Echoes from Kuujjuaq about Yasmeen Haddad and Joanasi Maqaittik: Ida L. Saunders

Echoes from Kuujjuaq about Yasmeen Haddad and Joanasi Maqaittik: Ida L. Saunders

Ida L. Saunders of Kuujjuaq (Nunavik) met Carolyn Marie Souaid, author of Yasmeen Haddad Loves Joanais Maqaittik, in Montreal. She read Yasmeen, wrote her a note, and has kindly agreed to allow us to publish it.

I have been telling my friends about your book. I want to say “bravo” and thank you. You have a keen eye on spirit and culture.

Yasmeen exists in many forms and Joanasi’s treatment of her evokes memories of my own personal journey in a sadly unsuccessful marriage. Her inevitable realization of the nature of her relationship with Joanasi is agonizingly sharp. Even Pasha, Joanasi’s mother, made me reflect on women I have met and known in my life. She does what many a mother of a Joanasi would do in real life.

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed your book.

You had me in your fictional “every community in Nunavik” community and wanting to know how each of the characters’ stories end by the end of the book… because, alas, most books do have an ending.

Ida L. Saunders, Kuujjuaq

Thank Ida Saunders. The book is available here.