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leslie115's review against another edition
4.0
This book prompts questions about relationships: between parents and children, and between different races and classes. Shakespeare also considered these themes in his plays, but I liked how Nunez uses colonial history and the Iraq war to demonstrate how the themes remain relevant today. I was also a little surprised by how Nunez changed the ending of the King Lear plot, but appreciate the revised message.
karimorgan's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 but rounding up because it made me think and learn about the Islands, colonialism and slavery. I appreciate the reviews of others who are more knowledgeable about the region and the points that were made about stereotyping Jamaica. At any rate….Setting: Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad. It took me about 1/2 of the book to get into the story, but I am glad I didn’t give up. Advice: try to read it like it is a play- the whole “King Lear” theme is important to remember (even if, like me, you either never read King Lear or don’t remember the plot). There were times that the characters seemed more like caricatures, and it helped to pretend I was watching it on a stage instead of reading the book.
rimichael's review against another edition
2.0
Hugely disappointing. King Lear is one of the most majestic and challenging works ever penned, plumbing the depths of human cruelty and depravity, precariously balancing against those forces our capacity for love, loyalty, and forgiveness, doing so in language that pushes the very limits of what words can express. What's the point of writing a contemporary novel based on such a tragic monument if you're not going to at least take a stab at some of that? Elizabeth Nunez's Even in Paradise settles for just cribbing its plot and its character list (going so far as to have the narrator comment on the parallels several times, even grad-studentsplaining them to other characters), in language that barely ever rises above the pedestrian. Even where the novel does something interesting and original — transposing the story to modern-day Trinidad, Barbados, and Jamaica, with their varied and troubling legacies of colonial exploitation and the persistence of white privilege — it doesn't so much explore those themes as tentatively allude to them, then back away to focus more on the soap-opera of the plot's domestic conflicts. That plot unfolds so ploddingly that it never gains momentum (in contrast with its source, which plunges us into the disastrous division of Lear's estate, his rejection of Cordelia, and the machinations of Goneril, Regan, and Edmund within the first scene, the novel doesn't get around to that plot point till about 2/3 of the way through), and caps it off with a meek little plot twist that you can spot a mile away. I sure hope I'll be more impressed by Edward St. Aubyn's and Preti Taneja's takes on the material.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
taffymyametalumi's review against another edition
4.0
A Caribbean retelling of King Lear, which is one of my favorite Shakespeare stories! Although this is not so much a retelling as a homage to the play, and even the main character recognizes the similarities. The MC is a Black Trinidadian named Emile who falls in love with a White Trinidadian, Corinne. He's an observer to her relationship with her father and sisters, an observer to his friend Albert's relationship with his father, fiancee, and brother-in-law, an observer of the events in Jamaica. He's a peacemaker, but he also has a keen eye for motives and expressions. Through his eyes, we see how race, colonialism, and gender play a role in Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica. I enjoyed how Nunez used the story of King Lear to show the racism, colorism and sexism that exist in those places.
rose_el's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars but rounded up to 5
Out of all the Shakespeare retellings, this is my personal favorite. I think that the story of King Lear, a foolish and vain king who fails to see who his true enemies are, is such a timeless tale.
Nunez is a very talented author and it shows in this novel. Her writing is style is so easy to read but very moving at the same time. I think she did a good job of balancing both staying true to the original tale while also navigating current issues like racism in the Caribbean. I particularly enjoyed getting learn more about Caribbean culture; I personally do not know much about this area so it was nice to see a book written from this perspective. I cannot say how accurate Nunez's depiction is, so I would look to other reviewers.
The only thing that I did not enjoy was that a lot of the characters felt very one dimensional. Because this story is written from an outsider's point of view, all of the daughters and the King Lear character did not feel like real people. It would have been interesting if Nunez would have given these characters additional depth so that we could learn more about their motivations.
Overall, this book is very good and I would 100% recommend
Out of all the Shakespeare retellings, this is my personal favorite. I think that the story of King Lear, a foolish and vain king who fails to see who his true enemies are, is such a timeless tale.
Nunez is a very talented author and it shows in this novel. Her writing is style is so easy to read but very moving at the same time. I think she did a good job of balancing both staying true to the original tale while also navigating current issues like racism in the Caribbean. I particularly enjoyed getting learn more about Caribbean culture; I personally do not know much about this area so it was nice to see a book written from this perspective. I cannot say how accurate Nunez's depiction is, so I would look to other reviewers.
The only thing that I did not enjoy was that a lot of the characters felt very one dimensional. Because this story is written from an outsider's point of view, all of the daughters and the King Lear character did not feel like real people. It would have been interesting if Nunez would have given these characters additional depth so that we could learn more about their motivations.
Overall, this book is very good and I would 100% recommend
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
This is a retelling of Shakespeare’s King Lear set in the Caribbean. Peter Duckworth is a Trinidadian and proud of it, but after his wife dies he decides to move to Barbados where he builds a magnificent house, high on a hill, surrounded by considerable property and with stunning views of the sea. His youngest daughter, Corrine, continues to live with him, while his older daughters are at university and about to be married.
What a wonderful character study! Nunez had me on the edge of my seat a few times, even though I knew the basic story line already. I liked how she wove in current issues of race and class and history of colonialism (and slavery) in the Caribbean.
Her narrator is Emile, the son of a prominent black doctor who once saved Peter Duckworth’s life. He first meets Duckworth and Corrine at the racetrack stables in Trinidad, when Corrine is just a child, 9 or 10 years old. He later reconnects with the family when they’ve moved to Barbados and he is a university student. His best friend, Albert Glazal, has fallen in love with Glynnis and he’s invited Emile to come along when he’s to meet Mr Duckworth for the first time.
The tragic event is shrouded in further mystery, and I’m glad that Nunez leaves so much to the imagination. What IS clear is the motivation of Glynnis. Poor Albert. But I’m reminded of the parable of the little girl who picks up a half-dead rattlesnake …. He knew what he was getting into.
What a wonderful character study! Nunez had me on the edge of my seat a few times, even though I knew the basic story line already. I liked how she wove in current issues of race and class and history of colonialism (and slavery) in the Caribbean.
Her narrator is Emile, the son of a prominent black doctor who once saved Peter Duckworth’s life. He first meets Duckworth and Corrine at the racetrack stables in Trinidad, when Corrine is just a child, 9 or 10 years old. He later reconnects with the family when they’ve moved to Barbados and he is a university student. His best friend, Albert Glazal, has fallen in love with Glynnis and he’s invited Emile to come along when he’s to meet Mr Duckworth for the first time.
The tragic event is shrouded in further mystery, and I’m glad that Nunez leaves so much to the imagination. What IS clear is the motivation of Glynnis. Poor Albert. But I’m reminded of the parable of the little girl who picks up a half-dead rattlesnake …. He knew what he was getting into.
hkihm's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this retelling of King Lear set in Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica. It tells the story of three sisters and their doting father in the Caribbean although there is trouble in paradise. The tale is told from the perspective of a family friend and touches on issues of race, class, politics, love, ambition and deceit in a fresh, unexpected way.
letsreadmorebooks's review against another edition
4.0
i was looking for some fiction set in puerto rico to read while i was there and couldn't find anything at my local library. the closest i found was even in paradise, which is primarily set in trinidad and barbados. the setting was my sole reason for picking up this book and it turned out i rather enjoyed this contemporary, caribbean-set version of king lear. i'll definitely check out other books by nunez.