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Reviews tagging 'Grief'
The Human Origins of Beatrice Porter and Other Essential Ghosts by Soraya Palmer
4 reviews
bloodmaarked's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, Abortion, Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, and Transphobia
Moderate: Body horror, Medical content, Grief, Drug use, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Cursing
amyvl93's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-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
4.0
One of the things I do miss about my old book subscription is it putting really interesting books into my hands that I may not have otherwise found, and Beatrice Porter is definitely one of those novels.
The novel follows two sisters, Zora and Sasha, living in New York with their Caribbean parents, whose lives are shaped by their parents storytelling of myths from the islands, including Anansi and Rolling Calf amongst others. As their parents marriage disintegrates and the two sisters drift from one another, these stories are how they find a way forward. Zora becomes increasingly interested in storytelling, whilst Sasha begins to explore both her sexuality and her gender.
Palmer's writing throughout this was so vivid, both in the narration from the two sisters, who feel like distinct enough characters - to the voice of the novel, who explores the stories from the Caribbean and who shines a light on the family histories of the sisters - and the cycles that the family seemed doomed to repeat. She gives even the characters who you instinctively want to turn away from nuance.
Whilst there is a lot going on within the pages of this book, it never felt like too much - and I felt like Palmer gave space to the discussions in here, particularly those around gender and mortality. Not all the magical realism worked for me, particularly towards the end but I'll definitely read more of Palmer's work in the future.
The novel follows two sisters, Zora and Sasha, living in New York with their Caribbean parents, whose lives are shaped by their parents storytelling of myths from the islands, including Anansi and Rolling Calf amongst others. As their parents marriage disintegrates and the two sisters drift from one another, these stories are how they find a way forward. Zora becomes increasingly interested in storytelling, whilst Sasha begins to explore both her sexuality and her gender.
Palmer's writing throughout this was so vivid, both in the narration from the two sisters, who feel like distinct enough characters - to the voice of the novel, who explores the stories from the Caribbean and who shines a light on the family histories of the sisters - and the cycles that the family seemed doomed to repeat. She gives even the characters who you instinctively want to turn away from nuance.
Whilst there is a lot going on within the pages of this book, it never felt like too much - and I felt like Palmer gave space to the discussions in here, particularly those around gender and mortality. Not all the magical realism worked for me, particularly towards the end but I'll definitely read more of Palmer's work in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Transphobia
bandysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
I came across The Human Origins of Beatrice Porter And Other Essential Ghosts while researching books for my Book of The Month prediction videos. It was a book that I predicted would be a good selection for their box due to its exploration of familial bonds, exploration of Caribbean storytelling, and mix of real life and magical realism (although it wasn't one that ended up being picked). In reading and researching, it sounded like something I would enjoy and I added it to my To Read In The Future list. Then I came across a listing for the audiobook on Netgalley and figured it must be a sign.
This book is both similar and different from several books that I've previously read. In some ways, it reminds me of Maame, Black Cake, and a handful of other books. What's familiar is the exploration of a family and their immigration story. We see things through the perspective of the younger members of the family and not always from a place of understanding. Familial relations aren't always perfect and the parents don't always meet the needs or expectations of their children, but they try. We also come to understand all of the things the parents sacrificed to give their daughters the life they have.
Where this book is quite different to those that I've compared it to is in the elements of magical realism and folklore that are incorporated throughout this book. I loved hearing the different stories and how they blended into the reality that this family was living. I loved that the father was a major storyteller as it really helped me to understand him and the ways in which he views the world.
I also really loved learning a bit more about both Jamaican and Trinidadian culture. I've read a few books set in Jamaica or that explore Jamaican culture, but this was my first time reading a book about Trinidad and Tobago.
My only real critique of this book was that I did find that parts of it dragged a bit, particularly in the beginning. The book was a bit of a slow start and it took me awhile to fully engage in the things that are happening. I think that as the magical realism elements and self-identity discussions began to take place, I became much more invested in the book.
All in all, if you enjoy familial explorations, folklore, magical realism, and settings across the Caribbean and United States, you will likely enjoy this book. This was a very good debut and I expect that Soraya Palmer is a name you will be hearing more in the future.
As for the audiobook, I enjoyed the narrator and felt that everything was easily understandable. I am not the right person to judge the authenticity of the accents she did for the Caribbean characters, but to my untrained ears they sounded good and still quite understandable. I would definitely recommend the audiobook to anyone interested.
*Thank you to Netgalley, Soraya Palmer, and Dreamscape media for this audio-ARC. Reception of this ARC in no way affects the objectivity of my review.
This book is both similar and different from several books that I've previously read. In some ways, it reminds me of Maame, Black Cake, and a handful of other books. What's familiar is the exploration of a family and their immigration story. We see things through the perspective of the younger members of the family and not always from a place of understanding. Familial relations aren't always perfect and the parents don't always meet the needs or expectations of their children, but they try. We also come to understand all of the things the parents sacrificed to give their daughters the life they have.
Where this book is quite different to those that I've compared it to is in the elements of magical realism and folklore that are incorporated throughout this book. I loved hearing the different stories and how they blended into the reality that this family was living. I loved that the father was a major storyteller as it really helped me to understand him and the ways in which he views the world.
I also really loved learning a bit more about both Jamaican and Trinidadian culture. I've read a few books set in Jamaica or that explore Jamaican culture, but this was my first time reading a book about Trinidad and Tobago.
My only real critique of this book was that I did find that parts of it dragged a bit, particularly in the beginning. The book was a bit of a slow start and it took me awhile to fully engage in the things that are happening. I think that as the magical realism elements and self-identity discussions began to take place, I became much more invested in the book.
All in all, if you enjoy familial explorations, folklore, magical realism, and settings across the Caribbean and United States, you will likely enjoy this book. This was a very good debut and I expect that Soraya Palmer is a name you will be hearing more in the future.
As for the audiobook, I enjoyed the narrator and felt that everything was easily understandable. I am not the right person to judge the authenticity of the accents she did for the Caribbean characters, but to my untrained ears they sounded good and still quite understandable. I would definitely recommend the audiobook to anyone interested.
*Thank you to Netgalley, Soraya Palmer, and Dreamscape media for this audio-ARC. Reception of this ARC in no way affects the objectivity of my review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Grief, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Classism, Death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
annie26's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
Can’t believe I’m only just reading my first Caribbean-authored story of the year and this one didn’t disappoint. In the vein of When We Were Birds, it mixes Caribbean superstition and folklore with ah exploration of family life, of gender, of what it means to be a woman. I loved the supernatural element of this story and what it teaches you about Jamaican-Trinidadian culture and history. A 4 star read for me. Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Death, Chronic illness, and Grief
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