Last updated on October 6, 2020
Everything Inside is a book of stories by Edwidge Danticat. Edwidge Danticat is Haitian and this shows in his stories. He sprinkles Haitian creole throughout the stories, with the words written immediately after in English as well.
I don’t often read short stories and don’t quite remember how this one came across my radar. It may be from the What Should I Read Next podcast.
Everything Inside consists of 8 stories of love and romance. They are set in Haiti, Miami, and in an undefined country in the Caribbean. However, these are not romantic stories with happy endings. Rather, they are tales of loss, betrayal, friendship. They are stories of yearning for what was and what could be, for what was lost and what we hope to find. Each story keeps you wanting more, wondering what comes next.
I felt the stories tugging at my heartstrings. Love is incredibly rewarding but can also blind and make you vulnerable. Danticat explores the nature of love and different types of love. What makes each story powerful to me is their relatability. These are our stories, the stories of humankind and our quest for connection. We don’t always get it right and that means space for both beauty and pain.
I think that the mark of a good short story is that it captivates, tells a story in a way that could be complete while leaving the opportunity for us to imagine what comes next. By that definition, Danticat is an excellent storyteller. The stories have depth and felt real to me. I give Everything Inside 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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