The Coconut Latitudes

Secrets, Storms, and Survival in the Caribbean

By: Rita M. Gardner

Narrated by: Rita M. Gardner

The Coconut Latitudes is a memoir about a childhood in paradise, a journey into unexpected misery and a twisted path to redemption and truth.

Leaving a successful career in the US, a father makes a fateful decision to settle his wife and two young daughters on an isolated beach in the Dominican Republic. He plants ten thousand coconut seedlings and declares they are the luckiest people alive. In reality, the family is in the path of hurricanes, and in the grip of a brutal dictator.

Set against a backdrop of shimmering palms and kaleidoscope sunsets, a personal crisis causes the already fragile family to implode. The Coconut Latitudes is about surviving a reality far from the envisioned Eden and the terrible cost of keeping secrets. This compelling memoir balances a child’s wonder with adult compassion, ultimately revealing the transformative power of truth and love.

©2014 Rita M. Gardner (P)2020 Rita M. Gardner

Worth buying the audio version

When the audio version came out, it had been awhile since I’d first read Rita Gardner’s memoir. I was inspired by the story the first time around, so I thought it wouId be worth listening to. I was right! This was a whole new experience. Rita Gardner reads with sensitivity but avoids any tendency to over dramatize even the most heartbreaking scenes. Her memoir comes alive. The author’s use of the first-person, present tense, puts us right there with her. Her lyrical literary style paints a picture in our mind that at times is poignant and captivating, and at other times is frightening and tragic. Well worth the second “read”. Highly recommended.

Emotional Family Epic told in Deadpan

I read this book several years ago but it didn’t resonate with me as deeply as the audiobook. Perhaps the deadpan reading emphasizes the sadness of this family’s emotional abuse. Gardner’s story speaks loudly about how external appearances can deceptively hide internal turmoil and fear. Good read for anyone who loves Caribbean islands and learning how to extricate oneself out of a long sadness.

I love this memoir!

I've read the Kindle version and listened to the Audible version. Rita's story sinks deeply into my heart as I can relate to her experiences. Fantastically written and narrated, I highly recommend this book! Whether you've lived as an expat, are from Latin America, or seek to travel there, this memoir will not only resonate but will bring comfort to childhood traumas and recollections. Thank you Rita!!