addiction à la drogue qui leur est continuellement fournie. Abandonné à son sort, le tout jeune Eddie fera tout pour retrouver la trace de sa mère, la rejoindre et l'aider à se libérer de ce piège. Dans ce prodigieux roman qui a valu à Hannaham tous les honneurs Outre-Atlantique (Pen/Faulkner Prize – roman), trois voix se succèdent pour raconter la spirale infernale : une mère prisonnière, un fils révolté et puis... la drogue, pour une fois présentée sous son jour le plus troublant : elle est un bateleur, un séducteur, un amant jaloux.

After more than twenty years in prison, a trans woman on parole spends a whirlwind Fourth of July weekend in Brooklyn, trying to reconcile with the son she left behind and reunite with a family reluctant to accept her true identity. Carlotta Mercedes has faced misunderstanding her entire life. Initially caught in a robbery gone wrong, she was known by her birth name in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, before gentrification changed the landscape. During her incarceration, she embraced her identity as Carlotta, but prison authorities rejected this, keeping her in an all-male cell block and subjecting her to abuse and solitary confinement. After five attempts, she finally gains conditional freedom and a bus ticket back to a transformed New York City, where she must navigate her past and present. Can she reconnect with her son and family while adhering to stringent parole conditions and staying out of jail? With the same vibrant energy found in Delicious Foods, this novel takes listeners through Brooklyn's streets during a dynamic holiday weekend. It offers an entertaining narrative and a memorable cast of characters while prompting reflection on the injustices of a prison system that continues to punish individuals even after their release.

Exploring the complexities of morality and the human experience, this narrative offers a heartfelt and humorous glimpse into a character's internal battle to make ethical choices. Through a blend of wit and vulnerability, the story delves into the challenges of navigating life's dilemmas, highlighting the universal struggle to balance personal desires with a sense of responsibility. The journey promises to resonate with readers, inviting them to reflect on their own choices and the intricacies of doing what is right.