pkledgrape's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
therosepetals__'s review
5.0
This book I read “was not no novel, was not no poem, was no history book. It was a simple warning.” The warning was “the cry of the Warner woman” which is to “consider . . . Consider yourself and your deeds. Consider the consequences of things.” Consider the stories you read, the people you take time to believe, those you choose to ignore, write off, or silence. Judgment Day is coming.
Kei Miller brilliantly writes of a Warner Woman from a Revivalist Church who was born in a leper colony of Spanish Town, Jamaica and ends up in a mental institution in “motherland” England. He explores the impact of colonialism on the writing of history by creatively telling this story from multiple perspectives. He includes the voice of the Warner Woman who has been ignored by society to the extent that her only option is to tell her story to the wind, which goes “shhhhhh.” The shhhhh is an effect that seems to capture her always being silenced - even by the wind. She says, “for nothing in this world is silent, you just have to learn how to hear.”
I also appreciate how he captures spirituality and religion in the Caribbean. It is evident he draws from his experience of growing up in a Jamaican Pentecostal church, and he speaks to how those churches have been demonized by the oppressor. He writes, “whatever white man believe in with all his heart, that name religion. Whatever Black woman believe in, that name superstition.”
Miller also speaks to the violence perpetuated against women and those with mental illness and our society’s passive response to it. He critiques mental health institutions as well.
The message from his books are consistent. Here is a quote from Augustown:
“This is not another story about superstitious island people and their primitive beliefs. No. You don’t get off that easy. This is a story about people as real as you are...you may as well stop to consider a more urgent question; not whether you believe in this story or not, but whether this story is about the kinds of people you have never taken the time to believe in.”
Kei Miller brilliantly writes of a Warner Woman from a Revivalist Church who was born in a leper colony of Spanish Town, Jamaica and ends up in a mental institution in “motherland” England. He explores the impact of colonialism on the writing of history by creatively telling this story from multiple perspectives. He includes the voice of the Warner Woman who has been ignored by society to the extent that her only option is to tell her story to the wind, which goes “shhhhhh.” The shhhhh is an effect that seems to capture her always being silenced - even by the wind. She says, “for nothing in this world is silent, you just have to learn how to hear.”
I also appreciate how he captures spirituality and religion in the Caribbean. It is evident he draws from his experience of growing up in a Jamaican Pentecostal church, and he speaks to how those churches have been demonized by the oppressor. He writes, “whatever white man believe in with all his heart, that name religion. Whatever Black woman believe in, that name superstition.”
Miller also speaks to the violence perpetuated against women and those with mental illness and our society’s passive response to it. He critiques mental health institutions as well.
The message from his books are consistent. Here is a quote from Augustown:
“This is not another story about superstitious island people and their primitive beliefs. No. You don’t get off that easy. This is a story about people as real as you are...you may as well stop to consider a more urgent question; not whether you believe in this story or not, but whether this story is about the kinds of people you have never taken the time to believe in.”
nissapocalypse's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
paperbacksocial's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
michelleheegaard's review
4.0
Wauw... just.. wauw.
This was one of those rare books that just stumbled onto my path, when I happened to pull it down from a library shelf. It took me by storm
This book is somewhat close to a masterpiece and I especially loved it towards the ending, when Miller subtly began commenting on the act of writing itself. His commentary shook my view on the act of writing and as someone who am trying to dabble with writing herself, I felt strangely heard and understood.
Wonderful story and a quick and easy read. You will fly through it.
This was one of those rare books that just stumbled onto my path, when I happened to pull it down from a library shelf. It took me by storm
This book is somewhat close to a masterpiece and I especially loved it towards the ending, when Miller subtly began commenting on the act of writing itself. His commentary shook my view on the act of writing and as someone who am trying to dabble with writing herself, I felt strangely heard and understood.
Wonderful story and a quick and easy read. You will fly through it.
shansbookspace's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
So nice I had to listen twice. Literally! Everything about this story: brilliant.
Have you seen people doing the life thing & wonder about their lives? I’ve heard and seen warner women & I have wondered on occasion why would they bother to ‘warn’. Nobody seems to be taking heed anyway….but after reading THE LAST WARNER WOMAN, I see it differently.
I enjoyed the narrative style because the listener gets both an impersonal & personal telling of the story & it worked oh so well.
This story of spirituality, loss & survival represents what life can look for like for abandoned people & people who make it out alive & it was excellently done.
aminasbookshelf's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25