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wordsofclover's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
A Tall History of Sugar is a story about two people, twin souls Moshe and Ariana who were born a year apart but from the moment they met, were connected by something that could only be described as beyond human learning. As they grow older, Moshe's differences within his community, the way he looks and communicates with the world as well as the mystery behind his biological parents pull him away from Ariana and his adoptive parents, and his homeland of Jamaica as questions about everything from who he is, his sexuality and what he needs to do in life to find peace plague him.
This book was very lyrical and I found parts of it enjoyable - I actually didn't mind the Jamaican patois in this book, and didn't find it too hard to understand. This may be because I recently read Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks which also had similar patois in it so my mind was slightly attuned to reading and translating it.
I do love the setting of Jamaica, and I appreciated learning more about the history of the people from the history of sugar plantations, and how integral sugar is to everyone who lives in Jamaica as well as the history and shadow of colonisation. Moshe and Ariana's childhood was simple and idyllic in many ways but we also see how Moshe's family struggles as well and while he didn't need much, there wasn't a whole lot to give him anyway despite his parents' love and struggles to provide for him.
I think the book lost me a bit by the time Moshe left Jamaica, and his rift with Ariana started. It felt like the plot was confused and I didn't know if the story was centered around Moshe and who he came from (which we never found out anyway), or more about the deep relationship between Moshe and Ariana which although is love, I question if it's the type of love either of them needed.
There was a lot of back and forth in the latter half of the book in terms of timeline as well, and there were times when I couldn't figure out where in the timeline we were and it took a couple of pages to catch up.
I just don't think I understood the deep message of this book, and that's okay too as I think I maybe wasn't meant to. This is by no means a badly written book and I'd happily read more from the author - it's just one that didn't do it for me.
This book was very lyrical and I found parts of it enjoyable - I actually didn't mind the Jamaican patois in this book, and didn't find it too hard to understand. This may be because I recently read Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks which also had similar patois in it so my mind was slightly attuned to reading and translating it.
I do love the setting of Jamaica, and I appreciated learning more about the history of the people from the history of sugar plantations, and how integral sugar is to everyone who lives in Jamaica as well as the history and shadow of colonisation. Moshe and Ariana's childhood was simple and idyllic in many ways but we also see how Moshe's family struggles as well and while he didn't need much, there wasn't a whole lot to give him anyway despite his parents' love and struggles to provide for him.
I think the book lost me a bit by the time Moshe left Jamaica, and his rift with Ariana started. It felt like the plot was confused and I didn't know if the story was centered around Moshe and who he came from (which we never found out anyway), or more about the deep relationship between Moshe and Ariana which although is love, I question if it's the type of love either of them needed.
There was a lot of back and forth in the latter half of the book in terms of timeline as well, and there were times when I couldn't figure out where in the timeline we were and it took a couple of pages to catch up.
I just don't think I understood the deep message of this book, and that's okay too as I think I maybe wasn't meant to. This is by no means a badly written book and I'd happily read more from the author - it's just one that didn't do it for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Homophobia
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