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ireadtoescape_'s review
emotional
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Racism, Death of parent, Incest, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Xenophobia
browningwithabook's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Child death, and Death of parent
advcroft's review
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Such a stunning cover for this lovely story. The Day I Fell Off My Island reads like a memoir, although it is the fictional coming of age story of Erna. The novel has three main parts. The first centres on her childhood in Jamaica where she and her three half siblings are raised by their grandparents. The second part sees Erna join her mother, stepfather and siblings in London, while the third part focuses on her visit back to Jamaica seven years after she left.
Several things make this novel stand out from other coming of age/immigration stories. One is the three part structure. Not only is pretty much equal space given to Erna’s life in Jamaica as her life in England, but we also see her return to Jamaica and recognise the good and the bad of life in both countries. The second is that racism was not the dominant feature of Erna’s life in England. Certainly she encountered racism - teachers who suppressed her academic ambitions, landlords who wouldn’t rent to her - but it wasn’t the defining feature of her life. That was her dysfunctional family. Erna’s mother Violet was never warm or close to her and suffered from serious mental health problems. Not surprising, given that Erna was born after a rape and an unsuccessful attempt at abortion when Violet was just 13. Her stepfather physically abused the children and raped Erna’s stepsister. The family belonged to a harsh and joyless church. Plus, after years apart, Erna was a stranger to her siblings. And yet despite the hurdles and hardships Erna was never a victim. Through had work and strength of will, along with some crucial support and encouragement along the way, she was able to achieve the education she so badly wanted and seemed well on her way to a fulfilling life by the book’s end.
I was going to write that both Jamaica and London were brought vividly to life, but vivid isn’t exactly an accurate description of 1969 London as Erna first experienced it! I really loved all the Jamaican patois - it didn’t take long to adjust to its flow and I valued its authenticity.
Erna was a protagonist it was easy to root for and her story was both well-told and satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Mental illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Incest
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