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lannainthelibrary's review
5.0
The stories of Bea Clark, a successful Trini history professor turned clinical psychologist living in Boston, and Tina Ramlogan, a young orphan living in Trinidad, are told in parallel until one night their lives unexpectedly intersect in a way that sends both families into a tailspin.
There are some authors whose work you read and you immediately want to read everything else they've ever written. That's how I felt after reading Love After Love this year, and why I was so excited to see Ingrid Persaud's debut novel at the library.
Food and bachannal are two staples of Trini life, and this novel has both in spades. I actually took this picture with my homemade doubles while reading it, not knowing that doubles is not only mentioned, but the only footnote in the book explains what it is (yes doubles is that important to us).
I can't say whether the depiction of clinical depression is accurate, but the attitudes toward mental illness and how that can hinder persons from seeking help unfortunately felt very real.
As always, one of my favorite things is how Trinidad is depicted in the novel, it's something I enjoy with most local books but Ingrid Persaud has a particular gift for making Trinidad come alive on the page. There is great food, Maracas beach, a little local folklore and Trinis liming at a wake. But there is also a sobering look at the hidden underbelly through heavier themes of assault, emotional abuse and mental illness.
Family secrets and complicated history drive the story until its shocking conclusion. But on another level it also looks at how racism and family pressure impact interracial relationships and complex race relations locally.
The ending blew me away completely; the author just dropped that bombshell on us (and Bea). The writing wasn't quite as refined as Love After Love and the integration of Trini parlance wasn't quite as seamless, but it is still an excellent book. Definitely will be looking to purchase a copy for myself. On that note, does anyone know Ms. Persaud well enough to ask for a belated sequel because whew
There are some authors whose work you read and you immediately want to read everything else they've ever written. That's how I felt after reading Love After Love this year, and why I was so excited to see Ingrid Persaud's debut novel at the library.
Food and bachannal are two staples of Trini life, and this novel has both in spades. I actually took this picture with my homemade doubles while reading it, not knowing that doubles is not only mentioned, but the only footnote in the book explains what it is (yes doubles is that important to us).
I can't say whether the depiction of clinical depression is accurate, but the attitudes toward mental illness and how that can hinder persons from seeking help unfortunately felt very real.
As always, one of my favorite things is how Trinidad is depicted in the novel, it's something I enjoy with most local books but Ingrid Persaud has a particular gift for making Trinidad come alive on the page. There is great food, Maracas beach, a little local folklore and Trinis liming at a wake. But there is also a sobering look at the hidden underbelly through heavier themes of assault, emotional abuse and mental illness.
Family secrets and complicated history drive the story until its shocking conclusion. But on another level it also looks at how racism and family pressure impact interracial relationships and complex race relations locally.
The ending blew me away completely; the author just dropped that bombshell on us (and Bea). The writing wasn't quite as refined as Love After Love and the integration of Trini parlance wasn't quite as seamless, but it is still an excellent book. Definitely will be looking to purchase a copy for myself. On that note, does anyone know Ms. Persaud well enough to ask for a belated sequel because whew
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