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  Are you interested in a book discussion?

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  Are any of you interested in choosing a title from this genre and everyone in the group reading it and discussing it together, say over a period of a month?

  bookkaddict started this discussion 6 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  Yes! I definitely am interested. Does anyone have any suggestions? Here's what I'm thinking:
  
  - Small Island by Andrea Levy is on my immediate TBR pile, and it has gotten great reviews.
  
  - There were two Caribbean books for the Commonwealth Prize shortlist
  Chutney Power, by Willi Chen (Trinidad), Macmillan Caribbean and The Fear of Stones, by Kei Miller (Jamaica), Macmillan Caribbean which would be more recent. I found Chutney Power on Amazon. I couldn't even find Kei Miller in their database!
  
  - My top choice would be a book that I only learned existed thanks to Shelfari (that I have subsequently bought and added to the shelf) called "The Heart Does Not Bend", by Makeda Silvera. I am quite intrigued b/c it is by a Jamaican woman in Canada who writes (from what I understand) from a lesbian perspective. This is very interesting b/c Jamaica is an EXTREMELY intolerant and homophobic society (embarrassingly so--just go to today's Jamaica Observer online and read the headline--it is barbaric and primitive the way my compatriots behave), so I am curious to see what she has to say.
  
  - I also never got around to reading Edwidge Danticat's "Dew Breaker", so that's a possibility.
  
  So to summarize, here are my choices, in order of preference:
  1. The Heart Does Not Bend
  2. Chutney Power
  3. Small Island
  4. The Dewbreaker
  
  What does anyone/everyone else think?

  posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    bookkaddict 

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    I already own Small Island and The Dewbreaker (but have read neither!) so I am interested in either of those. The other two you suggested I am not familiar with but it looks like they are also available from Barnes and Nobel website which is where I usually purchase. I couldn't find the Kei Miller book there either. Obviously I would be more interested in the two I already own (LOL) but just to read and discuss something new whatever the choice would be of interest to me.
    
    What you say about Jamaica being homophobic and intolerant...sad to say I have also observed that in reading the papers and talking with Jamaican friends down there.
    
    

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    bookkaddict 

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    ....Plus, you have a lot of great books on the "group shelf", some I have some I do not, some I've read some I have not. This group could go for a long time with just the books already out there. I don't know who all added them, but the selection is very comprehensive, IMHO.

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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  LaTonya aka z 

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  I'm interested in both, but leaning towards Dew Breaker. It's a YA title isn't it? I'm reading some other titles for clubs right now, so I think I have a better chance keeping up if we read this one first. I, too, added Bend to my wish list. I'm flexible. I'll make it work or let you guys know if I fall behind.

  posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    BeautifullyHuman 

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    I'd love to join but I really need to get through two books I already have before I purchase a new one :( Depending on when you guys actually start I may join in.
    
    

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    LaTonya aka z 

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    BH,
    
    Don't you ever borrow a book from the library? :-) Must be nice to buy every book you choose to read.

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    LaTonya aka z removed this reply 6 years ago.

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    bookkaddict 

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    I didn't know it was specifically called YA...but I can see it being on some YA reading lists. Kind of like To Kill A Mockingbird is on every YA list but wasn't specifically written as a YA novel. I haven't seen it categorized this way but I don't know, maybe it is. I do want to read it, though...regardless.

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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  capira 

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  Thanks for the prod, Artemis! I haven't been to Shelfari for a couple of days and missed the initial post. The only one on the list which I own (TBR) is Small Island) but I will go with the majority - all the books sound good and I look forward to the discussion.

  posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    BeautifullyHuman 

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    Z,
    You know what? I actually haven't borrowed a book from the library since my Uni days! I usually buy books that I want to read or borrow them from friends and for some reason never thought twice about it. *blushes* With all the books on my wish list I certainly will have to start borrowing from the library though :)

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    LaTonya aka z 

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    BH,
    
    If I bought what I wanted, gurl, we couldn't eat. LOL When I moved to my current home, I fell i love with our libraries. They not only have so many of the books I want to read but they are just beatiful, serene places to be. When I 'go out' it's often to the library.
    
    Now, what I do spend a lot of my book money on is poetry. Can't get around that.
    
    Good to hear from you.

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    bookkaddict 

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    Z, I see you are involved in the poetry group...have you read any of the poetry by Olive Senior or Opal Palmer Adisa, two Caribbean writers (both living in Canada I think)? I like both of their work. D.

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    LaTonya aka z 

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    Hi D,
    
    No, I am not familiar with either. Do you have collections by them? Could you post a sample? Oh, I love learning about more poets I don't know. Have you been to the Poetry group here? Do come by! Let's talk poetry and fiction, of course. LOL

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    bookkaddict 

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    Zawadi, Yes I have several poetry collections by each...I'll see if I can't put up a sample of something. Olive Senior also has a couple collections of short stories that I know of...Artemis just posted a poem by Opal Palmer Adisa on another discussion thread here. I am going to pop in on the Poetry group when I get a chance. D.

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Running Mommy 

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  Yes I am interested in joining you guys in reading a book. I have the fllowing choices for books:
  1. The Heart will not Bend
  2. Dewbreaker
  3. Chutney Power\
  
  Or my choice for a great book will be Fruit of the Lemon by Andrea Levy. This is her third novel, but I have not read any of her thus far. I think this book will be an interesting read to learn about her struggles growing up Black, British and Jamaican. I think that if we choose Small Island as a first read this would be a good follow up to that book.

  posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    sweetafton 

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    I am in the middle of Fruit of the Lemon, and have really enjoyed how Levy chronicles the everyday slights experienced by Faith. I've just begun "Book 2"--Jamaica, here she comes!

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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  Twinkley 

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  Hello, I had to join this group because I would like to participate in the group reading! I'm not familiar with Caribbean literature besides Danticat and want to read more.

  posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

• bookwormbeth 

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  I would read either Small Island or The Dew Breaker. I am participating in so many clubs, it may take awhile to read them, but I'm up for the challenge!

  posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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  TruEssence 

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  I would love to the join the book discussion as well. The books that everyone has mention all seem very interesting. The Heart will not Bend has definitely peek my curiosity.
  

  posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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    BeautifullyHuman 

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    Hi all,
    
    I am joining the book discussion and am very excited! I'm looking forward to seeing which book gets chosen. I will also be heading to my public library to borrow it thanks to Zawadi :)

    posted 6 years ago. ( permalink )

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