A review by hannahxinru
Brother, by David Chariandy

4.0

This book was beautiful. Not beautiful in the sense that it was all sunshine and rainbows but achingly beautiful, the type that will slowly tear you apart. The nuanced and intricate imagery that was littered abundantly through the entire novel built up the setting of Scarborough, Canada; revealing a side to the country that is not so commonly seen in popular culture. We follow the lives of two boys, Michael and Francis, whose mother is a Trinidadian immigrant and father left when they were young. Essentially estranged from their culture, they explore their way through the ins and outs of 70s-80s Canada surrounded by the harms of gang violence and microagressions, as well as looking after their mother who works multiple jobs to support the family. While this book may not have you bawling in your seat, it definitely leaves a lasting impression, especially on those growing up in a country where the larger population may not be the same ethnicity as them.