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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Patsy yearns for a better life. She longs to join her friend and secret lover in America, and live the dreamed she has long for. When she finally gets a visa, she doesn’t hesitate, leaving behind her young daughter, Tru. When Patsy finally makes it, things do not turn out the way Patsy expected.
Dreams shattered, Patsy tries to navigate life on her own as an undocumented woman in a country where she knows no one. It wears on her physically and mentally.
Meanwhile back in Jamaica, Patsy’s daughter, Tru, is growing up. Tru struggles to belong. Abandoned by her mother, she feels like a burden to her stepmother and father, misunderstood by her peers and community, all while attempting to be true to herself in a culture that is not open or welcoming to her gender identity and sexuality.
I was blown away by this book. Patsy’s story is very familiar, especially to people in the Caribbean. It can become complicated, and this story captures the many complexities, and its potential consequence.
Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn writing is like poetry. I found myself sympathizing for Patsy while being completely heartbroken for Tru. Patsy was more than I expected, and easily one of the best books I have read all year.
Dreams shattered, Patsy tries to navigate life on her own as an undocumented woman in a country where she knows no one. It wears on her physically and mentally.
Meanwhile back in Jamaica, Patsy’s daughter, Tru, is growing up. Tru struggles to belong. Abandoned by her mother, she feels like a burden to her stepmother and father, misunderstood by her peers and community, all while attempting to be true to herself in a culture that is not open or welcoming to her gender identity and sexuality.
I was blown away by this book. Patsy’s story is very familiar, especially to people in the Caribbean. It can become complicated, and this story captures the many complexities, and its potential consequence.
Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn writing is like poetry. I found myself sympathizing for Patsy while being completely heartbroken for Tru. Patsy was more than I expected, and easily one of the best books I have read all year.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i just finished this + i'm sitting here absolutely in awe of the complexity + deep love present in this book. this was a sweeping, cinematic story with incredibly rich characters + genius storytelling.
there are so many interconnected themes going on in this story, and i'm sure everyone will get something different out of it, but it's sure to challenge you + spur reflection no matter what. for me, the questions and discussions the author brings up around motherhood, autonomy, and the cultural roles + societal judgment of women hit particularly hard.
and it's just! so! beautifully! gay!!!! the lesbian yearning (she literally uses the word yearning about a dozen times, we love to see it) is so natural and real and relatable, not treated as a removed/sterile subject as i've unfortunately seen done so often. it made a lot of sense when i saw that the author sees toni morrison, audre lorde, and edwidge danticat as a few of her main literary influences -- i was reminded of each of them at some point throughout the novel.
the more i sit and reflect on this one, the more blown away i feel. i'm so glad i read it, and i can't wait to check out dennis-benn's first novel next!!
there are so many interconnected themes going on in this story, and i'm sure everyone will get something different out of it, but it's sure to challenge you + spur reflection no matter what. for me, the questions and discussions the author brings up around motherhood, autonomy, and the cultural roles + societal judgment of women hit particularly hard.
and it's just! so! beautifully! gay!!!! the lesbian yearning (she literally uses the word yearning about a dozen times, we love to see it) is so natural and real and relatable, not treated as a removed/sterile subject as i've unfortunately seen done so often. it made a lot of sense when i saw that the author sees toni morrison, audre lorde, and edwidge danticat as a few of her main literary influences -- i was reminded of each of them at some point throughout the novel.
the more i sit and reflect on this one, the more blown away i feel. i'm so glad i read it, and i can't wait to check out dennis-benn's first novel next!!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although it is a beautifully written book, I do not feel it deserves all the glowing 5 stars it has been receiving.
Self inflicted pain, with so many options of ending the pain, wallowing in self pity do not work well for me.
I felt it was a slow burn, the resolution-Patsy repairing her relationship with Tru-came in on the last page it was frustrating to wait over 10 years for that.
Still a good book.
Self inflicted pain, with so many options of ending the pain, wallowing in self pity do not work well for me.
I felt it was a slow burn, the resolution-Patsy repairing her relationship with Tru-came in on the last page it was frustrating to wait over 10 years for that.
Still a good book.
Great book on how accepting ourselves as we are can change our lives. And how it's never too late to ask for forgiveness.
4.5+. This novel is a masterclass in telling an intersectional tale. It certainly should sit high on the list of immigrant stories. However, it’s so much more than that. This is a story about the struggle and importance of loving yourself. It feels true. It feelings inspiring.
My mom is from Jamaica and I wanted to read this book hoping it would give me insights into all the parts of herself and the island she never told me about. But instead I got ideas for my own life journey I’m writing for me. And maybe that’s better. I loved the candidness of Dennis-Benn’s writing. Allows a reader to feel free.