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A review by emma_therabbithole
Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein
4.0
I have to admit that I wasn't sure about this when I started it, and if it weren't a book club book I'm not sure how much I would have stuck with it - however, I'm pleased that I did! Thanks to my disorganised approach to life, I gave myself 24 hours to read this, and so switched between the paperback and audio versions.
It's a heartbreaking read about families living in the barracks in Trinidad in the 1940s. It's often a tough read, racism, classism, violence and trauma are prominent throughout. But it's eye opening and a story that did get beneath my skin, although it is definitely not an easy read in any sense of the word.
Events begin with the disappearance of Mr Changoor, a local, wealthy man. His wife, Marlee makes an unrefusable offer to Hans to act as a watchman to protect her in his absence. Set on using the money to create a better life for his wife, Shweta and son Krishna, he accepts. Surrounding the present day is the crushing trauma of the past from all involved which colours events as they unroll.
Excellent literary historical fiction.
It's a heartbreaking read about families living in the barracks in Trinidad in the 1940s. It's often a tough read, racism, classism, violence and trauma are prominent throughout. But it's eye opening and a story that did get beneath my skin, although it is definitely not an easy read in any sense of the word.
Events begin with the disappearance of Mr Changoor, a local, wealthy man. His wife, Marlee makes an unrefusable offer to Hans to act as a watchman to protect her in his absence. Set on using the money to create a better life for his wife, Shweta and son Krishna, he accepts. Surrounding the present day is the crushing trauma of the past from all involved which colours events as they unroll.
Excellent literary historical fiction.