History is written by the victors, which means we should question the version of history that has been handed down to us
In Maria Hinojosa’s memoir History is written by the victors, which means we should question the version of history that has been handed down to us
In Maria Hinojosa’s memoir Once I Was You she is able to tell her story while forcing us to look at the history Mexicans have had with the US. I loved that throughout the memoir she constantly shines a light on the history of the US immigration policy and how deeply unfair it is. Did you know, “When the US won the Mexican-American War in 1948, Mexico was forced to cede nearly half of its territory- land that later made up California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming- for $15 million as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo” … yeah, I didn’t know this either. I do not need to tell you the austerities continues to this day with how ICE is treating persons who are undocumented.
To say this book is timely would be a lie because what Maria Hinojosa details in her book- as it concerns migration and the treatment of Migrants have been happening since the beginning of time. It is so important that people read books like these that forces us to look the awful history. I cannot say I have heard about Maria Hinojosa before getting this book, but in reading this blurb my interest was piqued. I love a rich memoir and that is exactly what you get with Once I Was You . Reading about the author’s journey from living in South Side Chicago to being on CNN was nothing short of inspiring. It is clear that she’s got a heart for her country -MEXICO and its people- MEXICANS and it was beautiful to see how she used her platform to create awareness and fight.
I loved how Maria Hinojosa brought us into her life, pulled back the curtains and showed us her deepest hurt, what motivates her and why she continues to fight. A truly beautiful memoir that I will continue to think about for years to come.
Thanks so much Atria Book for sending me this ARC, bless up! ...more
I cannot say there was a stand out story, they all felt underdeveloped. Writing short stories is an art fitting fully develoYeah.... this was not it.
I cannot say there was a stand out story, they all felt underdeveloped. Writing short stories is an art fitting fully developed characters and plot in 10 pages is a gift and I am not sure Cline developed it. The stories felt unfinished and I just was not wowed. ...more
I am a fan of a book with a relatable title and I think that is one of the reasons I fell for this book. Growing up in the Caribbean I can definitely I am a fan of a book with a relatable title and I think that is one of the reasons I fell for this book. Growing up in the Caribbean I can definitely say I have a “Million Aunties”. Aunties aren’t just people who are your relatives, they are anyone older than you that you have a lot of respect for and who shows up for you when you need them.
In Alecia McKenzies’s A Million Aunties we meet Chris who is an artist traveling to Jamaica for the first time as an adult. Chris mother is from Jamaica, but he did visit often, after a traumatic experience Chris’s friend and art dealer Stephen, encouraged him to visit Jamaica to recuperate, paint, and relax. Chris ends up visiting and staying with Stephen’s Aunt who takes him around the village, introduces him to everyone, after a week Chris finds himself enamoured with the villagers and their lives. Chris also visits his Mother’s childhood home, meets his uncle and is given a look into his family history. It is while he is getting use to the simplicity of village life that is he urgently called back to America to handle a difficult situation.
Stephen saw how having his Aunty host Chris led to him healing. He formed the idea of turning his Aunty’s home into a bed and breakfast for artists in need of a fresh perspective. While Stephen’s Aunty is open to the idea, it will take a lot of work, time and energy. Is the village and villagers ready to open their doors to new guest every month?
McKenzie pens a story of friendship, family and community. These themes stood out so strongly for me. I felt the author did a great job of showing the reader what real community looks like and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is told from numerous perspectives but the message of community and love remains the same.
I really enjoyed the parts of the book that was set in Jamaica, those moments for me stood out strongly. I felt the characters and setting strongly during those moments. I did feel like some characters were a bit under-developed and that the book wrapped up a prematurely but overall I did enjoy the read.
I received an early ARC, looking forward to reading the final work....more
Sometimes, agreeing to the same lie is what makes a family, family….
The Last Story of Mina Lee is told from the perspective of Margot and Mina. M Sometimes, agreeing to the same lie is what makes a family, family….
The Last Story of Mina Lee is told from the perspective of Margot and Mina. Margot lives in Seattle away from her mother Mina who lives in Koreatown, La. For the last two weeks Margot has been trying to get in touch with her mother via phone, but her calls return unanswered, a little worried, Margot decides to drive to her Mother’s house to check in on her. On arriving at her childhood home Margot finds her mother face-down…dead, of what she considered suspiciously. Margot spends the time trying to piece together her mother’s life, in putting together her memorial she finds out she does not *really* knows her mother. Margot spends the next weeks trying to piece together her mother’s life by talking to her few friends and acquaintance. Margot hopes to learn more about her mother and maybe find out who killed her…
The book goes between 2014/ present day Margot’s discovery of her dead mother and 1987 when Mina arrives in the US from Korea. Mina is 41 years old and is starting over in the US after losing everything back in Korea. Starting over is hard, there is so much to learn but Mina is determined to make a way in America, which may be what lead to her death…
This book started our strong! With the author starting the book with the death of the character, we are taken back and forth with both characters to piece together what happened. I initially was drawn to this book because of the heavily suggested mother-daughter theme and I also love books that feature Korean characters, I just felt like the book wavered and just ended up being flat overall.
What worked: I liked that the author has the two POVs we got a layered look into Mina and Margot’s relationship. I felt for Margot and her grief, she is grieving the mother she knows and the mother she did not know- that for me was profound.
I loved how the author wrote about immigration and what it is like for persons who do not have papers. It is such a struggle to start over and I loved that the author was realistic in how the theme was presented.
I think having the end at the beginning did a lot to keep me going to the end.
What didn’t work The writing started off strong but, in the end,, it really faltered and the book dragged. While I am generally fine with having loose ends or unanswered questions, I felt a lot of things were not explored. We didn’t get a solid picture of Mina BEFORE America, I wanted to hear more about that. I also felt like the author dragged the ending of the book, 60% in and I wanted it to be wrapped up.
Against The Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa opens in The Cube, an Israeli high tech prison where Nahr, a Palestinian woman, recounts the story of h Against The Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa opens in The Cube, an Israeli high tech prison where Nahr, a Palestinian woman, recounts the story of how she ended up there. Nahr is in solitary confinement but spends her time taking us, the reader, through her very difficult path. Nahr’s parents are from Palestine but had to flee the country because of conflict. Nahr was born in Kuwait and while she loved the country, at times she did not feel welcomed there. Living with her mother, grandmother and brother, Nahr dreams of falling in love, having children and living a comfortable life. Nahr ends up falling for a man with a mysterious past, she senses something wrong but cannot put her finger on it. Their marriage ends abrupt when her husband leaves her disgraced.
With the ending of her marriage, Nahr is penniless and is burdened with the finances of her brother impending college fees. Nahr meets a woman at a wedding, this woman takes particular interest in Nahr but this leads to Nahr being forced into prostitution. Rumours begin to circle in her community about her late-night activities. With the US invasion of Iraq, Nahr brother being wrongfully arrested, Nahr and her family moves to Jordan where things are especially hard. In order to get a divorce Nahr travels to Palestine where she gets a divorce and falls in love…but also lands in so much trouble she ends up in The Cube… it is like Nahr cannot get a chance!
This is a story about resilience, love and facing adversary. Nahr has faced it all, and at time I thought, “can this woman get a break?!!!!” the answer is “no!”. I am all for showing how Nahr was able to overcome but… wow. While I did enjoy the book because I got an interesting historical, political, and cultural look int Kuwait, Jordan and Palestine, at times it felt like the author was trying to pack a lot in such a short book. There were some points where the book dragged a lot and the pace really faltered.
I also loved how the author explored the theme of love, especially unrequited love. I really felt for Nahr in that case, and I felt the author did a great job of exploring that part of love.
Overall, it was an interesting read that I would recommend you reading and experiencing for yourself.
I finished this book and I all I think is WTH did I just read?! Did I miss something because I didn’t get “it”
Leave The World Behind follows this I finished this book and I all I think is WTH did I just read?! Did I miss something because I didn’t get “it”
Leave The World Behind follows this white middle class family that is vacationing at a remote Airbnb on Long Island. The family consists of Amanda, Clay and their teenage children. Amanda works in advertising and her husband Clay is an academic who writes for the NY Times. On the second night of their vacation, after putting the teens to sleep they hear a knock on the door, it is an elderly Black couple telling them that they are the actual owner of the AIRBNB and they would like to spend a night at the AIRBNB with them because “something is happening in NYC and they would feel safer here” … SAY WHAT? … Oh they also offered to give them back $1000USD from their Airbnb fees….
Yall…. First of all… WHAT?!!!!
Amanda and Clay decides, well, mostly Clay who is a push over, decides to let the couple- GH. Washington and Ruth stay with them because… what they gonna do? Send them away? (YES! SEND THEM AWAY). This family and the couple sends the next four days today trying to make sense of what is happening in the world outside of the Airbnb because they have no cellphone, radio or tv signal. Things get dark really fast!
If I had to describe this book I would say it is very atmospheric… you can FEEEL the setting and the tension jumping off the pages. The author does a great job of writing very awkward encounters and he plays on this for the entire book- he does not let up. I felt sometimes that he overwrites a scene, for instance, the author spends almost two pages letting you know what Amanda’s shopping list consisted of… as if we didn’t get that something bad was gonna happen and there is a reason her shopping list was so long.
Also, there were so many instances where the author spoke about how fat the teenage daughter was, to the point where I started to wonder if her weight had something to do with the black out… (did it? Cause mi still nuh know wah gwan inna di book)
Props to the author for keep my attention, I think it had to do with the premise and how sharp the writing is. I heard it is gonna be adopted to the screens, I cannot wait to see how that ends up. Overall a gripping read that touches on racism, class and trust.
I would say, read this so I can discuss it with you! ...more
Vera takes us on an unforgettable heart-wrenching journey that shines light on the human spirit
The Taste of Sugar is spans over seven decades, sta Vera takes us on an unforgettable heart-wrenching journey that shines light on the human spirit
The Taste of Sugar is spans over seven decades, starting in 1825 in Puerto Rico and finishing in 1902 in Hawaii, Marisel Vera takes us on an unforgettable journey. Opening in 1825 we are taken to a small coffee farm in Utuado that is owned by the Vega family. Raul Vega is a womanizer in every sense of the word, he has two sons by his wife and another by a local girl. Raul’s son’s Vicente follows his footsteps and become a coffee farmer. Vicente grew up on the farm and plans to spend his life growing in the coffee trade, despite being in debt and the fluctuating price of coffee and tax. Times are hard but Vicente believes if he works hard, things will get better and he will end up living comfortably off the land.
Meanwhile in the town of Ponce nineteen-year-old Valentina Sanchez dreams of marrying a handsome man and heading off to Paris to live a life of luxury. The Sanchez family is middle class, but still feels pinch at times, they are banking on Valentina marrying a 50-year-old widow. When Valentina’s upper-class friend sends her a wedding invitation, the Sanchez family pulls out all the stops to see to it that Valentina catches the eye of the rich suitor. Instead of a rich suitor, Valentina ends up in the grasp of a handsome coffee farmer.
While Vicente doesn’t promise Valentina a life of luxury, he does promise he will love and treat her kindly, come what may. Nothing could prepare this bright eyed coupled for what may. From the torturous journey from Pone to Utuado, to Valentina climatizing to farming life, to the farm being in severe debt, to Raul lusting and being inappropriate to Valentina, to the death of a child, to the great San Ciriaco hurricane that left the farm in shambles in 1899, to trying to rebuild but there is the upheaval with Puerto Rico moving from Spanish to US ownership… this couple will go through a lot. Even with all of that they still manage to stick with each other.
After the hurricane of 1899 Vicente proposed that they go to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantation. There is the offer of a new life, school for the children, higher pay in USD, a decent house and transportation to and from Puerto Rico, Vicente and Valentina jumps at the chance for a new life. They set out on their journey to Hawaii, nothing could prepare Valentina and Vicente for what is to come…
This book is a WORLD WIND! In the acknowledgements the author said she’s always been obsessed with learning about her heritage and “one day, stumbled upon the fact that over five thousand Puerto Ricans had gone to work on the sugar plantations of Hawaii after the US invasion and the San Ciriaco hurricane…” this led to her researching more and what led to her writing this book, which I am so happy she wrote.
I spent a weekend reading this book because I absolutely had to know what happens for Valentina and Vicente. There are so many positives in this book:
I loved learning more about Puerto Rico’s history. It is clear the author did her research and presented a solid look into life in Puerto Rico during the 1800s and early 1900s. I learned so much reading this book and if you are interested in Puerto Rican history, I strong suggest you pick this one up.
The writer was able to show how the human spirit can rise above a lot of depressing circumstances. Honestly at times I thought “lawd a massy, how much this couple gonna go through!!! Yah guh kill dem off Vera, ease dem up!” but I think that is what made the book so unforgettable. You were taken on a journey with these two people who promised to love and go through it all.
The author manages to cover a wide time period without it being a dense or boring read. I think the use of letters to move the plot along worked greatly. I loved reading the communication between Valentina and her sister which continued for the entire book. Kudos to Vera for doing this!
The character development in this book was exceptional- we meet Valentina as a young, shallow 19-year-old young girl and we are taken a journey where we are shown what made her into the very strong, unwavering, sexually secure woman she turns out to be. I really enjoyed how the author wrote Valentina’s character.
Overall, this was such a well written, strong, really insightful read that I want a lot more of you to read.
Atmospheric, gripping, immersive and tender- When We Were Birds is a a debut novel you will not be able to shake.
Set in Port Angeles, a fictional pl Atmospheric, gripping, immersive and tender- When We Were Birds is a a debut novel you will not be able to shake.
Set in Port Angeles, a fictional place with the stark resemblance to Port of Spain, we meet Darwin who leaves the countryside behind to start a new life as a Grave Digger at the largest cemetery in Port Angeles. Darwin was raised in the country as a Rastafarian by his single mother. His mother is a staunched Rastafairan who believes that the dead must bury the dead- so her son becoming a Grave Digger goes against everything she believes and taught him. The Grave Digging job is the only available work Darwin could find, the only way for him to help out his mother who is ailing and is not able to be work. With a full shaved head, Darwin makes his way to Port Angeles to become a grave digger…. Warned by his mother that the city eats men alive- he is determined to prove her wrong…
And maybe this is what it mean to be a man. Doing the things you never think you would have to do, making hard choice when the only thing in front you is hard choices.
Yejide grew up listening to her Grandmother Catherine telling her stories about what life was before a warrior wandered into the forest. A forest that was so thick, lush and animals who could talk and lived together peaceable. When the warriors came, they brought war and the animals all disappeared…. Many turned into birds living on the edges of the forest of Morne Marie. Yejide is from a line of woman who are all trusted with communicating and helping the dead find peace. With the death of her mother, she is passed this “gift” that she is not sure she wants- after hearing from her dead mother who remains bitter about having this gift. Not fully prepared for her destiny- how will Yejide use her gift?
What happens when a Grave Digger and a woman who is charged with helping the dead find peace meets? Well… a lot!
What a stunning debut. Ayanna Banwo’s writing is immersive and atmospheric- once you start reading you are immediately transported to the streets of Port Angeles. The entire time I was reading the book I felt like I was holding my breath waiting for the other shoes to drop- and that goes back to how spellbinding the writing is. Filled with themes magical realism, fantasy, traditions, romance, love and mother-daughter /mother-son relationship that were all explored in fresh ways.
I could not get enough of Darwin as a character, weeks later and my mind still returns to him and wishes him the best. I felt so much for Darwin and I think it is because the author spent so much time taking us inside his mind- we felt we were there with him. While I wanted to have that same reaction to Yejide, I felt more time could have been spent building her out individual- a lot of her character was tied to her mother, her aunty and grandmother- to the point where I hardly knew who she was as a singular character. I also felt the pacing of the book could have been better- it started off really slow and then raced at the end.
Ayanna Banwo is a Caribbean voice I cannot wait to hear more from! What a great debut!...more
First let me say that I was a huge fan of Carola Lovering's debut novel Tell Me Lies to this day I cannot get over Lovering's ability to write aboutFirst let me say that I was a huge fan of Carola Lovering's debut novel Tell Me Lies to this day I cannot get over Lovering's ability to write about toxic relationships and heartbreak.
The theme of heart break and toxic relationships continues in Lovering's sophomore novel Too Good To Be True . In it we meet 29 year old Skye who suffers from OCD and was never able to find love, just a series of one night stands, that is until one summer day she meets Burke, ten years her senior who doesn't judge her for her compulsive tendencies and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. For the first time Skye is truly happy and she owes it all to Burke who in less than a year proposes. Everyone in Skye's life thinks things are going too fast they all think this is too good to be true.... is it?
Honestly, I enjoyed reading this book- it is the perfect beach read, light with a bit of tension to keep you invested. Granted I saw the twist coming from a mile off and I rolled my eyes a bit. I also felt the ending was unrealistic and the lengths the antagonist went through seemed like a whole lot but... I guess there are sick people out there...
Updated June 27 I love this book so much I decided I must make it a BookOfCinz Book Club pick. In re-reading it a second time I was reminded why. Abs Updated June 27 I love this book so much I decided I must make it a BookOfCinz Book Club pick. In re-reading it a second time I was reminded why. Absolutely well done. A must read.
As the author says Here’s to hoping this book remains forever in the category of speculative fiction I also hope everyone who reads this take it as a warning because this could be our reality.
Set in 2084, the sun is so hot the people on the fictional Caribbean island of Bajacu have to sleep during the day and work during the night. If you are caught outside at dawn you will die- that is how hot the sun is. Food is scarce, water is scarce, children attend school online, internet is limited, the island is ruled by the Domins who are trained to kill and their only goal is to survive. People over 40 years old are considered old, no one lives to see 60. No one travels, no one has access to the internet- actually the internet isn’t even a thing, the only thing of top priority is SURVIVAL.
In Daylight Come we meet fourteen-year-old Sorrel who is living with her mother Bibi, an IT Tech who works with the Government. Sorrel is not able to sleep during the day and is up during the night, which in the long term cannot work. Bibi isn’t doing well having to deal with the constant relocating and providing for her daughter. With the city letting everyone know they have to evacuate Sorrel suggests to her mother that is it time that they go for the hills. Legend has it there is a thriving community of Tribal people who are living healthy and unaffected by the climate change. To get to this Tribal community Sorrel and Bibi will have to go through blood thirsty animals, rain booms, the sun and if they do reach, will this community take them in or turn them back?
Daylight Come is a warning we cannot hide from, yes, this is fictional book but we are already seeing ice cap melting, the sun was never this hot… the signs are all there. I think what stood out for me the disdain the young persons felt for the older persons living on the island who didn’t do anything to stop climate change. McCaulay paints a realistic picture of a Caribbean island suffering from climate change.
It is not every day you pick up a book writing by a Caribbean author, set in the Caribbean and it is about climate change and I was here for ALL of it. The author expertly explored themes of grief, trauma, survival, mother-daughter relationships and morality. I wanted the book to have a solid 100 more pages because I didn’t want this story to end. The book gives me a Hunger Games but without the ceremony, just a band of women doing everything to survive.
Diana McCaulay is an Environmental Activist in Jamaica and I loved that she used her gift of writing to tell a timely and relevant story.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you plan on reading Caribbean, read this! Thanks Peepal Tree Press for this ARC ...more
I choose How The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House as the March BookOfCinz Book Club pick after reading the advanced copy in Updated March 22, 2021
I choose How The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House as the March BookOfCinz Book Club pick after reading the advanced copy in 2020. I felt this is a book that would elicit very strong emotions, give us a lot of material to talk through and explore.
The book is set in Baxter Beach, a small beachside community in Barbados. On the night that the main character, Lala gives birth there is a murder at one of the villas. Lala is a new mom whose husband is in hiding and not able to share the joy of having a new addition to the family. Added to this Lala does not have a support system, her mother is dead and her she is estranged from her grandmother. After leaving home at an incredibly young age, Lala must now survive on her own.
One of the main themes in this book is generational curses, how trauma is passed from mothers to their daughters. I think Cherie did a great job of showcasing that in a really moving way. There is a deep sadness that continues throughout the book and it does not lift, even after you close it. This is not your light easy beach read, you are taken into the lives of the people in the community.
I think what stood out for me was theme of classism and colorism, how that played out on the beach front. We see a hair braider interacting with a villa owner and how their lives shift but comes together.
What I liked about the writing was how Jones was able to truly showcase the characters. I love reading a character with a strong back story and I felt that Jones spend a lot of time developing the stories of the characters. I also felt each character could have their very own spin off including Queen Sheba, Sargent Beckles and Mira.
There is something for everyone in this book. A very strong debut novel....more
What a beautiful, sweeping tale packed in a tiny book… I loved it!
The Deep Blue Between is Ayesha Harruna Attah’s first teen book about twin girls What a beautiful, sweeping tale packed in a tiny book… I loved it!
The Deep Blue Between is Ayesha Harruna Attah’s first teen book about twin girls Hassana and Husseina who got separated when their town was raided by rebels. Set in the late 18th and early 19th century, the book is told from both Hassana in the first person and Husseina in the third person. Barely 10 years old and they were separated during the transport after the raid, they each ended up living different lives. Hassana ended up with her older sister but left to find her twin. Husseina ended up in very unfavorable circumstances but with the help of a kind woman she found herself fleeing for Brazil. For the entire time they were separated they saw each other in their dreams, they were pulled to find each other. Will they ever find each other? What will it be like if they find each other?
I really enjoyed this book! Here is what I loved: I liked that the author told the book from two different perspective, it really helped in telling a more layered story. It also made it easier for me to remember which sister was speaking. I also feel like getting the two different perspective endeared me more to Hassana than Husseina.
I loved that the author took us to Brazil and the Gold Coast during the 18-19th century. It was so great getting a historical look into what was happening in these countries at that time. I also loved that slavery was NOT the main focus of the story, even though it influenced it. It is not every day I pick up a book and I am transported to Brazil and West Africa and for me that was a huge seller!
The author’s ability to deal with themes of grief, loss, religion and faith was spot on! That for me was a very big highlight.
I loved that the ending was unrealistic – when you read the ending you will see what I am saying. The author was able to show that these young ladies lived different lives and experienced different things and that would change how they view society. Her ending was a testament to that.
The author’s ability to write beautiful scenery wad enjoyable to read. I could not get enough of Brazil and the Gold Coast.
One thing that perturbed me was the author totally did not give any follow up about the bigger sister. I felt it was a bit cold that we met the sister in the beginning and we didn’t a thing about her too much. Yes, I get it, it’s the story about the twin but the entire time I kept waiting to get some closure about the older sister…
Overall a great read! Honestly, get ready to be impressed! Thanks Pushkin Press for sending me this ARC. ...more
This is my first book by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi and it definitely will not be my last
If you are looking for a book set in Uganda during the 1970 This is my first book by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi and it definitely will not be my last
If you are looking for a book set in Uganda during the 1970s with a strong female protagonist, this book is it! In A Girl Is A Body Of Water we meet young Kirabo who is being raised by her Grandparents in a small village called Nattetta. The story Kirabo was told is that her father, Tom, showed up with her 12 years ago because her mother did not want her. Since then Kirabo have been wondering, who is this woman do left me? She asks questions but no one will give her a straight answer not even Nsuuta, who the villagers call a witch.
Kirabo’s family cannot understand why is not able to move pass being abandoned by her mother. In their mind, she is greatly provided for and taken care of, why does she need to know more about the woman who did not stay around? Kirabo is at that stage where she feels a dual force inside of her, one that is obedient and the other that wants to wreak havoc. Kirabo is growing up, and fast, her world keeps changing, secrets are being revealed that forces Kirabo to question her reality. This is a marathon read, Makumbi takes us into the life of Kirabo, we actually read about her leaving the village to go live with her father, she goes off to boarding school, we see her fall in love, grow up and experience how her world changes through grief.
There is so much happening in this book, we get a historical look into Uganda during the 1970s, there is folklore, oral storytelling, religion, a bit of magical realism, themes of grief, generational curses, love, grief, abandonment, betrayal and feminism.
Let me start with what I loved:
I loved reading about Uganda and what was happened historically during the 1970s.
The author did a great job of showcasing feminism and I really enjoyed how that theme was executed. It is not every day I read a book where feminism is at the forefront of the narrative and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Kirabo is a character I enjoyed hearing from, I really could not get enough of her world. I delighted in her grown and her growing into her womanhood.
Makumbi does an amazing job of writing family history and generational curses. How is it one family have so many secrets?! It was enjoyable to read for sure.
The author did a great job of showcasing religion and how religion was used as a means to colonize. Throughout the entire book religion was explored, through the planting of churches and how Christianity changed the customs of the villagers.
Language was also executed in a layered way, how the use of English was seen as a good thing.
What I did not enjoy:
While I enjoyed the book, I felt it could have benefited by having a stronger editor. I felt too much was happening and the themes were not strongly fleshed out. There is the hint at magical realism at the start of the book that basically fizzled out and was not carried through the entire book.
I also had some difficulties with the timeline of some events it was not clear when or how it happened. There was not an easy transition of flashback or creating a linear narrative. It was very clunky how events were sometimes written and that left me confused at time.
There were a lot of characters, some with names that look the same, and I had to keep flipping to the back of the book to remind myself who was who.
I was not entirely sold on Kirabo and Sio’s relationship, a lot of it did not seem realistic and how their story was told didn’t help in making it believable for me.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, I just felt the plot could have been tighter....more
What a truly unique and entertaining read! Leone Ross takes on an unforgettable journey!
In This One Sky Day we are taken to a fictional archipelag What a truly unique and entertaining read! Leone Ross takes on an unforgettable journey!
In This One Sky Day we are taken to a fictional archipelago of Popisho. The Islanders are born with something called Cors. The Cors allows them special abilities like, being able to tell when someone is lying, extreme strength, speed, or the ability to cook food for someone’s individual taste. Yes, the Cors are endless and these Islanders are blessed with magic being all around them.
With the impending wedding of the Governor’s daughter Sonteine, the people of Popisho are in a somewhat festive mood. The Governor ordered a big feast to be made by Xavier Redchoose, the chosen macaenus, he is able to make the perfect meal for your individual taste. Xavier, is still grieving the death of his wife who drowned… or did she commit suicide or… did her kill her? It is hard to tell but the Islanders have their theories.
There is also wife who finds out her husband is cheating on her and spends the entire day looking into the claim. It is while at she is doing her detective work, at exactly 12 noon all the women of Popisho’s vagina fell out from underneath them. What continues next is entertaining, enchanting, and beautifully executed.
I have always stood by my claims that Leone Ross is a writer and she cements this claim with the publication of this book. I love how her mind works, and we get a look behind the curtain of her brilliant brain with this novel. There are moments when I am LAUGHING OUT LOUD and other times I am somber, you go through a range of emotions reading this beautifully written book.
I cannot wait for the World to read this! Thanks Faber Faber for send me this! ...more
The Undiscovered Country is a love letter to Trinidad and Tobago and every poetry lover out there…
I took my time to read this book and write this re The Undiscovered Country is a love letter to Trinidad and Tobago and every poetry lover out there…
I took my time to read this book and write this review because I wanted to give justice to the brilliance that is this collection of essays. With The Undiscovered Country we got a peek inside the brilliant mind of Andre Bagoo, and if I am being honest, I did not want to leave. In this collection of essays Bagoo questions whether Trinidad and Tobago actually gained independence, how are we still to this day struggling as a country and what independence can actually look like. In his introduction Bagoo quips that these essays are meant to castigate and praise. They aim to provoke, add fuel to the fire of augmentation.. and he achieved just that. There were some essays that really got under my skin and stayed there, others that hand me going “WOW, I did not know this!” and the rest that left me in wonder and awe of how Bagoo’s brain works.
I loved the essays that talked about Caribbean authors we are familiar with including V.S. Naipaul and Derek Walcott- did yall know they were enemies? I could not get enough of hearing about Naipaul and his layered relationship with his home country. It is clear that he did his research and left it up to us to decide our views on Naipaul.
Other essays that really captured my attention includes, Double a local staple in Trinidad and Tobago- while I don’t eat it, it was impactful getting a look into how this creation came to be. Plato’s Cave and Free Colony did a deep dive into the coup, T&T laws and how outdated they are. I think if you are interested in law and how laws don’t change, even after independence, these two essays will offer a lot. Soca which is the heartbeat of T&T and one of my favorite musical genres is explored through the 2019 giant hits “Savannah Grass” and “Famalaylay”. You Can See Venezuela From Trinidad is another essay that slaps timely and differently, Bagoo shows how the history and cultural of these two countries dates back to over 200 years. I absolutely enjoyed this essay.
I really enjoyed this collection and I think I would enjoy it a lot more if I was a lover of poets and poetry. At times some of the essays went over my head as I could not relate to the writer’s appreciate of these poets. I also think if you are a Trini this book will hold a deeper space in your heart.
A great collection of well researched and sharply written essays that leave you questioning a lot of how the world is around you....more
THE HATE U GIVE meets GET OUT perfectly captures this book…. And more!
The book seeks to answer, who is one of the “good” ones and what exactly make THE HATE U GIVE meets GET OUT perfectly captures this book…. And more!
The book seeks to answer, who is one of the “good” ones and what exactly makes them a “good” one. Why are some considered good and others considered bad? As the blurb said, “Isn’t being human enough?”
In One Of The Good Ones we meet three sisters, Kezi, Happi and Genny. Kezi Smith is Social Activist with a strong YouTube following. On her channel she talks history and advocate for Black Lives. Off YouTube she has perfect grades and is on track to attending a great University. While she’s got everything going for her, her sister Happi cannot seem to stand her and while she’s got a very public life, she’s got a secret she doesn’t want anyone finding out. In an effort to take her activism offline Kezi attends her very first social justice rally, ends up getting arrested and killed under mysterious circumstances.
Kezi’s death ends up being a catalyst for “change”, she is made into someone as a martyr and everyone once again is holding up Kezi as one of the good ones who did not need to die. With her death everyone is an activist who all of sudden sees the need for change. Kezi’s sister Happi is annoyed by this but does not know exactly what to do, especially seeing that they didn’t have a great relationship and on their last interaction Happi told her sister to leave her alone.
A few months after the death of Kezi, Genny, the oldest sister thought it would be a great idea to go on a road trip that Kezi was planning. Before her death Kezi, using The Negro Motorist Green Book as a guide planned an entire trip to see places that were haven for black people back in the day. While on this road trip Genny and Happi, along with Dwight and Ximena ends up learning way more than they bargained for.
When I finished this book I had to go right to bed because my mind was blown. I had to sleep off the bookish hangover and I recommend you do the same once you finish this book. There is a whole lot going on in this book, and when I say whole lot, I mean it, you’ve got:
Grief Unlawful killing of a Black girl Regrets Social Activist Black History Generation sins and curses Christianity Coming out with Christian parents Unrealistic expectation Identity Thriller Sisterhood Friendship How to be an ally
Yes, a lot is happening, but it all comes together expectably and surprisingly well. I love how the Moulite sisters came together and wrote a stellar sophomore novel that highlights so many necessary topics that we need to keep reading about.
As with their debut novel which was rich with history, in this book we get a deep look behind how The Negro Motorist Green Book guide came about and why there was a need for it. How Maika and Maritza are able to seamlessly teach us through their writing is something that I always admire. I learned about Black Cowboys, Sundown Towns and what they are and Claudette Colvin. I think what stood out most for me was how the story of Claudette Colvin tied into what it means to be a “Good one”. You will learn once you pick up this book. While I don’t have a sister, I get the feeling that they wrote sisterhood and family really well. I really enjoyed how they wrote relationships, history and how grief differs for everyone else. I also loved that there was a major twist that I did not see coming.
There were a few things that didn’t work for me, I felt the writing was very heavy handed in driving the point of “one of the good ones” home. At one point I wanted to scream… “I GET IT!” but maybe it is a reminder for people who don’t get it. I also felt that the end wrapped up a bit too quickly, seriously too quickly and more time could have been spend fleshing it out. I also felt some plot points were very predictable. I received an arc so the family tree was not included but I see the finished version will have so that will help people like me who would not be able to keep track.
Overall, I can see a lot of persons reading this book and falling in love with it. I hope they won’t forget the message the author wants to drive home.
A delightful, beyond beautiful and intoxicating read!
I am generally not a middle school book reader but when I read the blurb, saw the gorgeous cov A delightful, beyond beautiful and intoxicating read!
I am generally not a middle school book reader but when I read the blurb, saw the gorgeous cover and the title was enough to send me reading Kereen Getten’s debut novel.
Set in a seaside community in Jamaica When Life Gives You Mangoes is the story of twelve-year-old Clara and how she is spending her summer holidays. Clara lives with her mother and father in the community of Sycamore where no one leaves and no one new visits. Everyone in Sycamore knows each other, they all grew up together and are community in every sense of the word. Clara is ready for summer, to eat all the mangoes, to spend time with her best friend and cousin Gaynah and maybe win a game of pick leave. Lately Clara finds Gaynah have been very mean to her, while she tries to not take it on, she cannot help but feel hurt by her friend’s treatment.
For a community where nothing new happens, the entire community is abuzz with the arrival of new visitors from the UK. Gaynah tells Clara all about the new visitors, but Clara isn’t interested in making any new friends. While Clara is excited for summer, she cannot help but feel left out as she cannot remember what happened last summer. Clara cannot remember what happened last summer and why she is not able to go into water without being overcome by fear. Her parents won’t fill her in, her best friend teases her for her memory loss… maybe this summer will be different, maybe she will remember….
I absolutely enjoyed this very delightful book. I enjoyed being in Clara’s world and going on her numerous adventures. Getten writing transported me to a simpler time where I would spend my summer holidays outside in the country. It felt very nostalgic and innocent and I wanted more.
What I loved: I love that the book was told from Clara’s perspective, it brought to life her inner thinking and personality. I loved how perceptive Clara was in talking us on this journey.
I was BLOWN away by the twist at the end. I felt the author did a great job of having more than one thing to keep us interested to the very end. The twist at the end was the absolute best!
I really enjoyed how the author wrote about a positive, functioning family unit. I find I don’t read a lot about a family who sticks by and believe their child. I loved how the parents were portrayed as loving, patient and kind.
There are the themes of community, religion, friendship, grief, father-daughter relationship, family and trauma that I felt were aptly explored and explored in an authentic way.
I liked that that there was a bit of mystery and freshness to the overall plot.
I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed this book. Getten was able to pack a lot in just 217 pages without it feeling packed. The writing was fresh, layered, and very authentic. Clara is a character I know I will not forget anytime soon.
If you are looking for a delightful read, this is your pick! Please please go read this book!
Rainbow Milk opens in the summer of 1959 in England. We hear from Norman Alonso, a Jamaican living in England with his wife who is seeking to provid Rainbow Milk opens in the summer of 1959 in England. We hear from Norman Alonso, a Jamaican living in England with his wife who is seeking to provide a secure future for their children. Norman grew in Jamaica from humble beginnings, while he didn’t lack anything, his wife Glorie convinced him that life would be better in England. Life in England did not turn out how Norman expected, from illness, to a hardened marriage and racism, where was the bright future he envisioned?
Fast forward to 2002 we meet nineteen-year-old Jesse McCarthy, a Jehovah Witness who was disfellowed because of “improper behaviour”. Turned out by his community and family, Jesse runs away to London to start over, and shake the hold religion placed on him. Starting over proves harder than envisioned so Jesse turns to sex work to earn his living while he writes his book. While he is surrounded by millions, Jesse still battles with being disfellowed, the remnants of religion, his sexuality, not knowing his father and not having a community.
This is what I call addictive reading! I could not put this book down because I needed to know what happened with Jesse. I think the author did such a compelling job of exploring religion and sexuality- specifically how it is treated in the Jehovah Witness faith. I loved how he explored identity for those who grew up in the church and even after leaving, they cannot shake the teachings. This was a solid coming of book, we journey with Jesse who landed in Brixton when he was 19years until he was 34 years old.
My only draw back was that I wanted to hear more from Norman, he is such a commanding character, his voice was so strong. I felt how his story was inserted in the book was a bit clumsy, and with a stronger Editor it would have been re-worked into the narration a bit better. I also felt that the book went over the same things a little too much, that did not help with the pacing.
Regardless of those two draw backs, this is such a well written, truly beautiful account of a young Black gay disfellowed man trying to make his way in London. We need more stories like this.
If I could describe this book in two words it would be MASTERFUL and MAGICAL!
HOW is P. Djeli Clark able to pack well formed worlds, layered characte If I could describe this book in two words it would be MASTERFUL and MAGICAL!
HOW is P. Djeli Clark able to pack well formed worlds, layered characters, history, culture and heavy themes in less than 200 pages? HOW?!!!
Ring Shout is a darkly twisted historical novella set in 1922 in Macon and follows the main character Maryse Boudreaux a black sword swinging woman who I could not get enough of! The story opens with Maryse, Sadie and Chef setting a trap for The Ku Kluxes who are Klan folk who feed on so much hate it infects them and turn them into bone-white demons…. YES! Those are monsters these Black Women are fighting as they increase in numbers in Macon.
Maryse, Sadie and Chef will need reinforcement when D.W. Griffith a sorcerer comes to town ready to unleash a set of Ku Kluxes stronger and filled with way more hate.
Honestly, this is just the tip of the Ring Shout iceberg. P. Djeli Clark is a master when it comes to weaving in history into fantasy and he does it so seamlessly and beautifully. When have you ever read a book about a klansmen who are monsters (they really are monsters) and they get hunted and killed by three badass Black Women- these are the stories we need to read more about!
I have said this before and I won’t stop saying, P. Djeli Clark is a MAGICIAN! His ability to write full atmospheric stories in less than 200 pages is UNMMATED! I inhaled this book, I was transported to the dark, starry Georgia night, I felt I was there with those warriors!
If you are in the mood to read something different, this is it!!!! ...more
In Sarah Dass’ debut novel Where The Rhytym Takes You we are taken to the beautiful twin island Tobago where seve Felt the rhythm and I was moved!
In Sarah Dass’ debut novel Where The Rhytym Takes You we are taken to the beautiful twin island Tobago where seventeen-year-old Reyna is helping her dad manage her family resort Plumeria. Reyna who lost her mother at a young age and the love of her live decides to give up painting and is going through the biggest tabanca she’s ever experience- granted she is just seventeen. The cause of Reyna’s tabanca is Aiden, her first love, who left her and Tobago behind to pursue his career in music.
Of course, like every tabanca, it hits harder when they show up to the hotel you are working at to spend an extended time with their group of friends. Aiden and Reyna must now either avoid each other for the entire stay, or confront each other.
Friends, if you know me, I am not big on YA and Romance but this book truly did it for me. I felt the author did such a phenomenal job of taking me back to my teenage years and me thinking my first love was it and losing them was the end of the world- yea… the dramatics right?! The author writes convincingly about Tobago, love, and being a teenager who is heading into adulthood. The theme of grief, love, mother-daughter relationship and growing up was thoroughly and well explored.
I truly enjoyed Reyna and how very likeable and realistically written she was. Granted, if my father owned a hotel, at 17 I wouldn’t be looking to manage it, I would have my friends over every weekend for a villa party… but that’s just me.
If you are looking to escape, to visit Tobago, and to revisit how young, silly and in love you were at 17, Where The Rhythm takes you is the perfect book!
P.S. The playlist at the end of this book is it!!! Love it....more
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