Pulsating, vivid, gripping and brilliantly written
Amanda Smyth did a phenomenal job in writing LOOK AT YOU , it is a novel told in stories that wil Pulsating, vivid, gripping and brilliantly written
Amanda Smyth did a phenomenal job in writing LOOK AT YOU , it is a novel told in stories that will leave you feeling breathless. The book is set in Trinidad and Tobago, England and sometimes in Ireland. The book follows a young girl from childhood to adulthood, her first time in Trinidad and Tobago with her family and how her heritage shaped her life. The book is narrated by different people and that pushes the plot along, and we find out more about the main character- what she is currently doing and how these different relationships continue to impact her.
The story is about the main character trying to find her way in the world, what it means to be a Trini leading in England, growing up in an in-between space and how that impacts her identity. I loved how we see her growing up, and the different challenges she faces and how it impacts her self-confidence.
In true Amanda Smyth style, the writing is the tight, engaging, brilliant and unforgettable. While it is a short story, it does leave a huge impact on you. I recommend going in blind with this one. ...more
Another Man in The Street opens in the early sixties with Victory Johnson leaving St. Kitts and Nevis behind with his family for London. He dreams o Another Man in The Street opens in the early sixties with Victory Johnson leaving St. Kitts and Nevis behind with his family for London. He dreams of becoming a reporter and writer in London, one thing he plans on never doing is returning to his island home of St. Kitts and Nevis. Upon arriving in London, Victory becomes a rent collector, collecting rent from Caribbean nationals like himself. Victory finds that making a life in London is not as easy as he thought it would be. So many challenges keep coming up, and he wonders will be make his dream.
This book explores themes of identity, immigration, regret, belonging and how it can be for the Windrush generation. I did enjoy this story, I felt it meandered a little too much. ...more
In Casualties of Truth we are taken to DC and Johannesburg in a dual timeline told from Prudence Thought provoking, harrowing, and un-put-downable
In Casualties of Truth we are taken to DC and Johannesburg in a dual timeline told from Prudence Wright’s perspective. Prudence Wright currently lives in Washington, DC with her husband Davis who is at the peak of his career, so much so, she can afford to be a stay at home mom for her autistic son, Roland. Once trained as a lawyer, Prudence decided to give it all up to be more present for her family. As they head out for dinner to meet Davis’ new team member, Prudence is unaware of how this encounter will transport her back to a time she wiped from her memory.
We are transported to 1996 in Johannesburg, South Africa where we meet a young Prudence who is doing an exchange as part of her law programme. She is attending the Truth and Reconciliation hearings, which uncovered the many horrors and human rights abuses of the Apartheid state. During her time in South Africa, Prudence experienced for herself the harrowing aftermath of Apartheid. Matshediso who was in South Africa for that experience, is also Davis’ new team member, and he is back to expose everything if Prudence doesn’t corporate.
A lot is happening in this book but it all seems to come together in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers but more importantly, if you are curious about South Africa’s history and how Apartheid “ended” I remember being in South Africa and telling my host mother that I was heading to the Apartheid Museum and she told me she’s never been. I remember being aghast, “how as a Black South African you’ve never been?” I asked her, and she replied saying, “I lived through it” and proceed to talk about how harrowing the experience was. I was told that because of the Truth and Reconciliation agreement, people would be in the mall and see their abuser walking pass them. This book really brought to life all the feeling I had around Apartheid and the aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation.
I loved how the author explored race and identity in this book and how that affected who Prudence and Matshediso viewed the world. The book being told through different timeline helped with the pacing and made me feel like I had to know what happened. As far as thrillers go, I did not see the ending coming.
I feel like I don’t read a lot of books where the main character is a bad ass, bad word cussing, 99-year-old, retired Ganja farmer and I wanted to st I feel like I don’t read a lot of books where the main character is a bad ass, bad word cussing, 99-year-old, retired Ganja farmer and I wanted to stay in her world forever!
Imagine using the stones from an old plantation/Massa house to build your home? I personally think that is a recipe for disaster and Miss Pauline found out the hard way.
In A House for Miss Pauline we meet an unshakable 99-year-old Jamaican woman, Miss Pauline who is getting close to her 100th birthday. Something strange starts happening the closer she is getting to her 100th year, that is, her house, which is made from the stones of the Massa house starts talking to her. Pauline Sinclair lived all her life in a rural village called Mason Hall, a day after getting her period she left school because the teacher was predatory. Miss Pauline did not have an easy life, she had to fight for everything and that led to her becoming one of the most successful Ganja farmer in the parish. She met and fell in love with her baby father Clive, they had two children and amid this Miss Pauline decided she wanted to have a stone house, after seeing the disaster that happened after a hurricane.
While Miss Pauline seems to have lived a seemingly boring life, except for being a Ganja farmer, she holds a lot of secret and they come back to haunt her through the stones in her house. Miss Pauline decides she wants to make things right before she dies, this leads to a reckoning that she may not be ready for.
If I could use one word to describe this book, it would be “meandering” and "endearing”. I feel like I don’t read a lot of books where the main character is a bad ass, bad word cussing, 99-year-old, retired Ganja farmer and I wanted to stay in her world forever. Diana McCaulay knows how to write characters with heart and that is who Miss Pauline is. She encapsulates the experience of an old woman, how lonely it can be, the regrets they may have, their interaction with technology and it all feels very authentic.
For me the most endearing part with Miss Pauline’s interaction with Lamount, a teenager from Mason Hall who she brings into her life in the most heartwarming way. I did feel like I wanted more of the Grandmother and Granddaughter relationship but I guess it is realistic how it all played out.
There were some parts of the book that dragged and I wish it had moved faster. I also feel as if the book felt a little all over the place- and things were added that didn't really move the plot along. So many characters were included that did nothing for the plot but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, big up Miss Pauline anyweh she deh!...more
Conde’s ability to take you on a journey is unmatched!
In Maryse Conde’s latest release we meet blue eyed Black people, we are taken to Mali, Guadelou Conde’s ability to take you on a journey is unmatched!
In Maryse Conde’s latest release we meet blue eyed Black people, we are taken to Mali, Guadeloupe, Palestine, Canada, and Haiti. A truly immersive read that you will not be able to put down.
In Waiting For The Waters To Rise we meet Babakar originally from Mali, he ends up living and working in Guadeloupe as a doctor. One night he is woken up and taken to a shack where he finds a dead mother and her recently birthed child. Babakar made the impromptu decision to take the child home and adopt her, not taking into consideration that the mother’s dying wish is to have her child taken back home to Haiti.
While in live improves significantly with the addition of the child to Babakar’s household, he feels complete and loved. One day a mother of the child shows up and convinces him to move back to Haiti so the child can be with her family- they journey to Haiti together. Nothing could prepare them for what would happen in next.
This story is well crafted. I love how Conde allows us to meet people, hear their backstory and how they end up where they are. I think for me, I love how we hear from a Palestinian who ends up in Haiti, a Haitian fleeing to Guadeloupe and the xenophobia that they face, Babakar who journeys from Mail to Guadeloupe… all of these people from all over the world meeting in Haiti. I love a book that is set in Haiti and it is not often I read about characters journeying to Haiti to settle and I enjoyed that.
Yes, some parts were a bit slow but overall I really enjoyed this one. The ending though… wow!
Merged review:
Conde’s ability to take you on a journey is unmatched!
In Maryse Conde’s latest release we meet blue eyed Black people, we are taken to Mali, Guadeloupe, Palestine, Canada, and Haiti. A truly immersive read that you will not be able to put down.
In Waiting For The Waters To Rise we meet Babakar originally from Mali, he ends up living and working in Guadeloupe as a doctor. One night he is woken up and taken to a shack where he finds a dead mother and her recently birthed child. Babakar made the impromptu decision to take the child home and adopt her, not taking into consideration that the mother’s dying wish is to have her child taken back home to Haiti.
While in live improves significantly with the addition of the child to Babakar’s household, he feels complete and loved. One day a mother of the child shows up and convinces him to move back to Haiti so the child can be with her family- they journey to Haiti together. Nothing could prepare them for what would happen in next.
This story is well crafted. I love how Conde allows us to meet people, hear their backstory and how they end up where they are. I think for me, I love how we hear from a Palestinian who ends up in Haiti, a Haitian fleeing to Guadeloupe and the xenophobia that they face, Babakar who journeys from Mail to Guadeloupe… all of these people from all over the world meeting in Haiti. I love a book that is set in Haiti and it is not often I read about characters journeying to Haiti to settle and I enjoyed that.
Yes, some parts were a bit slow but overall I really enjoyed this one. The ending though… wow!...more
A main character fighting against the odds, filled with grit from start to finish…
We are taken to Zambia where we meet a Grace Zulu, she recently be A main character fighting against the odds, filled with grit from start to finish…
We are taken to Zambia where we meet a Grace Zulu, she recently became a lawyer after beating all the odds. She grew up in a village where they only expected her to get married, have children and raise them. Against all odds she became a lawyer and for her first pro-bono case it is about a young queer dancer Bessy who was arrested and charge. Grace tries everything to get him free from a system that holds very strong traditional beliefs and is deeply homophobic.
This was a very fast-paced read and I think I enjoyed how resilient the main character is. Grace is that character you can’t help but cheer for. If you are looking for a legal thriller set in Zambia, this is a good place to start. ...more
Engaging, un-putdownable a very vibrant and intoxicating read….
Nikki May is so great at writing stories that will get you riled up and interested in Engaging, un-putdownable a very vibrant and intoxicating read….
Nikki May is so great at writing stories that will get you riled up and interested in the characters and it is the same with this book. In The Motherless Land we are taken to Nigeria where we meet Funke and her family. She lives an idyllic life in Nigeria, with her mother, father and brother. Her father is head over heels in love with her mother and they are still happy after years of being together. Even though their relationship meant her mom was ostracized from her family in England. They’ve lived a happy life until tragedy struck and Funke is sent to live with family members she’s only heard bad things about, in a place that her mother describes as boring, grey and cold.
Funke arrives in London overcome by grief and is met with a chilly reception from her family, except for her cousin Liv. Live decides that her sole purpose will be to make Funke happy and enjoy England as much as possible. They become inseparable from childhood into adulthood, a safe space for each other, that is until a major misunderstanding happens and tragedy strikes again.
I love that the book was set in the 70s, 80s and 90s in London and Lagos and told from the perspective of the cousins. We got such an in-depth look into their characters and their motivations. Nikki did an amazing job of exploring generational wrongs, forgiveness, sisterhood and grief. I thoroughly enjoyed Funke and Livs characters as it felt so refreshing seeing them fall into an easy friendship. I did get a bit annoyed at Liv’s mom and I felt her character got too much air time because she was so annoying.
Magic, adventure, folklore and history! In a ball of fun!
If you are looking for your next magical read I highly recommend picking up Trinbagonian au Magic, adventure, folklore and history! In a ball of fun!
If you are looking for your next magical read I highly recommend picking up Trinbagonian author, Tracey Baptiste newest release MOKO MAGIC: CARNIVAL CHAOS! This is an Afro-Caribbean-inspired story about three cousins who discover they are mokos–protector spirits–during carnival season in Brooklyn.
This is a middle grade book but it is also for people who are young at heart and love reading about magic, adventure with a bit of history. Misty, Aiden and Brooke takes us an amazing adventure that will keep you gripped to the pages of this book.
Trinidadian author Tracey Baptiste brings history, culture and adventure to life with this new release. She knows how to write for kids, or kids at heart. Yes, this is a middle grade book but I found myself getting pulled into the adventure and learning so much.
If you are looking for your next adventure, look no further thank Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos!...more
In Monqiue Roffery’s Passiontide we are taken to the fictional island of St. Colibri on Ash Wednesday. Carnival is over Engaging, current and layered
In Monqiue Roffery’s Passiontide we are taken to the fictional island of St. Colibri on Ash Wednesday. Carnival is over and after the revelry and bacchanal the body of a tourist is found. Sora Tanaka is a steel pan musician whose been visting the island every year for the Carnival celebrations, this year would be her last alive. She was brutally murdered while still wearing her costume, this shifts the island of St. Colibri.
There is an out cry for the protection of women on the island. Sora is not the first woman to be brutally murdered on the island but with her being a tourist the international community is paying attention which puts pressure on the Police, Politicians and all the local activist for women’s rights. Will it take the death of Sora Tanaka for St. Colibri to finally come to terms with the rampant femicide?
This was a difficult book to read because it was based on the true story of a Japanese woman, Asami Nagakiya who was found murdered in the Queen’s Park Savannah. Trinidad and Tobago have a very big problem of domestic abuse and femicide so it was hard reading this, but necessary. The ending was as expected because as much as we want change, will there every come a day when women are considered equal? ...more
The author really went “there” with this collection of eleven short stories. I am not going to lie, some of the storie Provocative, dark and jarring
The author really went “there” with this collection of eleven short stories. I am not going to lie, some of the stories I read I really thought, “a wah gwan yasso?!” However, I loved how the author was able to write something fresh, engaging, jarring and raw. After each story I had to put down the book and really think, “what did I just read and what does this mean?” …. In a good way of course.
The book explores themes of feminism, mother-daughter relationship, lonlieness, love, forgiveness and hope. I particularly loved the exploration of lonlieness because I feel like it is something we all experience but don't talk too much about.
I love that this is a debut collection because it means we get to hear more from this author! ...more
A true slice of life from Black-British Londoners navigating life…
In Shani Akilah’s debut novel For Such A Time As This we are introduced to Black A true slice of life from Black-British Londoners navigating life…
In Shani Akilah’s debut novel For Such A Time As This we are introduced to Black-British Millennial Londoners who are navigating the corporate world, heart-break, friendships, different societal pressures and relationships with the backdrop of then coming out of covid.
It is a collection of interconnected short stories where we meet characters, who are going through so much. The young girl who is the token Black girl at work, works hard to let her teammates care about diversity and is basically punished for it. The young guy who is going through a heartbreak and doesn’t know how to lean on his friends. These stories feel so real, and everyone I read I am reminded of a friend I know.
The stories are written with heart, it feels real and the characters are layered, you can’t help but to cheer for and grieve with them.
Great Expectation follows David, in his twenties and he recently started working for a Senator’s presidential campaign. We hear David’s thoughts on thGreat Expectation follows David, in his twenties and he recently started working for a Senator’s presidential campaign. We hear David’s thoughts on the Senator, the campaign and his feelings in general about what is happening around him.
Honestly, this book felt like a stream of consciousness and not in a good way. I kept wondering, “how is this moving the plot along?” I was bored mid way through to be honest. ...more
Underwhelming, amateur, one-dimensional and chaotic
This may be my least favourite book by Akwaeke. Trigger Warning: Lots of sexual abuse. In Little Underwhelming, amateur, one-dimensional and chaotic
This may be my least favourite book by Akwaeke. Trigger Warning: Lots of sexual abuse. In Little Rot we are taken to a city in Nigerian where we meet four friends. The book opens with Kalu taking his long time girlfriend Aima to the airport because she refuses to live in sin and he is not ready for marriage. After much back and forth Aima decides its time to move away, however she can’t seem to get on the plane so she stays with her friend in Nigeria.
Kalu, unaware that Aima didn’t get on the plane decides to go to sex party hosted by his best friend Ahmed. These parties are highly exclusive, invitation only and caters to Nigeria’s rich, everything must be discreet and everyone looks the other way even at things that are illegal. Kalu makes a snap decision and attacks a guest at the party and that puts everyone in danger.
The book explores what happens when powerful people are put in position where they don’t feel powerful. How corruption, power, sex and money can get you everything.
I am not sure what I expected from this book but this was not it. I was reading it and I thought, “this book feels very lacklustre, it’s not the book I expected them to write, it feels ordinary and lacking any form of substance.” The book felt too long, it was insanely predictable, often times it felt like the author was trying to shock me which made me roll my eyes. It felt so pedantic and overdone. It felt amateur, that's what I will say.
I guess you can say I didn’t like this one....more
The book opens with tension as the characters wait to hear whether the US first female president will pa A solid premise the execution was very shaky
The book opens with tension as the characters wait to hear whether the US first female president will pass the Forgiveness Act. With this act, Black families can claim up to $175,000 if they can prove that they are descendants of slaves or had land stolen from them. What happens in the book is a exploration of how the Act affects Willie and her family.
Willie Revel and her family grew up well off but never sheltered from racism. She loves her family and her dream was to be a part of the construction company, that’s until she decided to become a journalist. After a one-night stand she becomes pregnant, moves back home raise her daughter with her family and work in the business. The business is struggling and this forgiveness act can help them stay afloat. In order to cash in on the act Millie goes digging into her family’s history- she finds how complicated family dynamics can be.
Honestly, this book felt so flat for me. I think the execution was not great, I wanted to have more of a deep dive on how the Forgiveness Act changed things, or didn’t change anything. While I enjoyed Willie’s back story, I wanted more about what happened after the act and I did not get that. Also the book is called, “ACTS OF FORGIVENESS” and little was explored with that.
We are taken to the island of Grenada where we meet a family that is about to be ripped apart. Raef is the oldest o Layered, shattering and engaging.
We are taken to the island of Grenada where we meet a family that is about to be ripped apart. Raef is the oldest of Cilla children, they live in a tiny cottage in a seaside town in Grenada. Cilla is trying to make ends meet but with two children and a husband in England who hardly sends money, she depends on the kindness of those around her and her sister. One day, her husband sends for her and her younger son, she is forced to leave Raef behind with her sister but promises to file for him.
Cilla moves to England and is shocked by what she encounters. She misses her son but is now pregnant with her third child and must work even harder to help provide for everyone. After years of promising Cilla is finally able to bring Raef over to England, but this changes the dynamic of their family for good.
A Trace of Sun is a strong exploration of what happens when families get ripped apart in search of greener pastures. Yes, we have all read an immigration story, but this one gets to the core of what we lose when leave. I love that the author wrote from the perspective of the three characters, you really felt a part of their family.
A strong novel that I will continue to think about....more
We meet Nia in Like Water Like Sea who is a queer, bi/pansexual naturopath living in London. The book spans over thirty year What a brilliant book!
We meet Nia in Like Water Like Sea who is a queer, bi/pansexual naturopath living in London. The book spans over thirty years of her life, we need her after the death of her sister and how she is dealing with her grief. Her mother is bipolar and that adds another layer of heaviness for her to work through.
Nia decides to leave a party with a girl she’s been seeing on and off to go into the water to feel what it is like to drown. While she does that a couple jogging pass sees her and inquires after her, this leads to a friendship/ situationship. She tries figuring out who she is, what she wants for her life and how to navigate grief that means all consuming.
I really enjoyed this book. It feels so fresh and biting. The characters are so flawed but I love the disastrous mistakes they make and their bid to make their life one that they are proud of. The journey was amazing to see unfold.
I don’t want to compare this book to anything, but if you love Sally Rooney’s novels you will enjoy this book! ...more
Re-Read this book for BookOfCinz Book Club This is an exceptional read for book clubs, so many things to discuss.
What an interesting read! I am stil Re-Read this book for BookOfCinz Book Club This is an exceptional read for book clubs, so many things to discuss.
What an interesting read! I am still thinking about this days after finishing the book.
In Dominoes we meet Layla, British-Jamaican woman living in London. She’s got a Black Jamaican mother and a white father who she’s never met. Layla grew up with her Mom and her Grandfather with the company of her best friend Sera.
The book opens with Layla and Sera going to a house party. Layla meets Andy and finds out they share the same last name: McKinnon. They instantly hit it off, they fall in love hard and fast. They move in together, Andy is attentive, a great listener, he’s everything Layla wants in a partner and in no time he proposes and they start planning their wedding.
With 29 days to go til their wedding Sera shares her concerns about Layla marrying a white man who has her last name and is from a Scottish background. Could it be his forefathers were slave masters? Sera encourages Layla to research their past before committing to a marriage, because, “how are you going to marry a man whose family may have enslaved your family?”
For the first time in her life Layla spends time researching her history, asking about her family. She must know about her history and identity and what role Andy’s family may have played in the slave trade. She visits Jamaica with her family to learn more, while she loves Andy, she is not able to attend the wedding until the knows the “truth”….
This book really had my head spinning because… what you mean this is the premise of the book? You love a man but his generational wealth is from the slave trade?!!! I am not going to lie, I did have some moment where I went “mmmmm what is going on here?” I will say this book made me feel uncomfortable and I am sure it will give people that feeling as well. It is a really great read because it brings to the front questions we all need to answer and reckon with....more
I can’t say I read Sarah Dass’ IT WAITS IN THE FOREST, more like I devoured it… or it devoured me.
This book has been on my radar as a 2024 Read CaribbI can’t say I read Sarah Dass’ IT WAITS IN THE FOREST, more like I devoured it… or it devoured me.
This book has been on my radar as a 2024 Read Caribbean release and I was not disappointed. Dass writes about a Caribbean Island called St. Virgil where magical things happen all the time. However, there is one local, Selina who wants to explain the magic away, especially after a vicious, unsolved attack left her father dead and her mother in a coma. She is making a living pulling the wool over people's eyes and she does this until someone shows up at the store asking for her help. The next day, they are wanted for a crime.
St. Virgil is a quiet Caribbean island that becomes the scene of three mysterious deaths, Selina wonders who these deaths can be related to her father's and her mom being in a coma.
If you love adventure, if you enjoy Caribbean folklore, if murder mystery and thrillers are your thing, then you have to pick this one up. I got so nostalgic reading this book because it is exactly the kind of book I would read in my teenage years, the book I would get lost in because of the adventure that awaits in the pages.
Congratulations on an amazing book Sarah Dass! I need more people to read this!
P.S. If you are afraid of duppy and bucks, I recommend only reading during the day.
Brilliant, captivating, brimming with culture, and dark piece of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, the perfect read if you love Caribbean literature.
I Brilliant, captivating, brimming with culture, and dark piece of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, the perfect read if you love Caribbean literature.
Ingrid Persaud knows how to write Trinidad and Tobago’s culture, history and lifestyle in the most nuanced way and she shows us this, first with Love After Love and now with The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh . This is an un-put-downable read filled with characters you will scream at, cheer for and won’t ever forget.
If you don’t know, Boysie Singh was a notorious Trinidadian killer who was eventually hanged for murder in the mid-1950s. He was charged three times for murder and on the third time he was convicted and hung. The historical fiction book is the story of four women who were charmed and some would say in love with Boysie Singh. The book is told from the perspective of four women who some would say fell in love with Boysie Singh and how their love for him impacted their lives and the life of those around them. We meet:
Popo is a known prostitute who is trying to change her ways. Boysie Singh is one of her clients, and after an unfortunate situation he invites her to come and live with him. She helps him starts and manage his business with the hopes of changing both their lives for the better. What happens when she “oversteps” her boundaries?
Mana Lana is Boysie Singh’s baby mother, she is deeply devoted to Boysie and their son, she wishes a steady family life for them but Boysie refuses to choose her. She sticks around with the hopes of one day being the woman Boysie chooses.
Doris, born and grew up in Toco but knows she isn’t meant for such a “small space”. She makes her way to Port-Of-Spain where she meets Boysie Singh. He woos her relentlessly but she is a woman who knows what she wants and once Boysie decides to marry her, she unleashes her plan to help them climb Port Of Spain social ladder.
Rosie is a storeowner who is being made to pay a “rent” to Boysie and his men. She just wants to run her store and not have anything to do with Boysie, as fate would have it, she gets caught in the crossfire.
These four women were impacted by one man, a gangster, murderer and con artist- who will survive? Who will be forever changed and how do they move pass their relationship with the infamous Boysie Singh.
This book is specatular. It is clear that Ingrid Persaud did her search into the history and culture of Trinidad and Tobago during that period. She writes the Trini dialect with amazing precision and brings each character to life their they specific tone and voice. I think that is the think I love most about Persaud’s writing, her ability to capture characters who are believable while still be flawed. Yes, I didn’t love Boysie Singh, but I found myself wanting to see him win, even though, historically I know how story ends.
The women in the book are layered, engaging, and keep you invested. Through the writing, you understand who they “fell” for a man like Boysie and you journey with them as they come to their senses.
I cannot begin to recommend this book enough. How Ingrid writes about the food, the culture and tells this very known story in a unique way… its time that everyone reads this book!...more
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