“There is a way to be cruel that seems Jamaican to me.”
The first time I heard of this book “How To Love A Jamaican” I laughed at the title because as a Jamaican, I am still trying to figure that out. This debut novel by Alexia Arthur perfectly captures the various nuances of the Jamaican culture and its people. It is so hard to sum up a diverse, vibrant and ever-changing set of people but Alexia Arthur does so and in the most authentic and pore raising way.
This solid collection of short stories is diverse, entertaining and honest. We get an inside look into Jamaica, Jamaican immigrant and their family living back in Jamaica. There are so many dynamics at play in these stories, from family life, mother daughter relationship, colourism, classism and migration. What I loved most about these stories is how they truly speak to Jamaica and Jamaicans but also broadly operate as a testament to other Caribbean nationals and their daily lives.
I would list out some of my favourite stories, but I would be re-writing the content page- yes, it is that good. If you are looking for insights into Jamaican and Jamaican culture or if you want to hear from a refreshing voice in the literary world, I highly recommend picking this one up.
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