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aliyyah's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one was such a good time!
De Rightest Place follows several characters who work at a pub, but mainly Indira, the owner. Her husband has left and now she’s trying to turn the pub back into the success it once was.
This didn’t have much of a plot to it, we’re mainly just following these characters and vibing but I really liked that. I enjoyed reading about these chat and their lives and everything that each of them are going through. I loved reading about the growth of their relationships and the friendships and camaraderie that are at the heart of this novel.
The highlight of this book for me was the writing. Jenkins wrote this in a way that completely pulled me in. It did take a while for me to get used to the writing style, as there’s no quotation and it can switch between first and third person, but it did not take long for me to get into it. I loved the way things were described. I loved some of the discussions on poverty.
Very glad I picked this one up for Read Caribbean Month.
bookofcinz's review
3.0
De Rightest Place is where you visit, but you never want to leave…
In Barbara Jenkins De Rightest Place we meet Indira who is originally from India. She was in England when she met and felt in love with Solomon, also known as Solo. Solo was in England pursing a dream his father wanted for him, but his dream was to be a Pan Musician. In meeting Indira he fell in-love and took her to Trinidad and Tobago to start a life together. Through a stroke of luck, Solo manages to buy a building in Belmont and converts the downstairs to a bar that he calls DE RIGHTEST PLACE, upstairs he lives happily with Indira. With the bar Solo can live out his dream of a Pan-Player, every night is a fete at DE RIGHTEST PLACE. Solo and his bandmates were offered the opportunity to visit Canada to play for Caribana. Solo goes to Canada and does not return…
After waiting around for with no word from Solo for years, Indira must now face the fact that she is on her own and Solo is never coming back. In an effort to get a new lease on life Indira comes up with a plan to make De Rightest Place financially viable so it will be her pension plan for the future. Starting over is hard, especially when it feels like everyone is against you but Indira persists.
Told from the different point of views of some of the main patrons of De Rightest Place we get a very layered look into life in Trinidad, and more specifically the community of Belmont. We hear from the community maco I Cynthia, the bar manager Bostic along with other members who let you know exactly how life unravels at De Rightest Place.
Filled with unforgettable characters, Barbara Jenkins brought to life the patrons at who visits De Rightest Place. I loved that the author used the bar as the grounding force of the story because that is truly a Caribbean thing. I loved how realistic the writing and the characters’ response to problems where. The author also manages to make mention of some of the historical things that took place during the time the book was set- from the coup to other notable events.
This is truly a laugh out loud and heart-warming look into contemporary Trinidad life. The theme of community and love was STRONG and beautifully executed. Yes, I felt some parts of the plot dragged a little and the book could have been wrapped up sooner but over a really delightful read.
Solid 3.5
In Barbara Jenkins De Rightest Place we meet Indira who is originally from India. She was in England when she met and felt in love with Solomon, also known as Solo. Solo was in England pursing a dream his father wanted for him, but his dream was to be a Pan Musician. In meeting Indira he fell in-love and took her to Trinidad and Tobago to start a life together. Through a stroke of luck, Solo manages to buy a building in Belmont and converts the downstairs to a bar that he calls DE RIGHTEST PLACE, upstairs he lives happily with Indira. With the bar Solo can live out his dream of a Pan-Player, every night is a fete at DE RIGHTEST PLACE. Solo and his bandmates were offered the opportunity to visit Canada to play for Caribana. Solo goes to Canada and does not return…
After waiting around for with no word from Solo for years, Indira must now face the fact that she is on her own and Solo is never coming back. In an effort to get a new lease on life Indira comes up with a plan to make De Rightest Place financially viable so it will be her pension plan for the future. Starting over is hard, especially when it feels like everyone is against you but Indira persists.
Told from the different point of views of some of the main patrons of De Rightest Place we get a very layered look into life in Trinidad, and more specifically the community of Belmont. We hear from the community maco I Cynthia, the bar manager Bostic along with other members who let you know exactly how life unravels at De Rightest Place.
Filled with unforgettable characters, Barbara Jenkins brought to life the patrons at who visits De Rightest Place. I loved that the author used the bar as the grounding force of the story because that is truly a Caribbean thing. I loved how realistic the writing and the characters’ response to problems where. The author also manages to make mention of some of the historical things that took place during the time the book was set- from the coup to other notable events.
This is truly a laugh out loud and heart-warming look into contemporary Trinidad life. The theme of community and love was STRONG and beautifully executed. Yes, I felt some parts of the plot dragged a little and the book could have been wrapped up sooner but over a really delightful read.
Solid 3.5
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