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Fania Simon's Sofi's Load: A Review by  Anonymous

Well what can I say, I read the story in a day and it hurts because through Sofi I was able to finally face my own life occurrences. My dad raped me when I was a child until my teenage years and the only person I had the courage to tell was also a rapist. I did not know that then until it was too late. So, I can't tell you how deeply I relate to the character Sofi. One day I wish to tell my story but as for now. I am just here...

 I love you Fania for lending me some of your courage to face my own story.

~Anonymously yours, (FL.)

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Fania Simon's Sofis load: A Review by Kurtis Miller

Sofi's Load is a heart-pounding story. It is real and not fiction.

It’s about a young girl’s tribulations while growing up in Haiti. She had to overcome several of Satan’s campaigners who tried to destroy her being. All the way through this child kept fighting for her life. Fania Simon has taken her damaged childhood and turned it all around into a powerful voice of healing for the sake of helping others who are going through the same hell.

I am extremely proud of fania's pure approach when helping people. As an artist of endless diversity, she does it all through her countless works. She is a crusader of peace and unity, which happen to be her strong points. Please read Sofi’s Load. You will gain much from it!

Kurtis Miller C.E.O of Animated Tales Inc.
New York, U.S.A

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Fania Simon's Sofi's Load: A Review by Author Castina Charles

Sofi's Load is a moving and powerful text. It is the author's first novel, and the second book which I have read from her so far, the first being Poetry In Haiti, a must read for anyone interested in Haitian culture crafted in the hands of a literary genius.

Once again I find myself enraptured by Ms. Simon's mastery of language and her superb craftsmanship. She imbues her text with such emotion and artistic sensibility, that as a reader you cannot help but be moved by the power of her words.

The novel itself is an inspirational text, filled with endurance and courage against much cruelty and hardship. Sofi's story is not only a personal memoir, but also a symbolic metaphor of Haiti and its women-amidst all adversity and persecution the courage and the tenacity to persevere still remains strong.

Sofi's Load is a beautifully written novel; one that I'm sure will become a literary classic. I anxiously wait for Ms. Simon's forthcoming work.

Castina Charles, Author of Baad ass Poetry

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Fania Simon's Sofi's Load: A Comment by Daniel Sabin

The intense sincerity of this gripping story has clarity so profound that as a reader I found myself living every detail. Remarkable! Pick up Sofi's Load, and sit at the edge of your seat, because it will vigorously suck you in. It's real--dauntingly real.

Daniel Sabin
CEO / Founder of Pure Leaders Incorporated
International Motivational / Inspirational Speaker
Student - Metaphysicist - Philosopher
Musician - Poet - Author

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Fania Simon's Sofi’s Load: A Comment by Iya Sangotola

You are a wonderful writer that helps the reader travel to the places you write about, identify or come to care for or have other strong feelings for the characters in your books. Through your characters pain, we feel the pain. Your characters teach us all some really valuable life lessons. Sometimes the hardest lessons in life are the ones we never forget. Thank you.  

I also came from an extremely abusive household. I don't know what parts of Sofi's Load is you and what parts are Sofi's or if they are even distinguishable but I realize that this is still going on and will continue to go on until people make changes for the better. I am truly sorry you had to endure the pain, humiliation, degradation and murder of your innocence but from those ashes arise yet another Phoenix named Fania Simon and she will endure and you will hear her voice.

By the way, when is book two of Sofi's Load coming out? I know you are not going to leave your readers and fans hanging off the top of that cliff forever. Please let me know. Thank you.

  Iya Sangotola

Hello Fania!

I breathe to read. I have read a variety of books and Sofi's load is just phenomenal. I read it in basically half a day; I could not put it down. Even though I cannot relate directly but I fully comprehend what you endured. My heart bled for you and for many others who have spoken and those who have not found the strength yet.

I am so glad you did not let negativity bring you down. You rose to the top. I am so proud of you. The book is just wonderful; I wish it was a little bit more positive but I have to respect your goal. I cannot wait to read part II. When do you expect it to come out? Please e-mail me so I can purchase it. Sorry for this long email.

I admire you so much, and I wish I had as much strengths as you have. Keep up the good work. Stay cool and collective.

God Bless

-Marie
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Fania Simon's Sofi's Load: A Review  by Damion Trent

In the text Sofi 's Load the author, Fania Simon gives a chilling and torrid account of her early childhood experiences in Haiti and America. Haiti as we know is a country that was once inhabited with indigenous people who were pillaged and destroyed in the 1500s by Spanish and then French colonizers. In 1803, they gained independence, through constant insurgence led by Boukman, Toussaint, and Dessalines, which culminated in the aforesaid year. In 1915 American troops invaded Haiti and took advantage of the people's resources and set up a form of capitalist slavery. Haiti is still affected by this as evidence by the repugnant behavior of the individuals in Sofi's Load. Family members and family friends were constantly physically and emotionally abusing the protagonist Sofi. This abuse goes to show that in her life it seems as though her worst enemies were the people she wanted to love the most.

From the very inception of the book the main character, Sofi who is also the narrator is treated quite differently from her sister Ozana, "Their mother would always praise Ozana for having done such a good job but would never praise Sofi for the same work done" (4). When her mother Isabella was upset with her, she had quite a denuding way of treating her as evidenced by the following "she would punch her all over and call her degrading names like ti-pitin, little bitch, and ravette chauder, red roach, which referred negatively to Sofi's skin color" (4). Ironically, Sofi, her mother and grandmother have the same skin color. We are told in the novel "Sofi was very different from the rest of her siblings. She followed her mind and questioned everything. That used to get her in lots of trouble with her parents" (2). An important factor in the relationship that Sofi has with her parents is based on the fact that she was oftentimes beaten because she had her own mind. She was not the type a person to accept the status quo, so she was beaten into conformity. Despite all of this she loved her parents deeply and describes them as being beautiful people whom she was proud of. Her mother is what some would call a bush doctor; she had great ability curing the sick with natural medicine. She could not pursue her natural inclinations because of the overbearing influence of her husband, which goes to stress the impact of male chauvinism. The dominance of the male figure is a European construct. Sofi's father wrote and he was a Christian minister, but he worked right under the white Christian missionaries. The inability of Sofi's father to act after the rape of her daughter may be explained by his Christian influence. This is odd because white missionaries have always been responsible for the contribution of the denigration of African people (black people).

As a matter of fact, when Sofi rides on a bus with her mother to go and see her grand mother, her mother starts preaching. The people on the bus laugh at her mother because they know the God she worships does not resemble her at all. This Sofi finds to be quite amusing. One has to remember that the worship of that white Jesus is a European colonizing image. Its sole purpose is to destroy the minds and souls of the people conquered by the wicked Caucasian imperialistic thugs. Boukman, the man responsible for the beginning of the Haitian revolution in August 22, 1791, was known for perfuming Vodun ceremonies before going to battle against the French. In fact, the worshiping of a European image of God leads to some very detrimental brainwashing and debasing of one's culture. Thus, historically speaking it was the African spirituality called Voodoo/Vodun, which led the Haitian people to freedom. Ironically, when the U. S began its invasion of

Haiti in 1915, Vodun was banned. It was banned because anytime the Europeans invaded a nation; they have to ban the existing religion in order to fully colonize the minds of the oppressed. In addition, Vodun was a rallying point for revolution. After the ban of Vodun, the Catholic priests came in and began the conversion of the Haitian people, which made them suffer mightily from the invasion of the whites. This is one of the main elements used to drive us as African people out of our minds, and may explain the reason for the abusive tendencies of family and friend in Sofi's Load. Sofi, therefore, becomes the ultimate victim of this brainwashing and debasing of the Haitian culture by foreigners.

Sofi is even abused and beaten by her grandmother. While in her care, she is raped by a man named Baron who was a family friend. He was the brother of a preacher known to Sofi's father. Baron took advantage of the blackout that befell the island and he a man in his mid twenties commits a destructive act of violence by forcibly defiling the nine-year-old Sofi.

When she goes back to the house, this information is eventually told to her family members present at that time. The family took her to the police station, but little Sofi was afraid of the Macoutes. Her fear of the Macoutes made not to speak out. The Macoutes had a reputation of oppressing and murdering innocent citizens. Afterwards Baron is locked up, but when they go to court the, judge says he does not believe she was raped and then the despicable bastard says Sofi should marry Baron because he spoiled her. Based on their Christian beliefs, these people lived by their belief that if a woman engaged in sexual activity before she became married, that she was some how spoiled and, therefore, no man would want her.   The situations worsen as she proceeds to the hospital. The events at the court represent a second rape for Sofi.

The doctors who were supposed to check to see if she was a virgin sexually abused her during their medical evaluation of her. These disrespectful examples of human scum, were shoving their hands in her vagina laughing saying that it was too big so she could not have been a virgin prior to the attack. They would place one-finger two fingers and their entire hands into a nine-year-old girl laughing and smiling the whole time dehumanizing her--just like the white slave masters use to and still do to this day. The slave masters would sexually violate the Black (enslaved) women on their plantations. Again, Sofi becomes violated a third time.

Directly after this terrifying ordeal, the people who live in proximity to her as a result of the rape subject Sofi to constant inquiries and ridicule. Even when she goes to school there are teachers who pass her notes saying they love her and would like to have sex with her. As a result of all these and to avoid shame on the family, Sofi's parents decide that it would be best for her to go to the U. S. The motivating factor in sending her to the U. S. is the good name of the family, not for the healing of Sofi. Unfortunately her father’s friend Alrick who is a Christian rapes her. Alrick's supposed Christian principles deceived both Sofi and her father to trusting him. This attitude questions the Christian principles of the followers of the religion. This grown ass man named Alrick takes her to see an Adult movie and makes her massage his phallus. Eventually he too would rape her, despite the fact that he happens to be a Christian, family friend, who has a wife and kids.

Soft's Load will make you laugh, cry and become incessantly angry about the treatment Sofi endures. When her father found out she was raped the first time in Haiti, he suggested several timed that she should marry Baron. Children look up to their parents for protection, but those who are supposed to protect them do not protect them. Thus, they tend to mistrust, and therefore withdraw into themselves. This explains why Sofi never informed anyone of subsequent rape incidents. The effects of posttraumatic slave syndrome and colonialism are undeniably prevalent in this text. If one can read this text and not feel any remorse or emotion for what happens to Sofi then something is wrong with the person reading the book. The author Fania Simon truly captures your heart body and soul in this autobiographical text. There are many people who write text containing similar themes found in Sofi's Load, but most of them have failed to bring out the underpinning causes of destructive human behavior.

Simon with ease makes you feel as though you are living the story of her life. This is also solidified by beautiful poetry used by the author to give you a hint of what is going to come in the following chapter of the book. She even makes you want to assassinate the people who are responsible for the tears she has shed over the years. When a person finishes comprehending the text, they will have gone through an emotional roller coaster. This story is a rather a melancholic one to be told, but I am so glad that the author had the courage to share her life story with us. A story such as this will help African women who experience similar wrongs to cope with such issues in a constructive manner. In addition, African men must restore their women to their regal position of ancient times, or else our woman will continue to face these obstacles of terror.

Name: Damion Trent,
Occupation: Student
Native: Trinidadian American