Welcome to Litsy!

This is the picture book version of Floella‘s biography, illustrated by Diane Ewen (not the linked version).

As a child in Trinidad, Floella‘s father was invited to move to Britain. Her mother and younger siblings followed later, with Floella and her older siblings travelling a year or so later again. England (and the welcome) was not necessarily what she‘d expected, but she learnt to love the place. And yes the ending made me cry.

This is an exceptional exploration of one man‘s fight for independence in the face of constant hardship. V.S. Naipaul vividly depicts the struggles of Mr. Biswas as he strives to escape the control of his in-laws and carve out a space of his own, with the house serving as a symbol of personal achievement. The novel‘s blend of humor, pathos, and rich detail makes it a moving and insightful reflection on the human desire for dignity and belonging.

#verbal #poetrymatters @TheSpineView

Not forgettable! I‘m very surprised this held my attention given it revolves around the mermaid myth, but it did. The narration was terrific and I‘m sure made all the difference. 🧜🏾‍♀️

It could have used less sex and more plot so I‘d say it‘s a slight pick. Definitely evocative of the islands & culture.

This caught my attention because the Europa edition cover is beautiful IMO. That is not what I have here. But I am so interested in the mermaid myths that turn up in various cultures across the world. This one is lovely. And an audiobook read with a Caribbean accent? Yes, please!

I read this book with my local reading group. I really didn‘t like it - I don‘t like books containing child or animal abuse. It seemed far too padded out at times and I absolutely hated the ending. I‘m so pleased I‘ve finally finished it so I get on and read something more pleasant!

A library book which I‘m reading with my local book club. The theme is a story set in South America so we‘re in Trinidad.

I have been doing deep dives into eligible books the Women's Prize for Fiction might pick for 2024.

I was thinking about how there is often times a Caribbean novel that I have not heard of makes it's way onto the list, so I started seeking out books from there released since April 1, 2023 and I think if any I read about have a shot is it this one! The synopsis sounds just right for the Women's Prize both in form and theme.

Absolutely loved this, even though Alethea had led such a sad life, this felt quite uplifting!

First #roll100 read down, and also #fourfoursin24 as Alethea works in retail and part of the plot is centred around this 🙌 - Retail Greyscale ✅

Can check one off my list!