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islaofkiki's review
informative
sad
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
4.5
wordswineandwitbookclub's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Rape
bolaawe's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
sad
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
4.0
The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh by Ingrid Persaud - Review
I read this book while listening to the audio, and I really enjoyed it, especially the first 3 parts. It was great listening to the Trinidadian dialect, getting immersed in the authentic Trinidadian experience.
This is a historical fiction about Boysie Singh, a notorious gangster that terrorised Port of Spain and the four women in his lives.
We get to read about his rise and fall from each of the women's POV.
Popo - an ex prostitute who gave him the money and help needed to launch his business. She also tried to be free from his control.
Mana lana - Boysie's childhood sweetheart and Baby Mama, who loves him so much to the detriment of herself and others.
Doris - The Catholic woman who grew up in Toco but eventually made her way to Port of Spain where she met and was relentlessly wooed by Boysie. As soon as they got married, they made their way to the top of the social ladder of Port of Spain with Doris plan.
Rosie - a store owner who pays "rent" on her own store to Boysie and his gang. She really wants nothing to do with him, but their paths keep crossing.
These women's relationship with Boysie was such a fascinating one. They have a distinctive manner of speaking that made for an entertaining read. Their stories, even though they came off as highly flawed, were engaging. The way they were committed to getting Boysie to love them back, especially Mana Lana, was very intriguing.
After reading this book, I went down a rabbit hole reading more about Boysie Singh, and one can glean that the research that went into the writing of this book was brilliant!
I also loved that it was written in Trini dialect, which I struggled with at first, but as soon as I got the hang of it, It was an enjoyable read, listening to the audio version helped as well. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'd recommend 👌.
I read this book while listening to the audio, and I really enjoyed it, especially the first 3 parts. It was great listening to the Trinidadian dialect, getting immersed in the authentic Trinidadian experience.
This is a historical fiction about Boysie Singh, a notorious gangster that terrorised Port of Spain and the four women in his lives.
We get to read about his rise and fall from each of the women's POV.
Popo - an ex prostitute who gave him the money and help needed to launch his business. She also tried to be free from his control.
Mana lana - Boysie's childhood sweetheart and Baby Mama, who loves him so much to the detriment of herself and others.
Doris - The Catholic woman who grew up in Toco but eventually made her way to Port of Spain where she met and was relentlessly wooed by Boysie. As soon as they got married, they made their way to the top of the social ladder of Port of Spain with Doris plan.
Rosie - a store owner who pays "rent" on her own store to Boysie and his gang. She really wants nothing to do with him, but their paths keep crossing.
These women's relationship with Boysie was such a fascinating one. They have a distinctive manner of speaking that made for an entertaining read. Their stories, even though they came off as highly flawed, were engaging. The way they were committed to getting Boysie to love them back, especially Mana Lana, was very intriguing.
After reading this book, I went down a rabbit hole reading more about Boysie Singh, and one can glean that the research that went into the writing of this book was brilliant!
I also loved that it was written in Trini dialect, which I struggled with at first, but as soon as I got the hang of it, It was an enjoyable read, listening to the audio version helped as well. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'd recommend 👌.
farzana_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
niknakreads's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Physical abuse, Murder, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content
readwithsabs's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
An absolutely brilliant Historical fiction book set in Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 . It's been a long time since I read such a well written immersive book with such strong character development 👏🏽 ❤️. Ingrid has done it again, bravo 👏🏽.
jmatkinson1's review
4.0
Boysie Singh is a bad man but one that women love. His childhood sweetheart loves him and bears his child but he lives with Popo, an ex-prostitute. When he meets Doris she sees a way into society but she needs to smarten him up. Each woman thinks she can control Boysie Singh and each is destined to suffer before making her escape.
This is quite a slow-burner of a novel. It is written in a Trinidadian patois and it does help to have a little understanding of Panjabi as well, however the language is lyrical and the story so compelling that the reader is hooked. Boysie is a very unlikable character but is based on those 'bad boys' that the girls can't keep away from and the setting in 1950s Trinidad is evocative and vibrant.
This is quite a slow-burner of a novel. It is written in a Trinidadian patois and it does help to have a little understanding of Panjabi as well, however the language is lyrical and the story so compelling that the reader is hooked. Boysie is a very unlikable character but is based on those 'bad boys' that the girls can't keep away from and the setting in 1950s Trinidad is evocative and vibrant.
jescasreading's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a readalong I did with Tandem collective.
We had the choice of listening or reading the book, I mainly listened as I felt it told the story better to hear the voices.
You can tell that Ingrid Persaud did so much research into the history and culture of Trinidad and Tobago, and this was very obvious.
I felt a lot of pity for the women in this story, they seemed utterly besotted with Boysie, and would do anything for him.
This book is definitely better being an audiobook in my opinion. I feel to get the full experience you need to listen to the stories they tell.
I think the characters who had the hardest time was Mana Lala, she went to such extremes to try and get Boysie attention and I had so much pity for her. In the end she realised her worth she realised Boysie wasn't worth it. She was definitely my favourite character.
Popo who had it rough and thought she was getting out a situation.
Doris... I feel she had the most impact on Boysie and I feel he wouldn't have been caught if it wasn't for her.
And Rosie, someone who's know Boysie a long time and she probably knows him the best out of all the women.
Well wrote characters that each had their own personality and choices.
And Boysie got the punishment he was due.
We had the choice of listening or reading the book, I mainly listened as I felt it told the story better to hear the voices.
You can tell that Ingrid Persaud did so much research into the history and culture of Trinidad and Tobago, and this was very obvious.
I felt a lot of pity for the women in this story, they seemed utterly besotted with Boysie, and would do anything for him.
This book is definitely better being an audiobook in my opinion. I feel to get the full experience you need to listen to the stories they tell.
I think the characters who had the hardest time was Mana Lala, she went to such extremes to try and get Boysie attention and I had so much pity for her. In the end she realised her worth she realised Boysie wasn't worth it. She was definitely my favourite character.
Popo who had it rough and thought she was getting out a situation.
Doris... I feel she had the most impact on Boysie and I feel he wouldn't have been caught if it wasn't for her.
And Rosie, someone who's know Boysie a long time and she probably knows him the best out of all the women.
Well wrote characters that each had their own personality and choices.
And Boysie got the punishment he was due.
reallyslowreader's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5