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A review by piabo
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
- 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
I should really start giving books that are amazingly written 5 stars. But when they are sad, scary, or not satisfying, I feel like I should not. Just in case someone else picks it up and gets mad at me for recommending it so much.
This book is definitely one of those (reminded me of "The Bread the Devil Knead"). The three characters are well-explored. Although far from my reality, I got to understand the lives and struggles of the family members Margot, Dolores, and Thandi. Each of these women struggling with poverty, (sexual) abuse, and societal expectations in the touristic and rapidly area of Jamaica. Connected by family relations and sharing one roof, the concrete challenges look different for each of them.
The book embraced the difficulties and complexities of their lives fully. I never felt like their stories were just serving a purpose to bring a point across, but instead I felt like they were raw and realistic representations of their realities.
One major question this book leaves me with is: "How much are our actions shaped by our circumstances?"
And also: "If I was in their situation, would I have acted the same?" and "Does trauma, abuse, and poverty justify the ends the characters have taken? Would there have been any alternatives?"
I got to discuss this book with a wonderful member of the Afro Book Club in Berlin and got to explore many interesting questions. I highly recommend doing this as a buddy read and compare your understanding!
This book is definitely one of those (reminded me of "The Bread the Devil Knead"). The three characters are well-explored. Although far from my reality, I got to understand the lives and struggles of the family members Margot, Dolores, and Thandi. Each of these women struggling with poverty, (sexual) abuse, and societal expectations in the touristic and rapidly area of Jamaica. Connected by family relations and sharing one roof, the concrete challenges look different for each of them.
The book embraced the difficulties and complexities of their lives fully. I never felt like their stories were just serving a purpose to bring a point across, but instead I felt like they were raw and realistic representations of their realities.
One major question this book leaves me with is: "How much are our actions shaped by our circumstances?"
And also: "If I was in their situation, would I have acted the same?" and "Does trauma, abuse, and poverty justify the ends the characters have taken? Would there have been any alternatives?"
I got to discuss this book with a wonderful member of the Afro Book Club in Berlin and got to explore many interesting questions. I highly recommend doing this as a buddy read and compare your understanding!