Synopsis
In Baxter Beach, Barbados, moneyed ex-pats clash with the locals who often end up serving them: braiding their hair, minding their children, and selling them drugs. Lala lives on the beach with her husband, Adan, a petty criminal with endless charisma whose thwarted burglary of one of the Baxter Beach mansions sets off a chain of events with terrible consequences. A gunshot no one was meant to witness. A new mother whose baby is found lifeless on the beach. A woman torn between two worlds and incapacitated by grief. And two men driven by desperation and greed who attempt a crime that will risk their freedom -- and their lives.
My thoughts
WOW this was a difficult book to digest!!!
I finished this one a few days ago and it was one of those books that leave you with absolutely no words. Were I in a book club I would have loved to discuss this story because there was so much depth to it. The story is set in the Caribbean (on the island of Barbados) and it follows a young woman named Lala.
The story begins with Lala's grandmother telling her a fable of two sisters in which one of them ends up with only one hand because of disobedience. The book then chronicles Lala's life as she is an older teen married to a local criminal named Adan. Brace yourself when Adan enters the story cause at times I didn't know if to hate him or feel sorry for him.
I think the prevailing theme in this book was generational curses and how they can impact your entire life. I was really captivated by the story of Esme, Lala's mother. It seemed that as much her mom tried to protect her from a life of abuse it some how managed to seep into her life. I am a strong believer that some people are indeed cursed because of what generations in the past did.
The story of Tone spoke to many issues. His abuse was of a different kind but it shaped the person he became. It seemed like everyone in this story were haunted by something in the past which to me made the book fascinating.
The writing was superb. Ms. Jones really knows how to put pen to paper and create a story that will impact you.
I recommend this one!!!
About the Author
Cherie Jones is an award-winning author from Barbados. Her debut novel HOW THE ONE-ARMED SISTER SWEEPS HER HOUSE has been critically acclaimed by several publications including the The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Washington Post and is Good Morning America's Bookclub pick for February, 2021. Cherie's past publication credits include PANK, The Feminist Wire and Eclectica. She is a past fellowship awardee of the Vermont Studio Centre and a recipient of the Archie Markham Award and A.M. Heath Prize from Sheffield Hallam University (UK).
Cherie currently lives in Barbados with her children where, in addition to her writing, she works as a lawyer and indulges her passion for chocolate.
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