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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“I have lived, I have seen things and I have done things. Now I must go, but I am innocent of this crime. I always tried to help people and this is how I got a great deal of my troubles” Those were the words of John Boysie Singh, a notorious gangster who terrorized Trinidadian society for decades.
The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh by Ingrid Persaud @ingpersaud_author
This story was set around the 1950s. This 535 page historical fiction was an anticipated read since its publication on April 25, 2024.
The story was told by four women who impacted Boysie’s life well some might say four women that Boysie impacted. Ingrid shared that during her research of Boysie, these four women came up and from there she created four characters:
* Doris, the wife, who wants to be a part of the upper echelons of society;
* Mana Lala, the mother of Boysie’s son, who yearned to have Boysie and her son close.
* Popo, a prostitute smart and pushing for a better life for herself.
* Rosie, a shopkeeper who loves her shop and her lady Etty and met Boysie under unfavorable conditions.
This book was an amazing read Ingrid’s writing style by is unique and I love it. This #readcaribbean book was also educational - I was exposed to the Trinidadian/Indian culture. The words listed below will forever stay with me:
* Maco
* Chupidness
* Beta
* Cunumumu
* Poohar
Ingrid had me hooked as she flowed masterfully between women and broke my heart (as she always does) with one of her plot twists. All throughout this book Boysie had me in shock with his behavior and his life.
Each and every one of the characters are unforgettable. There were parts of this story that were true to Caribbean living and behaviors.
The only thing I would have liked is more on Boysie in Part 4.
Ingrid, this book was worth the wait and the weight!
Baje Bookclub Whatsapp Readers Group had a buddy read and 14 members and I enjoyed the comments we shared in StoryGraph.
If you’re looking for a historical fiction set in the Caribbean which is based on the life of a real gangster, then this is for sure your jam. Don’t let 2025 end without reading this one.
The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh by Ingrid Persaud @ingpersaud_author
This story was set around the 1950s. This 535 page historical fiction was an anticipated read since its publication on April 25, 2024.
The story was told by four women who impacted Boysie’s life well some might say four women that Boysie impacted. Ingrid shared that during her research of Boysie, these four women came up and from there she created four characters:
* Doris, the wife, who wants to be a part of the upper echelons of society;
* Mana Lala, the mother of Boysie’s son, who yearned to have Boysie and her son close.
* Popo, a prostitute smart and pushing for a better life for herself.
* Rosie, a shopkeeper who loves her shop and her lady Etty and met Boysie under unfavorable conditions.
This book was an amazing read Ingrid’s writing style by is unique and I love it. This #readcaribbean book was also educational - I was exposed to the Trinidadian/Indian culture. The words listed below will forever stay with me:
* Maco
* Chupidness
* Beta
* Cunumumu
* Poohar
Ingrid had me hooked as she flowed masterfully between women and broke my heart (as she always does) with one of her plot twists. All throughout this book Boysie had me in shock with his behavior and his life.
Each and every one of the characters are unforgettable. There were parts of this story that were true to Caribbean living and behaviors.
The only thing I would have liked is more on Boysie in Part 4.
Ingrid, this book was worth the wait and the weight!
Baje Bookclub Whatsapp Readers Group had a buddy read and 14 members and I enjoyed the comments we shared in StoryGraph.
If you’re looking for a historical fiction set in the Caribbean which is based on the life of a real gangster, then this is for sure your jam. Don’t let 2025 end without reading this one.
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Persaud writes in an Indian Trinidadian vernacular and I struggled with the meaningof some words. She fictionalises a true story, capturing the particularities of the period and the place, while imagining the gangster and criminal, Boysie Singh, - through the voices of four women. Four women, controlled by one man. The notorious Boysie Singh. ‘some days you wake up good, good and have no clue that by the time night falls everything in your world will be upside down. Again ‘
A very long read and I felt could be made shorter with less dialogue that wouldn’t have devalued the whole story.
A very long read and I felt could be made shorter with less dialogue that wouldn’t have devalued the whole story.
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow, what a ride. This is exactly how I felt reading this book. Ingrid Persaud did a fantastic job in bringing this story to life 👏🏾 🙌🏾. I thoroughly enjoyed this buddy read.
This was indeed an experience that took you to Trinidad where you felt like you had a birds eye view of Boysie Singh's life. Up to now I can't tell you what if is about this man. The cultural prose, the short and engaging chapters and the interesting characters (some of who loved to hate at times) led to a masterfully crafted book.
This was indeed an experience that took you to Trinidad where you felt like you had a birds eye view of Boysie Singh's life. Up to now I can't tell you what if is about this man. The cultural prose, the short and engaging chapters and the interesting characters (some of who loved to hate at times) led to a masterfully crafted book.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes