If you are a High School student read this book carefully because when it comes time to write that essay good luck on finding one concrete line of thought to follow. There is so much going on in this book, Mala and her many problems, the book jumps around a lot, I reread the first half of the book and got a better understanding of the story by doing so. This book is deep and passionate with lots of groundbreaking ideas. Take your time reading this book 'cause if you just rush through it your gonna miss the main ideas. Ciao!

I recommend this book to everyone I meet, even total strangers. Shani Mootoo has, intentionally or not, created a mythic journey from separatist, through eco-feminism, into transformative feminism.
At the center of the story is Mala, a woman insane from incest with her father. We learn of her life and generations of people surrounding it through the narrative of nurse Tyler, the first male nurse in all Lantanacamara, a rural district of India. From the father who's corpse lives still in a locked room deep in the clutter of Mala's house to Mala's sister Pohpoh escaped to America, to nurse Tyler who's astonishing transformation and new found love bracket the entire story, each life story is worthy of meditation long after reading the book.
Shani Mootoo's earlier book, Out on Main street, was rather monotonic in tone, though skilled. Cereus Blooms at Night, however, is a multifaceted gem.

Shani Mootoo's first novel,CEREUS BLOOMS AT NIGHT, is a very discriptive story about people and life; although, it takes place in an imaginary island in the West Indies the story is very real. The life of mala Ramchandin begins with her mental state completely out of wack and her being arrested for a murder that apparently didn't happen. throughout the novel we realize that we are being told her life story up to the very point of the incident. Her sexually abusive father, her lesbian mom and aunt, missing sister as well as numorous hermaphrodites including the narrator. The story starts in the first person and quickly switches between first and third until the two meet at the present time indicated in the novel. A very interesting novel for and about some twisted lifstyles of some strange people who obviously didn't get to grow up the way they wanted to or the way any one would want to. This book, also, is filled with symbolism that will cloud your minds with all sorts of myterious happenings throughout your reading. while the setting is very vague, you will get a vivid mental picture of the story surroundings as well as the characters lifestyles and habits. It's all good, I might reccomend it to someone who has problems realizing what their problems are in their own life.

First read Shani Mootoo's novel, Cereus Blooms at Night. Then, come back to these short stories to learn more about her. Find phrases like: "She so fem, she redundant". Shani is not that. And you will not find men painted in a pretty light. Very similar to The Bean Tree in that respect.

I rate this book highly, however, for her account of the inner thoughts of a couple in an abusive relationship. Deep in a tangle of anguished, angry, selfish thoghts, we find the dead seeds of a passionate desire to be possesed, to be the possessor.
Get this book to have that story.