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joreasonable's review against another edition
3.0
Ma Taffy, who is one of the main characters is an old blind woman looking after her young great nephew, Kaia, relates a series of historical stories while they wait for Gina, the boy’s mother to come home from work. The book jumped from one story to another seemingly without connection. While I was reading the book I didn’t understand the connection with the flying preacher man and rastafarians until later after finishing and it was while I was writing this review that I understood the connection.
I loved the beginning of this book, such interesting characters, especially Ma Taffy, in an interesting but anarchic fictional town but loosely based on the real August Town, an area of Kingston, Jamaica. I enjoyed the writing itself, it is very good, the author describes well the area, the island, etc.
My favourite character was Gina, even though she wasn’t the main character, or even had a large part, she struck me as strong, willing to learn and better herself and her parts in the book were my favourite. I didn’t enjoy the storytelling so much, or should I say, I enjoyed the story telling from Ma Taffy, I just didn’t understand the link between the storyline and the stories. I wanted to know more about Kaia but he wasn’t a big enough part for my liking.
I enjoyed the setting and the descriptions of the town and area.
I normally don’t say much about the endings of books in my reviews, but I found this one to be very sad.
3 stars for this one, recommended for those wishing to read a mystical book set in Jamaica.
video review in Spanish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyvOo36U1Yo&list=PLniFXSpJj5RWIDC0udo2vtJsUn0Vd2HrS&index=15
I loved the beginning of this book, such interesting characters, especially Ma Taffy, in an interesting but anarchic fictional town but loosely based on the real August Town, an area of Kingston, Jamaica. I enjoyed the writing itself, it is very good, the author describes well the area, the island, etc.
My favourite character was Gina, even though she wasn’t the main character, or even had a large part, she struck me as strong, willing to learn and better herself and her parts in the book were my favourite. I didn’t enjoy the storytelling so much, or should I say, I enjoyed the story telling from Ma Taffy, I just didn’t understand the link between the storyline and the stories. I wanted to know more about Kaia but he wasn’t a big enough part for my liking.
I enjoyed the setting and the descriptions of the town and area.
I normally don’t say much about the endings of books in my reviews, but I found this one to be very sad.
3 stars for this one, recommended for those wishing to read a mystical book set in Jamaica.
video review in Spanish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyvOo36U1Yo&list=PLniFXSpJj5RWIDC0udo2vtJsUn0Vd2HrS&index=15
mscalls's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
dheereads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
faithbee's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
jayisreading's review against another edition
I'm having some trouble focusing on this right now, I think I'll give it another go in the future.
nrahming's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
oldschoolways's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite thing I've read in awhile. Gives you a real flavor for Jamaica and Jamaican history. For a poet's novel the language was refreshingly straightforward (aside from patois which I sometimes had to look up), in fact I wouldn't have minded writing that was a little more lyrical at times but the writing served the storytelling well so I can't complaint too much. Highly recommended and just the right length.
whatrosemaryreads's review against another edition
Overall a good read, there were parts where I struggled a little with the long prose in a section of the story, explaining that more would be a spoiler, but I’m glad I preserved and finished it because it made the story complete. I loved and hated how he drops a clue to something before it unfolded, hated because I knew what was going to happen but loved it for the suspense of how it will happen. I also enjoyed the way the story was shifted between time and characters and how their lives and stories were entwined. It was also poetic in nature at times and giving an insight in the folklore of the town.
olbeelaine's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bookedwithamba's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0