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alysses's review
4.0
How To Love A Jamaican, a compilation of short stories, speaks to various experiences and issues being grappled with by both the Jamaican Diaspora and Jamaicans still on the island. These stories explore sexuality, fidelity, success and what that looks like for different individuals, gentrification, travel, where to build roots, body image, love, self- love, self-discovery, motherhood, fatherhood, the immigrant experience, one foot here and one foot there.
I recommend the audiobook. It was narrated by different voices and that along with the actual story being told kept me engaged.
I received a digital copy via the publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. At the time of this review, I audiobooked this from my library and is based on that copy.
I recommend the audiobook. It was narrated by different voices and that along with the actual story being told kept me engaged.
I received a digital copy via the publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. At the time of this review, I audiobooked this from my library and is based on that copy.
perfect_leaves's review
3.0
I'm condensing my original review for the sake of Goodreads.
I really wanted to love this book, but I couldn’t. I’ll say outright that the first and last stories are the most poignant, the others are forgettable. Though I love the idea of having Caribbean representation, I feel How to Love a Jamaican failed to provide a holistic picture. Because Arthurs opted to write a series of short stories, I expected to see multiple different aspects of Jamaican life. Instead, all of the characters are more or less the same, and they’re all victims. In fact, one of the stories seemed lifted directly out of the New York Times. I felt like I was reading trauma porn.
To be honest, I wouldn’t have minded the trauma porn if there were character growth and if the composition had a bit more artistry. Besides the structural issues, I found a problematic thread running through the stories. There were both implicit and explicit declarations that fair/yellow skin, wavy hair and “European features” are more beautiful and that those bearing them are more deserving of success. I’m sure Arthurs included these threads simply to illustrate Caribbeans’ unnatural obsession with fair skin, but I would have appreciated more commentary on the subject.
Even though the book is not for me, I will still acknowledge that it’s not that bad. I’m not Caribbean, but I still see myself represented in How to Love a Jamaican. There are also moments when Arthurs makes a very good point, laying bare the internal struggles PoC face.
Frankly speaking, even I’ll admit that three stars is a little harsh for this book, but 3.5 is also too much. It has the potential to be a four star collection but it’s just not there for me yet.
Ultimately, I decided three stars was a fair compromise, but if I’m feeling generous I’ll call it 3.5. I can see this book winning awards. It ticks all the boxes: it’s a debut collection from a Black female author, it discusses sexuality in detail, it serves trauma for breakfast and it’s full of introspection rather than action. All of the books that have been nominated recently seem to be pretty much the same thing: “innovative” ways to see women’s/minority’s stories. There’s nothing particularly innovative if you belong to that community, but the people making the decisions usually don’t, therefore the novels are praiseworthy.
I really wanted to love this book, but I couldn’t. I’ll say outright that the first and last stories are the most poignant, the others are forgettable. Though I love the idea of having Caribbean representation, I feel How to Love a Jamaican failed to provide a holistic picture. Because Arthurs opted to write a series of short stories, I expected to see multiple different aspects of Jamaican life. Instead, all of the characters are more or less the same, and they’re all victims. In fact, one of the stories seemed lifted directly out of the New York Times. I felt like I was reading trauma porn.
To be honest, I wouldn’t have minded the trauma porn if there were character growth and if the composition had a bit more artistry. Besides the structural issues, I found a problematic thread running through the stories. There were both implicit and explicit declarations that fair/yellow skin, wavy hair and “European features” are more beautiful and that those bearing them are more deserving of success. I’m sure Arthurs included these threads simply to illustrate Caribbeans’ unnatural obsession with fair skin, but I would have appreciated more commentary on the subject.
Even though the book is not for me, I will still acknowledge that it’s not that bad. I’m not Caribbean, but I still see myself represented in How to Love a Jamaican. There are also moments when Arthurs makes a very good point, laying bare the internal struggles PoC face.
Frankly speaking, even I’ll admit that three stars is a little harsh for this book, but 3.5 is also too much. It has the potential to be a four star collection but it’s just not there for me yet.
Ultimately, I decided three stars was a fair compromise, but if I’m feeling generous I’ll call it 3.5. I can see this book winning awards. It ticks all the boxes: it’s a debut collection from a Black female author, it discusses sexuality in detail, it serves trauma for breakfast and it’s full of introspection rather than action. All of the books that have been nominated recently seem to be pretty much the same thing: “innovative” ways to see women’s/minority’s stories. There’s nothing particularly innovative if you belong to that community, but the people making the decisions usually don’t, therefore the novels are praiseworthy.
jayslibrary_'s review
3.0
I took this book with me on holiday to Jamaica and was looking forward to sipping on my Rum cocktail
taylormoore6's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Well written short stories, but I had a heard time finding a rhythm with this one and I don’t have specific memories of any of the stories.
azwahine_reads's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.0
bookishkellyn's review
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the first anthology where I’ve enjoyed every single story. This is a well-written collection that really hits home if you’re Jamaican (or Black Caribbean). → A friendship with a white-washed Black girl. A man compares himself to his estranged twin brother. The drownings of twin girls who loved mermaids. A mother sends her daughter back home to reset behaviors. A lesbian at a “straight wedding” reflects on life changes. A boy reminisces about his late grandmother. A college girl on an international track scholarship. A married immigrant harbors a secret. Acquaintances reconnect on Facebook. Daughters express their mixed emotions about their mothers. A Rihanna-like star dwells on her trials and tribulations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Suicide, Blood, Excrement, Abortion, and Pregnancy
meeks5679's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Enjoyed the stories. Was disappointing there was a lack of critical
commentary of the weird yt ppl they were dating😭 that dropped it down .25 for me but enjoyed them otherwise
commentary of the weird yt ppl they were dating😭 that dropped it down .25 for me but enjoyed them otherwise
highdjo's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hollidayreadswithme's review
5.0
I LOVED this book. I mean so much that I bought a real copy after listening to it on Libby. As someone with Jamaican heritage, I was able to really get something out of this. It brought me back to my youth and I bought a copy for a friend of mine.
Things I liked:
The writing was phenomenal. Each story had it's own distinct voice and that's not just because I listened to it, but because there was something that made them all different even though they centered around the same theme. I mean it was something to be admired because I found myself emotionally invested in every character, even though I was only introduced to them for a short time.
Things I didn't like:
Nothing...
Overall / Final thoughts:
i feel like this is a true depiction of Jamaican culture. There is something here that can transcend just that but it does a great job of explaining some of the traditions and expectations held by Jamaicans and it did so without making fun. It did so with elegance and grace and made me more proud of my heritage.
2019 POPSUGAR Challenge - A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter
Things I liked:
The writing was phenomenal. Each story had it's own distinct voice and that's not just because I listened to it, but because there was something that made them all different even though they centered around the same theme. I mean it was something to be admired because I found myself emotionally invested in every character, even though I was only introduced to them for a short time.
Things I didn't like:
Nothing...
Overall / Final thoughts:
i feel like this is a true depiction of Jamaican culture. There is something here that can transcend just that but it does a great job of explaining some of the traditions and expectations held by Jamaicans and it did so without making fun. It did so with elegance and grace and made me more proud of my heritage.
2019 POPSUGAR Challenge - A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter