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latad_books 's review for:
River Mumma
by Zalika Reid-Benta
I so loved that this book was set in Toronto, and that it reminded me slightly of Nalo Hopkinson's "Brown Girl in the Ring",which is also set in Toronto, albeit a dystopic version of the city.
In this book, Alicia is out of grad school, working in retail as she has no other job prospects. She hates her job, lives with her mum, who constantly texts her news stories and reminds Alicia of things to pick up from the grocery store.
After leaving a party she was invited to by her Jamaican folklore-loving coworker/friend Heaven, Alicia has a scary encounter with River Mumma, a Jamaican water goddess, who tells Alicia that she has twenty-four hours to recover River Mumma's missing comb.
Alicia begins having visions, and ropes in Heaven, and coworker Mars, on her quest, mainly because weird stuff starts happening to the trio and Heaven refuses to abandon Alicia to her fulfill her quest alone. They travel through a snowy Toronto on public transit and taxis (I loved this detail, as who wants to drive and park in Toronto??), are chased by duppies, and realize that they can't find the comb without relying on their connections and history. Alicia's visions also provide her with clues to the comb's and her own past, which eventually leads her to a some unusual locations and people around the city.
Even while Alicia and company are rushing about the city, we see the difficulties this generation of people has with finding their identities in their Toronto Caribbean community, as well as the hurdles and bigotry they encounter professionally and personally, as people of a diasporic community.
This story came to life immediately for me, and kept me hooked as Alicia's malaise transformed into a greater focus on her life and aspirations through her one day's many mundane and terrifying experiences.
Author Reid-Benta's characters are so well drawn, and I could see the trio arguing and bantering their way around the city, as well as figuring out how to evade the many odd spirits chasing them down. Jamaican folklore is skilfully integrated throughout Alicia's story, and it was wonderful seeing strange beings of these tales on Toronto streets.
This was a fast-paced story with great characters, wonderfully realistic dialogue and character dynamics, and a compelling situation. I look forward to reading more by this talented author.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my review.
In this book, Alicia is out of grad school, working in retail as she has no other job prospects. She hates her job, lives with her mum, who constantly texts her news stories and reminds Alicia of things to pick up from the grocery store.
After leaving a party she was invited to by her Jamaican folklore-loving coworker/friend Heaven, Alicia has a scary encounter with River Mumma, a Jamaican water goddess, who tells Alicia that she has twenty-four hours to recover River Mumma's missing comb.
Alicia begins having visions, and ropes in Heaven, and coworker Mars, on her quest, mainly because weird stuff starts happening to the trio and Heaven refuses to abandon Alicia to her fulfill her quest alone. They travel through a snowy Toronto on public transit and taxis (I loved this detail, as who wants to drive and park in Toronto??), are chased by duppies, and realize that they can't find the comb without relying on their connections and history. Alicia's visions also provide her with clues to the comb's and her own past, which eventually leads her to a some unusual locations and people around the city.
Even while Alicia and company are rushing about the city, we see the difficulties this generation of people has with finding their identities in their Toronto Caribbean community, as well as the hurdles and bigotry they encounter professionally and personally, as people of a diasporic community.
This story came to life immediately for me, and kept me hooked as Alicia's malaise transformed into a greater focus on her life and aspirations through her one day's many mundane and terrifying experiences.
Author Reid-Benta's characters are so well drawn, and I could see the trio arguing and bantering their way around the city, as well as figuring out how to evade the many odd spirits chasing them down. Jamaican folklore is skilfully integrated throughout Alicia's story, and it was wonderful seeing strange beings of these tales on Toronto streets.
This was a fast-paced story with great characters, wonderfully realistic dialogue and character dynamics, and a compelling situation. I look forward to reading more by this talented author.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my review.