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A review by harris39
Even in Paradise by Elizabeth Nunez
3.0
I'm chagrined to admit that this is the first book I've read by a Trinidadian author and, moreover, set in Trinidad. On the whole, I enjoyed this book as I found it a fairly quick and easy read, and I did appreciate the insight that I gained into contemporary Caribbean culture. Increasingly I find myself enjoying books that place me somewhere utterly foreign to myself and I liked learning some bits and pieces of Trinidadian history as well as the post-Colonial battles/issues the locals still face. I thought it was an interesting juxtaposition to consider that in these "idyllic" former British colonies, they have already had their land stolen by foreigners (at least) once previously, and now the same issue continues to plague locals—albeit this time with the encouragement and/or tacit approval of their government—as desirable bits of land are snatched up and made inaccessible by resorts and rich foreigners. I hadn't considered this parallel before and thought it an interesting line of thought to explore.
As for the main story, that of the Ducksworth family, I thought it was fine, though I did find it rather simplistic and many parts of it obvious, even without considering the obvious homages to Shakespeare's King Lear. I was disappointed that the characters didn't feel very well or deeply developed; indeed, many of them (particularly Glynis & Douglas) felt rather cartoonish in their villainy. I personally didn't find the underlying motivations or the overarching plot very complex, and the whole novel—even the sociopolitical aspects—just felt rather simplistic and superficial in its approach. I kept hoping there would be more meat for Nunez to sink her teeth into, but this reading experience really felt like I was a stone skipping along the surface of a pond, never to know any real depth. That's not to say the story wasn't engaging or absorbing (it was!) only that I wish it all had more heft to it rather than coming across as a rather obvious cautionary tale.
I also REALLY did not like all the mentions within the book of how a given relationship or situation in EVEN IN PARADISE paralleled the original material in KING LEAR. I think most people reading this book would be smart enough to pick up on the similarities/allusions (and, if you aren't, pointing out how something in EIP mirrored KL probably wouldn't mean much to you, regardless), and I thought it was so inelegant and awkward for Nunez to "show her work" as it was. We get that you used KING LEAR as the inspiration for this novel, that you might even consider it a modern-day retelling of KING LEAR in a Caribbean setting... no need to explicitly remind us within the text itself! Let the story and themes you develop speak for themselves!
Overall, a fine book, but nothing spectacular. I do want to read learn more about this part of the world and intend to read more Caribbean authors. Perhaps I was expecting too much from Nunez but I was ever-so-slightly disappointed that this book felt so slight. That said, I would read more by her in the future, though I think I will make it a priority to try other Caribbean authors first.
As for the main story, that of the Ducksworth family, I thought it was fine, though I did find it rather simplistic and many parts of it obvious, even without considering the obvious homages to Shakespeare's King Lear. I was disappointed that the characters didn't feel very well or deeply developed; indeed, many of them (particularly Glynis & Douglas) felt rather cartoonish in their villainy. I personally didn't find the underlying motivations or the overarching plot very complex, and the whole novel—even the sociopolitical aspects—just felt rather simplistic and superficial in its approach. I kept hoping there would be more meat for Nunez to sink her teeth into, but this reading experience really felt like I was a stone skipping along the surface of a pond, never to know any real depth. That's not to say the story wasn't engaging or absorbing (it was!) only that I wish it all had more heft to it rather than coming across as a rather obvious cautionary tale.
I also REALLY did not like all the mentions within the book of how a given relationship or situation in EVEN IN PARADISE paralleled the original material in KING LEAR. I think most people reading this book would be smart enough to pick up on the similarities/allusions (and, if you aren't, pointing out how something in EIP mirrored KL probably wouldn't mean much to you, regardless), and I thought it was so inelegant and awkward for Nunez to "show her work" as it was. We get that you used KING LEAR as the inspiration for this novel, that you might even consider it a modern-day retelling of KING LEAR in a Caribbean setting... no need to explicitly remind us within the text itself! Let the story and themes you develop speak for themselves!
Overall, a fine book, but nothing spectacular. I do want to read learn more about this part of the world and intend to read more Caribbean authors. Perhaps I was expecting too much from Nunez but I was ever-so-slightly disappointed that this book felt so slight. That said, I would read more by her in the future, though I think I will make it a priority to try other Caribbean authors first.