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tizoka's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
arisol's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
For a novel that I picked up without a direct recommendation, I enjoyed this tremendously. The storyline gripped me and the characters touched me in a way that I didn't expect. I so appreciate the way the emotions and their specific relationship with mental health are described, so subtle while obvious in their descriptions for what they represent. I can tell so much heart and soul went into the novel in a way I appreciate immensely and makes me want to read more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
sigridjacobs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tishywishy's review against another edition
5.0
Patsy is currently one of my favourite books for the year.
Patsy is multi-dimensional, what shapes someone to leave their family and children for a life abroad is never a single issue and Patsy has multiple issues that call her away - love, financial stability, the ability to be herself in a new country (not just Tru mother), the fear of motherhood, being able to love whomever without a community/culture of scorn, etc.
It's also easy to hide from the things you fear the most and Dennis-Benn writes about this so clearly. I've met many Caribbean immigrants like myself who can't recall the last time they called or visited home. Or tragedy occurs and flying home doesn't seem like an option. It would be easy to think it callous but I think any immigrant or family/friends of immigrants who reads this will see strong similarities and parallels.
Learning American culture - a lot of what Cicely said to Patsy, my mother said to me before coming to the US. "Look people in de eye when you talking. Don't tell dem all yuh business, dem love to talk so let dem." My mother, several family members and friends have worked as a housekeepers and babysitters and the stories they would tell sometimes would vary from heartbreaking to funny and (sometimes) heartwarming. This book had me because it spoke about these experiences so succinctly.
Barrel Children (a common phrase for children that receive barrels filled with personal/household items from abroad) - My family would receive barrels when I was younger and it was like a holiday when we opened it, tons of foreign items that would last us months along with a couple personal tokens. The barrel scene had me tearing me because the barrel was filled items based on old, perceived notions and while it's nice to receive things, nothing beats having that person's physical presence. All these jabs and other stressors came together to affect Tru.
There's so much to unravel in Patsy - both mother and daughter's sexuality, domestic abuse, financial security, how America looks from home vs when you actually get there, gentrification, housing in NYC, and the list goes on.
I'll end the review on this note: Patsy is a must read. A MUST READ.
Patsy is multi-dimensional, what shapes someone to leave their family and children for a life abroad is never a single issue and Patsy has multiple issues that call her away - love, financial stability, the ability to be herself in a new country (not just Tru mother), the fear of motherhood, being able to love whomever without a community/culture of scorn, etc.
It's also easy to hide from the things you fear the most and Dennis-Benn writes about this so clearly. I've met many Caribbean immigrants like myself who can't recall the last time they called or visited home. Or tragedy occurs and flying home doesn't seem like an option. It would be easy to think it callous but I think any immigrant or family/friends of immigrants who reads this will see strong similarities and parallels.
Learning American culture - a lot of what Cicely said to Patsy, my mother said to me before coming to the US. "Look people in de eye when you talking. Don't tell dem all yuh business, dem love to talk so let dem." My mother, several family members and friends have worked as a housekeepers and babysitters and the stories they would tell sometimes would vary from heartbreaking to funny and (sometimes) heartwarming. This book had me because it spoke about these experiences so succinctly.
Barrel Children (a common phrase for children that receive barrels filled with personal/household items from abroad) - My family would receive barrels when I was younger and it was like a holiday when we opened it, tons of foreign items that would last us months along with a couple personal tokens. The barrel scene had me tearing me because the barrel was filled items based on old, perceived notions
Spoiler
(like Patsy held up a neon sign that said 'I know nothing about you anymore Tru')There's so much to unravel in Patsy - both mother and daughter's sexuality, domestic abuse, financial security, how America looks from home vs when you actually get there, gentrification, housing in NYC, and the list goes on.
I'll end the review on this note: Patsy is a must read. A MUST READ.
wayfarer_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marinaemoore's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair review*
This book is breathtaking, raw and beautifully written.
Patsy, a young Jamaican mother, dreams of going to America and reuniting with her lover, Cicely. When Patsy finally gets to America, she realizes that the American dream might not be all it’s cracked up to be.
This book touches on the themes of motherhood, immigration, love, and womanhood in a refreshingly honest way.
This book is breathtaking, raw and beautifully written.
Patsy, a young Jamaican mother, dreams of going to America and reuniting with her lover, Cicely. When Patsy finally gets to America, she realizes that the American dream might not be all it’s cracked up to be.
This book touches on the themes of motherhood, immigration, love, and womanhood in a refreshingly honest way.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Book on CD narrated by Sharon Gordon.
This novel follows Patsy, a young Jamaican mother of a 5-year-old girl, Tru, as she makes her way to America and tries to find a better life for herself. However, in order to find herself and achieve her potential, she must leave her daughter back in Jamaica, in the care of her father, a man Patsy never married, and with whom she’s had little contact. But leaving Tru with Roy is much better than leaving her with Patsy’s mother, Mamma G, a woman who has given all her pension to the Church hoping that Jesus will save her.
This story is in turns heartbreaking and inspiring. I applaud Patsy’s determination, courage, inventiveness and work ethic, but have difficulty forgiving her for leaving her child in Jamaica. Her guilt at this no-win choice is palpable and heart-wrenching. Her inability to deal with the very real results of her decision made me want to shake her. And then, I would feel so sorry for her – for the difficulty she faced when her dream was proved to be just that, a dream with no real basis in reality, for her struggles to survive, to find housing and work, for her misguided attempts to find even a little happiness and a sense of self-worth.
Dennis-Benn alternates points of view giving the reader insight into Tru’s life back in Jamaica. Her inability to understand how her mother could leave her, the sliver of hope a Christmas card conveys, and the defeat she feels when she finally accepts that her mother is not coming back. , My heart breaks over and over for Tru as she grows to her teens and hides her pain and sense of responsibility for her mother’s decisions.
But lest you think this is a depressing story, be aware that I loved these characters, even though I didn’t always like them. Despite all the hardship, all the bad decisions and failures to communicate, ultimately there is some triumph and some sense of hope.
Sharon Gordon does a marvelous job of voicing the audiobook. Dennis-Benn uses a vernacular patois dialogue in much of the book, and I found it difficult to make out the sense in those few sections that I chose to read in text format. Gordon’s performance made it easier for me to absorb and understand those lilting Jamaican accents. She really brought these characters to life for me.
This novel follows Patsy, a young Jamaican mother of a 5-year-old girl, Tru, as she makes her way to America and tries to find a better life for herself. However, in order to find herself and achieve her potential, she must leave her daughter back in Jamaica, in the care of her father, a man Patsy never married, and with whom she’s had little contact. But leaving Tru with Roy is much better than leaving her with Patsy’s mother, Mamma G, a woman who has given all her pension to the Church hoping that Jesus will save her.
This story is in turns heartbreaking and inspiring. I applaud Patsy’s determination, courage, inventiveness and work ethic, but have difficulty forgiving her for leaving her child in Jamaica. Her guilt at this no-win choice is palpable and heart-wrenching. Her inability to deal with the very real results of her decision made me want to shake her. And then, I would feel so sorry for her – for the difficulty she faced when her dream was proved to be just that, a dream with no real basis in reality, for her struggles to survive, to find housing and work, for her misguided attempts to find even a little happiness and a sense of self-worth.
Dennis-Benn alternates points of view giving the reader insight into Tru’s life back in Jamaica. Her inability to understand how her mother could leave her, the sliver of hope a Christmas card conveys, and the defeat she feels when she finally accepts that her mother is not coming back. , My heart breaks over and over for Tru as she grows to her teens and hides her pain and sense of responsibility for her mother’s decisions.
But lest you think this is a depressing story, be aware that I loved these characters, even though I didn’t always like them. Despite all the hardship, all the bad decisions and failures to communicate, ultimately there is some triumph and some sense of hope.
Sharon Gordon does a marvelous job of voicing the audiobook. Dennis-Benn uses a vernacular patois dialogue in much of the book, and I found it difficult to make out the sense in those few sections that I chose to read in text format. Gordon’s performance made it easier for me to absorb and understand those lilting Jamaican accents. She really brought these characters to life for me.
bibliothalia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0