A review by bookofcinz
So Many Islands: Stories from the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Pacific by Sabah Carrim, Emma Kate Lewis, Mokoyan Vekula, Tammi Browne-Bannister, Jacob Ross, Kendel Hippolyte, Damon Chua, Heather Barker, Mere Taito, Angela Barry, Nicholas Laughlin, Erato Ioannou, Cecil Browne, Fetuolemoana Elisara, Tracy Assing, Marita Davies, Melanie Schwapp

4.0

So Many Islands Is a collection of short stories, poems, essays from the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Pacific. When I heard about this collection of stories, I instantly gravitated to the idea of different island people coming together to speak their truth in various written forms.

I think Marlon James's introduction perfectly summarizes this collection and the writing "It takes a big mind, or at least a big worldview to write from such a small space..." I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and I really felt at home reading this book.

The major standouts for me were:
Tread Lightly by Emma Kate Lewis (Malta)
The Plundering by Heather Barker (Barbados)
Granny Dead (by Melanie Schwapp (Jamaica)
A Child of Four Women by Marita Davies (Kiribati)
Unaccounted For by Tracy Assing (Trinidad and Tobago)
Coming off the long run by Cecil Browne (Saint Vincent and the Grendadines)

If you are from an island, currently living on an island or planning on visiting an island, you should definitely pick up a copy of this collection. Outstanding stories from amazing Islanders!