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shanthereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
mamareadstuff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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? Yes
5.0
I started reading a physical copy, and couldn't was quite get into the writing style, but I think it was more because I couldn't hear the pronunciation as written. Once I switched to the audio and could hear the pronunciation/dialect as it was written it was hard not to fall in love with the characters, to feel where they are in life, the lack of choices they felt they had, how tourism can often have negative effects on the local people, and how individual choices have impacted not only their own lives, but rheir loved ones and their community as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Body shaming, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Violence
heyooooooo's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
foraging_pages's review against another edition
4.0
Read for my Caribbean Literature class.
Modern-day Jamaica, where resorts put consumer pleasure over struggling locals.
This was...a lot. There are so many different ways to look at Delores, Margot, and Thandi's stories. The Ecofeminist lens was very helpful for me. Just be aware of the explicit themes of prostitution, violence, and skin bleaching.
Modern-day Jamaica, where resorts put consumer pleasure over struggling locals.
This was...a lot. There are so many different ways to look at Delores, Margot, and Thandi's stories. The Ecofeminist lens was very helpful for me. Just be aware of the explicit themes of prostitution, violence, and skin bleaching.
claudiabookturtle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blau_elmo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A brilliant exploration of many converging themes, all centered around the fate of being black in Jamaica. A story of poverty, betrayal and struggle, focused on a main cast of different women whose lives are intertwined, each with a sharply distinct personality, but sharing in the fact that they are all prone to suffering by their sheer existence due to being poor and black in Jamaica.
It is a story of abuse, one that ends in abject despair and loneliness. Every character is detestable to a certain extent, so filled with vitriol and cunning, but none of them seem unreasonable or irredeemable. Dennis-Benn shapes their stories so clearly and precisely that each character's decisions, values and justifications for their vile actions are absolutely understandable.
An incredibly powerful story of something so real and revolting; a human drama of breathtaking proportions.
My favourite read of the year so far.
It is a story of abuse, one that ends in abject despair and loneliness. Every character is detestable to a certain extent, so filled with vitriol and cunning, but none of them seem unreasonable or irredeemable. Dennis-Benn shapes their stories so clearly and precisely that each character's decisions, values and justifications for their vile actions are absolutely understandable.
An incredibly powerful story of something so real and revolting; a human drama of breathtaking proportions.
My favourite read of the year so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death and Blood
Minor: Eating disorder
isela_b's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wamz's review against another edition
4.0
'Dey see yuh true color before yuh tell dem yuh name. Dey know dey can tell yuh anyt'ing an'yuh black self believe it an' accept it, 'caw we so use to getting di leftovers. Who yuh know really love a black girl for more than what's between her legs?.......Membah dis, nobody love a black girl, not even harself' - Delores
This pretty much sums up the gist of the book - Women struggling with their dark blackness and poverty in Jamaica and the things they do to survive. The characters and themes are very complex and multi-dimensional, which I enjoyed. To be honest however, if I hadn't just read 'The Refugees' by Viet Nguyen, its bleakness would have overwhelmed me.
Would recommend for a book club or as a literature set book for an open minded high school class.
This pretty much sums up the gist of the book - Women struggling with their dark blackness and poverty in Jamaica and the things they do to survive. The characters and themes are very complex and multi-dimensional, which I enjoyed. To be honest however, if I hadn't just read 'The Refugees' by Viet Nguyen, its bleakness would have overwhelmed me.
Would recommend for a book club or as a literature set book for an open minded high school class.