White Woman Green Bicycle ebook
As a West Indian creole child myself of the pre- and post-independence period described here, I found Monique Roffey's account of this ex-pat family's Trini lives absolutely spot-on. It was exactly like that, including the inertia, the inability to change yourself or anything or anyone around you, the racial prejudice and hostility working in both directions, the whole country messed up by sad bruised male egos whether colonial, ex-pat or local. The prose is splendid, capturing the texture and pulse of the island's climate, landscape, townscape, facilities, lifestyle, characters, dialogue, rhythm. When I am homesick, I'll turn to the 'White Woman' to remind myself why so many heart-broken middle-class West Indians went into voluntary exile.
A 5-star turn. Yuh don' good, gal. Thanks.
The White Woman on a Green Bicycle is the simple yet complex story of a British/French ex-pat couple in Trinidad. Told from the wife's point of view it initiates the reader to the world of creole and white ex-pats in the Caribbean.
BalasHapusThe inevitable tale of Sabine and her husband George is haunting and evokes scenes that had me reaching for Google Images so I could actually see the landscape. A worthwhile quick read.
A friend told me about this book. She claimed that is was so different from anything she had every read so I decided I would order it. It is a book that you cannot read in one sitting. It is so different and informative that you have to take your time to absorb what you are reading. I learned a lot about Trinidad and the culture there. You will have to stop several times while reading it to grasp what you have read. The politics there in the 60's was so bad, it is hard to believe that people could live through it. I think you will enjoy reading this book, just take your time...
BalasHapus
BalasHapusAs a West Indian creole child myself of the pre- and post-independence period described here, I found Monique Roffey's account of this ex-pat family's Trini lives absolutely spot-on. It was exactly like that, including the inertia, the inability to change yourself or anything or anyone around you, the racial prejudice and hostility working in both directions, the whole country messed up by sad bruised male egos whether colonial, ex-pat or local. The prose is splendid, capturing the texture and pulse of the island's climate, landscape, townscape, facilities, lifestyle, characters, dialogue, rhythm. When I am homesick, I'll turn to the 'White Woman' to remind myself why so many heart-broken middle-class West Indians went into voluntary exile.
BalasHapusA 5-star turn. Yuh don' good, gal. Thanks.
I have lived on an island in the Caribbean for 30 years now. This book was a birthday gift to me and could not have been more welcomed.
BalasHapusThe story and creative writing made me feel as tho I was "right there" with Sabine / the main character. I loved the story and how it was written
and could relate so much to the way of life on an island back before modernization and so-called progress overtook the 'old days" of life .
Her husband was in love with the island as I am with mine today and always.
This book will live in my library for always.
It was a great read, keeping my attention and waking me in the middle of the night as it was addicting to keep reading the story.
I even researched Trinidad back in the 50's on the internet for images to see....it was delightful and intoxicating.