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Pulp, Good Pulp
Island jaunt
James Bond #6: Back to Jamaica
Dr NO is still Number ONE
The Classic Bond novel

Doctor No (James Bond Novels)
Ian Fleming
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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From Russia with Love (James Bond Novels)
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Moonraker (James Bond Novels)

ASIN: 0142002038

Book Description

James Bond travels to the Caribbean to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a secret service team. As he uncovers the astonishing truth about strange energy waves that are interfering with U.S. missile launches, he must battle deadly assassins, sexy femmes fatales, and even a poisonous tarantula. The search takes him to an exotic tropical island, where he meets a beautiful nature girl and discovers the hideout of Doctor No, a six-foot-six madman with a mania for torture, a lust to kill, and a fantastic secret to hide.

Customer Reviews:

Pulp, Good Pulp.......2007-04-13

I'm not a big Bond film fan, I like the occassional one, but I thought I would give one of Fleming's novels a read.
As my first Bond Novel I found Dr. No to be a pleasant surprise. It's a bit pulpish but it suits the story.

Island jaunt.......2007-02-08

Given what I felt was a weak Bond movie, I was somewhat skeptical about the value of this particular Bond book. But the reason the movie was weak -- a franchise which had not yet hit its stride -- is not true of the book. Fleming clearly was in good command of the actions of his hero in his sixth Bond adventure. The unusual factor in this particular volume is that as Bond's featured nemesis becomes more cartoonish, his ultimate aspirations are actually quite a bit tamer than previous world dominators. Dr. No simply wants to help the Soviets hinder the American rocketry program from his hidden outpost in the Caribbean. Hell, even bin Laden has more on his mind than this guy. But it's a story well-told, with an excruciating torture scene that Bond survives. Why was Bond allowed the escapable torture tunnel when his Jamaican predecessor ended up with a swift and logical bullet to the head? Yes, well, that's why that agent, Strangways, does NOT have a series focused on his adventures.

James Bond #6: Back to Jamaica.......2006-12-17

Did Ian Fleming want to kill 007 at the end of the previous novel, "From Russia with Love"? In the final paragraphs of that book, Rosa Klebb kicks out the deadly poisoned spike in her shoe and jabs Bond before she's thrown into a laundry basket and hustled away by Mathis and his assistants.

So I was curious as to how Fleming would resurrect Bond for the next novel, "Doctor No." He does a decent job of explaining away how 007 survived, but there is no mention of what happened to Tania--which is something I'm curious about as I read the novels this time. (At the beginning of "From Russia with Love," Fleming describes the demise of Bond's relationship with Tiffany Case from "Diamonds are Forever").

Although Bond delivered the girl and the Spektor cipher machine--and survived his encounter with Red Grant, the total psycho killing machine--he's treated as if he screwed up and sent to Jamaica to look into the disappearnce of another agent. A little job in the sun that shouldn't take much effort.

Well, this is James Bond we're talking about here, so we know he isn't going to get much of a holiday out of the piddling little assignment.

"Doctor No" has the lean, fluid style that keeps the story moving. It's set in the Caribbean where Fleming lived and wrote all of the Bond novels. I focused more on his description of Doctor No while trying to keep the image of the painfully-Caucasian Joseph Wiseman out of my mind (he was the actor who played No in the film version).

I would put this novel in the same category with "Diamonds are Forever": a strong action story with a couple of over-the-top moments that, although they worked while reading it, look a little strange with some afterthought. In "Diamonds", it was the Italian gangster who liked to dress up like a cowboy in his own private Wild West town. In "Doctor No", it was the obstacle course and giant octopus fight.

The best novels are "Casino Royale", "Live and Let Die", and definitely "From Russia with Love."

I wasn't that wild about "Moonraker."

Next up: "Goldfinger."

Dr NO is still Number ONE.......2006-02-17

The basic frame of all the James Bond books and movies. It was the book chosen by the owners of the film rights to introduce the character to the screen - and they kept rather close to the essentials ... the tough but sophisticated Bond, the alluring female lead who becomes his companion and usually savior, the gruff but proud M and so on. Probably the best example of the movie being as good as the book - certainly not true of the later cartoonish movies which are seldom as good as the original Fleming stories.

The Classic Bond novel.......2005-10-31

Dr. No is the classic Bond adventure novel. It has the suspense, the adventure, the exotic hideout, the interesting plan for world domination, and of course the girl. The story begins like all the other 007 rendezvous' in the Secret Service Headquarters and ends quite the same as well with Bond having saved the world and gotten the girl.

All the classic characters tell their story in this book. There is of course, audacious, adventurous, witty, and never boring James Bond, or as he says Bond... James Bond. The Bond babe that is found on the beaches near Jamaica is named Honey. She is different, interesting, at some times helpful, and you know the other thing. The original villain in Dr. No is obviously Dr. No. He has his times of genius, his psychotic thoughts, and his strange story of how he came to where he is now and all the mean things that people did to him. Nothing new there but nevertheless an interesting character.

This book is definitely a page-turner. It is packed with action, loaded with suspense, and never boring. Like any other 007 novel there are interesting twists and turns, death attempts, murders, and all the other stuff that makes the Secret Service so exciting. If you want an easy read that doesn't spend 30 pages talking about waterfalls and orchids this book is good for you. It's definitely not a classic but it sure is a Bond classic.

Average customer rating:

Kincaid's Mad as Hell, and She's Not Going to Take it Anymore
The lovely tourists
A Small Mind Writes A Small Place
An island paradise
It is a Small place

A Small Place
Jamaica Kincaid
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374527075

Book Description

A brilliant look at colonialism and its effects in Antigua--by the author of Annie John

"If you go to Antigua as a tourist, this is what you will see. If you come by aeroplane, you will land at the V. C. Bird International Airport. Vere Cornwall (V. C.) Bird is the Prime Minister of Antigua. You may be the sort of tourist who would wonder why a Prime Minister would want an airport named after him--why not a school, why not a hospital, why not some great public monument. You are a tourist and you have not yet seen . . ."

So begins Jamaica Kincaid's expansive essay, which shows us what we have not yet seen of the ten-by-twelve-mile island in the British West Indies where she grew up.

Lyrical, sardonic, and forthright by turns, in a Swiftian mode, A Small Place cannot help but amplify our vision of one small place and all that it signifies.

Customer Reviews:

Kincaid's Mad as Hell, and She's Not Going to Take it Anymore.......2007-01-11

Published in 1988 Kincaid's "A Small Place" is an unflinchingly angry portrayal of post-colonial, post-slavery life on the island of Antigua. To put it simply: Kincaid is as mad as hell, and she's not going to take it anymore. If you're white and can shelve your defensiveness for a moment this book is actually really enjoyable, it's written in first person and directed at "you," the British colonizer and/or the fat white tourist. Kincaid's sense of humor is wonderfully dark, and there are a lot of moments of humor if you keep an open mind. Still, at the heart of the matter is the story of Antigua's decay, left to rot by the British colonizers, with a population that doesn't vote openly corrupt officials out of office. She openly points out the irony of the celebration of emancipation alongside the valorization of the Hotel Training School, which teaches the residents of the island to be servants. In the end Kincaid concludes that no one is to blame, that after slavery the masters are no longer evil and the slaves are no longer "noble," but that everyone is merely human. She problematizes the matter, but offers no solutions, which might irritate those concrete sequentials among us. Also, she refers to Columbus, and the explorers in general, so adored in American culture, as "human rubbish" on multiple occasions. You might not agree with Kincaid, but this is one topic someone should be angry about, and her unapologetic narrative is about as honest as you can get.

The lovely tourists.......2006-05-01

I had to read this book for a Multicultural Literature class at my Uni, and, far from being informative, all it did was fill with me a contempt of my own. I am not a racist by any means, but when confronted with such a bitter, snide voice as the one Kincaid displays, I find myself unconsciously getting defensive. When she says, "you are a tourist; you are ugly," I find myself saying, "Fine, I'll keep my money and let you trade with seashells and beads." Kincaid is a master of the self-fulfilling prophecy: she says Antiguans are so oppressed and so downtrodden and so angry, and rather than doing anything to help it, she's exacerbating it by using such a bitter, over-the-top voice.

Other reviewers have stated that the vision of Antigua portrayed is a warped and extremely limited one, biased by Kincaid's apparent small mindedness, and I must confess that I'm glad to hear that. To think that the entire island is solely occupied by bitter people who imagine themselves to be ex-slaves would make me steer clear of the area any time I go on vacation.

Because, yes, I am a tourist. And no, being a tourist does not automatically make anyone ugly, despite what Kincaid's bitter rant might say.

A Small Mind Writes A Small Place.......2006-03-04

A major failing of this essay, which claims to be non-fiction, is Kincaid's sole reliance on her own memories of Antigua. As an eye-witness, Kincaid has the chance to provide a unique perspective on the issues of slavery, corruption, tourism, colonialism, and SIDS (small island developing states). Yet, she ruins this chance, in my opinion, with her complete disregard of any perspective other than her own.

A Small Place presents a biased and incomplete account of many of the issues facing Antigua and other islands in the Caribbean. Some of Kincaid's criticisms are certainly valid; however, others have been blown completely out of proportion. If one really wishes to know the history of Antigua and to understand the lingering consequences of colonialism, I suggest looking elsewhere.

What this book lacks in factual information, it does not make up for with a strong emotional appeal. Kincaid's story line is incomplete and unengaging. She repeatedly wanders from topic to topic and back again, giving no sense of what is most important or relevant. Additionally, whatever sympathy she may gain from the Western reader is repeatedly lost with her hateful generalizations.

I am sorry that I have to write such a negative review of this book. I believe that it is important for people in the West to understand the plight of developing countries, especially SIDS. However, I do not believe that A Small Place is at all helpful in promoting this dialogue.

It is important to understand the past. And I can sympathize with Kincaid's intense hatred of those who have and continue to oppress "her people". However, I think this text is short-sighted in its desire for change. After repeatedly criticizing tourists for their greed and laziness, does she really expect them to want to understand Antiguan society? I see the hatred and dualism expressed in A Small Place as a major obstacle in achieving a better tomorrow.

An island paradise.......2005-02-05

Antigua, an awe-inspiring vacation spot for Europeans and North Americans, takes on a different aura when discussed by native Jamaica Kincaid. Ms. Kincaid describes how the Antiguans feel about the tourists who visit: ugly people. Ugly because they invaded, then brought slaves to work for them so they could become rich while ignoring the needs of those who made them wealthy. Ugly because of what they've done to the island and the people who live there. Jamaica talks about the corrupt government and the hand that North Americans, British, Syrians and Lebanese play in that corruption. She describes how England paved the roads the Queen of England would travel when she visited, but left everything else in poor condition. Ms. Kincaid also mentions the drug dealers that the government ignores and those who build ugly condos for the wealthy and rent business space to the government who should be building their own space.

In a very few pages, Jamaica Kincaid says what a lot of former slaves would like to say but are perhaps too politically correct to utter. She does the job for us. Ms. Kincaid does not mince her words when it comes to what the British Empire did to the people of Antigua and the world for that matter. Frequently, I found myself wanting to stand up and cheer as I read her words of disgust and anger. While Ms. Kincaid is specifically speaking of Antigua, her words describe the slave trade and the destruction and poverty left in the wake of it no matter what country. It is well worth reading - more than once.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

It is a Small place .......2004-09-21

In "A Small Place", Kincaid leads the western reader through Antigua, while invoking feelings of guilt. Kincaid draws the reader in by narrating through the reader's perspective. She does this to engulf the reader into the setting and workings of Antigua and its government, including it's abused cultural history. This is the style of narration that Kincaid uses in the first thirty-seven pages of the book, and is very effective in captivating the reader. I felt guilt and ignorance while reading through Kincaid's description of Antigua and the abuse it is subject to by a regressive white moderate. She passionately unveils the crimes and injustices that her people have suffered from. The read is passionate and truthful while forcefully shedding the ignorant presumptions of the reader about what a western reader would consider a "resort area." She skillfully illustrates how foreign landowners rob the economy and further suppress the Antiguan population. She combines the individual reader into a collaboration of his/her personal/cultural histories to make that individual feel responsible for his/her cultures actions. So not only do you read the book as yourself, but you read the essay as western cultures history. She doesn't stop there, but uncovers the evils committed by her own western placed government and calls into question the morality that the whole island revolves on. This is the reason the book has been banned in Antigua. Not only would the book have inflicted damage on commerce and tourism, but also it would have uncovered the committed evils of the persons in power there.
I thought the book was far from enjoyable, but an essential read that helped erase certain ignorance held by the western population. I would suggest the book to scholars and activists or anyone interested in the repercussions of cultural memory. All in all I enjoyed the read but wished that Kincaid had followed through with the "reader narrator" format, which she uses to pull the reader in but abandons after the thirty-seventh page.

The Kebra Negast: The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica

Average customer rating:

VERY INSPIRATIONAL!
Decent Buy
A must read
Let the reader beware
Interesting read

The Kebra Negast: The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica

Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312167938

Amazon.com

What did Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley and Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia have in common? A love for the Kebra Negast, holy book of Ethiopian Christians and Jamaican Rastafarians. Contemporary scholars date the Kebra Negast to the 14th century, but it retells the stories of much earlier Biblical times, one very important story in particular. According to the Kebra Negast, the Israelites' Ark of the Covenant was spirited away to the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia by wise King Solomon's own son, offspring of the union between Solomon and the exotic Queen Makeda of Ethiopia (a.k.a. the Queen of Sheba). Gerald Hausman, a consummate storyteller of native traditions, presents the core narrative of the Kebra Negast, from Adam to the rise of the Ethiopian Solomonid dynasty. On top of this, he injects his own encounters with Rastafarians during his travels in Jamaica--dreadlocked Rastas as modern-day Samsons, their unwavering faith in Jah, and a rare outsider's glimpse at the Nyabinghi ceremony. The combination of ancient tale and modern belief give Hausman's Kebra Negast the rich flavor of enduring truth. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica.

Customer Reviews:

VERY INSPIRATIONAL!.......2006-07-12

This book is an excellent read. I did not want to put down. It explained alot of what I felt was a bit unexplained in the bible. I have not finished the book yet but i Highly recommend it.

Decent Buy.......2006-05-05

I got this book a while back. It's a very nice book if you have a bad attention span, and you need what your reading to be simple. If your looking for the in depth historical version, then this probably won't be the book for you, but if you're looking for a real good Light reading, then this might be a good purchase.

A must read.......2002-06-04

The Kebra Negast is a must read for anyone on the path of black consciousness and understanding the truth of our place in the Bible. Reading the Kebra Negast really helped me understand Rastafari, I hate that I completed the book I wanted more. I wished women played a larger role and that the interpretation of doing God's will was a bit less damning like in all religions.

Let the reader beware.......2001-09-13

This version is not to be confused with the classic text of Ethiopian religion/mythology of the same name. This version contains excerpts from the classical ancient text and combines it with anecdotes and sayings of rasafarianism, which is itself a recent concept dating back to the days of Selassie's coronation in 1930 (another story altogther). Basically, this version tries to connect the classic text with modern rastafarianism. If you're interested in rastafarianism, you can go ahead with this. But if you're interested in an English translation of the actual Kebra Nagast (Glory of Kings), see the E.A. Wallace Budge translation or the Miguel Brooks translation.

Interesting read.......2001-04-21

My husband bought this right after he heard about it. He is heavily into Rastafarianism and wanted to check it out. He read the book in two days and has since lent it to several friends. If you are into this kind of stuff, it offers a lot of info on the culture and outlook.

Average customer rating:

A Magnificent Journey
Excellent book; one reservation
A Beautiful Journey
Babylon is Falling
This is the next best thing for those who have been there.

Rasta Heart: A Journey Into One Love
Robert Roskind
Manufacturer: One Love Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565220749

Book Description

Since his pasing in 1981, Bob Marley's music, like tribal drumming, has been sending out a message of love and freedom for all humanity. Twenty years later, Julia and Robert Roskind traveled to Jamaica to learn more about Rastafari-the people and philosophy that inspired his music. Their life-changing odyssey through the towns, villages and mountains of this beautiful island, revealed not only the Rasta way of life but an ancient mystery as well. "RASTA HEART" is truly a journey into One Love. "Riveting... An incredible adventure that reveals the true essence of Rasta!" Dr. Dennis Forsythe author of "Rastafarians:The Healing of the Nations."

Customer Reviews:

A Magnificent Journey.......2007-04-17

Enjoy and immerse yourself in the ways of a Rastaman. The author literally makes you feel like your right there smoking a spliff with the rastas during a reasoning(conversation) session. This book is extremely inspirational you truly feel the love coming through the book. I reccommend it to all looking to learn about Rastafari and take a look at living FREE out of babylon!!!

JAH!!! RASTAFARI!!

Excellent book; one reservation.......2006-08-29

After spending some time in West Africa where I came across many inspirational Rastas, I came back to America wanting to learn more about this lifestyle. I found Roskind's book to be VERY firsthand and informative; after all, he speaks with dozens of Rastas with a whole range of views on Rastafari and One Love. The book was brilliantly written (with a lot of editing errors, however) and a great read for someone who is a novice to this faith. However, I do have one reservation about the author himself. Throughout the book he and the people he interviews criticize Babylon and all its materialism yet during his many trips to Jamaica he stays at the finest resorts (Babylon), likely owned by white non-Jamaicans (Babylon), and he talks about how he spends days here and there snorkling, laying out, eating, etc. (Babylon). I am not trying to point any fingers, I would just assume that if someone was trying to minimize one's materialistic desires and really experience Rastafari than one would at least stay at less plush resorts - especially when in a developing country. Other than that, an excellent read.

A Beautiful Journey.......2006-01-06

Explore Jamaica and Rastafari in this wonderfully written book. Meet rightous Rastas and gain an overstanding of One Love. Take a journey to a wonderful land and meet some beautiful people. Give thanks.

Babylon is Falling.......2005-12-16

If you feel that society has or has not taken a peice of your mind, I would advise you to read this book. I do not feel that it is a book that you can read at once, or once for that matter. I think I am on my third or fourth reread of this book. Roskind takes the power of communication through the Babylon system to prove there is more to what the western world calls life. I picked up the book in a gear issue room from the National Outdoor Leadership School in Conway, WA. I began to read the book outside of civilivation and coming back in to society after reading the tales in Rasta Heart has me looking at the world with a new pair of eyes. As they would say in the book, one love.

This is the next best thing for those who have been there........2004-12-08

I saw this book on a shelf in a internet shop in Montego Bay. I opened it in a random way and read a paragraph or two, and I knew I was going to take this book. I left the store quite happy to have found this book.

If you been to Jamaica more than a few times, and you have become impressed by the rastas there, then get this book. You are likely to have the same appreciable insight about the rastas as Robert Roskind does. Robert Roskind uses the book to provide almost a forum for the rastas to share what you might see and hear if you were there. He is full of understanding and appreciation for who they are and what they believe.

The book is like a travel log on Jamaica with the major focus on the rastas and their history. It is certainly better to go to Jamaica yourself. If you've been there and know what is going on, then the book serves as a memoir of a very special place.

This book provided me with a little more grounding in the rasta ideas/beliefs. Helped me understand a little more about the role of ganja. The author adds an excellent history of the hemp plant in a few pages; information that I was not aware of. The author knows how to enjoy himself there and from the pictures it looks like he fits in well as a spiritual person himself.

It is a very enjoyable book if you already have some interest, curiousity, and personal experience with the rastas. If you have the same appreciation, then the book is an easy, informative, and nostalgic read.

The book would not likely grab you in the same way, it might be a little more difficult to appreciate, the ideas might not seem as special or potent to you, if you have not already gained the same vision as the author.

Average customer rating:

I really wanted to like it...
"Lemon tree very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon..."
From Whence We Came...
"I didn't want to be black anymore. I just wanted to live."
buried treasure

Fruit of the Lemon: A Novel
Andrea Levy
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 031242664X
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Book Description

From Andrea Levy, author of Small Island and winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year and the Best of the Best Orange Prize, comes a story of one woman and two islands.

Faith Jackson knows little about her parents' lives before they moved to England. Happy to be starting her first job in the costume department at BBC television, and to be sharing a house with friends, Faith is full of hope and expectation. But when her parents announce that they are moving "home" to Jamaica, Faith's fragile sense of her identity is threatened. Angry and perplexed as to why her parents would move to a country they so rarely mention, Faith becomes increasingly aware of the covert and public racism of her daily life, at home and at work.

At her parents' suggestion, in the hope it will help her to understand where she comes from, Faith goes to Jamaica for the first time. There she meets her Aunt Coral, whose storytelling provides Faith with ancestors, whose lives reach from Cuba and Panama to Harlem and Scotland. Branch by branch, story by story, Faith scales the family tree, and discovers her own vibrant heritage, which is far richer and wilder than she could have imagined.

Fruit of the Lemon spans countries and centuries, exploring questions of race and identity with humor and a freshness, and confirms Andrea Levy as one of our most exciting contemporary novelists.

Customer Reviews:

I really wanted to like it..........2007-05-26

Given the premise, I really wanted to like this book, but by 100 pages in I just wasn't hooked. Most of the books I read beg to be opened and finished. This one just sat on my nightstand until it was replaced.

"Lemon tree very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon...".......2007-03-20

The opening few paragraphs of this novel about the precise way in which Faith Jackson's parents arrived in Great Britain from Jamaica capture perfectly in miniature the bewildering predicament she finds herself in as the daughter of black immigrants--the many ways in which the same facts can be viewed as both stereotype and truth.

Her parents have worked hard to raise Faith and her brother Carl to be well-educated and "respectable" members of British society who will marry hard working black people like themselves. Perhaps in hopes of facilitating their children's acculturation to British life, Faith's parents have never spoken much about their lives in Jamaica--Faith knows virtually nothing about their personal histories or their families. They have also sheltered Faith from the knowledge of the racial stigma they have experienced, and as she enters independent adult life the increasing discontinuity between what she has been taught and the prejudice she now encounters socially and professionally pushes her to an emotional breakdown. Her parents decide on a cure: send Faith to Jamaica.

If the first part of the novel is slow to get off the ground (can anyone be quite as willfully naive as Faith in this period?), the second part, which describes Faith's visit to her Jamaican relatives, is wonderfully rich and lively. The stories about her family, and the gradual accumulation of a family tree, are enchanting and compelling. How the destructive experience of race and color prejucice weaves itself through her family history along with the threads of love, humor, and struggle teaches Faith her place in the world, which is a complicated and interesting one. If the novel fails ultimately to integrate Faith's experiences into a totally natural turn of events, it still is a very worthwhile exploration of these important themes.

From Whence We Came..........2007-02-27

Faith Jackson is the daughter of hardworking, conservative Jamaican immigrants and grows up in a moderate middle-class environment. She, like many others, assimilates into a society that does not fully embrace those that are "different." All her life, she has grappled with some form of scrutiny and eventually develops a blind eye and deaf ear to racial slurs and stereotypes that she experiences routinely, even from her "best friends." For example, as a child, she is openly teased by white schoolmates that her parents journeyed to England via a banana boat. Faith discovers with much embarrassment that in fact, it is true. Despite prodding questions to her parents about their past life or relatives in Jamaica , they remain tight-lipped and dismiss her inquires with abrupt answers or sucking teeth. Talk of the past seems to be a taboo subject, so Faith eventually stops asking at a very early age.

Unfortunately, Faith swallows the British culture, music, and mindsets whole because it is all she has. Under the guidance of her parents, she adapts and employs survival techniques: she learns to smile, dress appropriately, talk properly, and project a non-threatening persona, but there is never any guidance for dealing with racial injustice or prejudice against non-whites. Having recently graduated from college, she is struggling with racial discrimination at her workplace. Couple job stress with a local hate crime, Faith's overload of internalized angst forces her into an emotional "breakdown" stemming from years of frustration, pain, and anger with no outlet or coping skills to handle such prejudices.

Her parents enlist the aid of Aunt Cora, her mother's sister in Jamaica , to entertain Faith for a two-week holiday abroad to rest and forget about things for a while. Upon setting foot in the Kingston airport, Faith experiences instant `culture shock' that eventually leads to an epiphany of sorts. Time spent in the company of Aunt Cora and her Caribbean kinfolk yields answers to questions she pondered all her life. She finds understanding, unconditional love, inner peace, and a sense of pride and confidence that was absent before. Finding strength and solace in her roots, the once embarrassing banana boat passage eventually becomes an event that no longer causes shame but inspires admiration and reverence.

Fruit of the Lemon is a wonderful multi-generational saga that spans two continents and explores the importance of belonging and sense of history. Although the novel chronicles Faith as she struggles to find her place in the world, it goes much deeper by examining the need for identity and racial pride. Faith may be the protagonist of the story, but Levy delivers so much more. She gives the reader a multitude of full-bodied, complex characters, realistic situations, and a page-turning plot sequence. I absolutely loved the unveiling of her ancestor's personal histories! Their loves, desires, and attitudes were cleverly shaped by societal views, the complex histories of the slave trade and British colonialism in Jamaica . Her handling of dialogue which captured the rhythmic Jamaican patois-laced expressions and the straight-laced British phrasing is superb. Her writing is fluid and vivid -- I could picture the characters, scenery, and the moods and vibes perfectly.

Although it is still early in the year at the time of this review, I believe this book will make my Top 10 list of 2007 releases. This is my first read from this author and it will not be my last. I intend to pick up her earlier works soon. This novel is highly recommended for those who enjoy literary reads with African Diasporic themes.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub
Nubian Circle Book Club

"I didn't want to be black anymore. I just wanted to live.".......2007-02-02

At twenty-two, Faith Jackson is enjoying her new found freedom, sharing a flat with three roommates and a new job in the costume department of the BBC, secure in the knowledge that her parents are her staunchest supporters. Faith is more than a little shocked when her parents announce their possible intention leave England and return to their homeland, Jamaica, since both their children are grown and able to take care of themselves. Precipitously aware of her fragile place in a society still struggling over the legislature of basic civil rights for all, the casual racism that surrounds her rears its ugly head, Faith subjected to the random ignorance of her white friends, the carelessness with which they disparage the blacks in society with hardly a thought to Faith's reactions: "I knew he wasn't prejudiced. He loves animals." The stupid and insensitive remarks grow increasing irritating to Faith, who has so far isolated herself from the bitter truth.

The gradual rift widens, sundering Faith's easy security. Witnessing a random act of violence against a black female shop attendant and patronized at her job since a questionable promotion as the only black dresser, Faith pulls back from this suddenly unfamiliar world, where race is etched inescapably into daily events with casual cruelty. Betrayed on all sides, Faith abruptly withdraws, unable to contend with the demands of the world around her: "I didn't want to be black anymore. I just wanted to live." Thanks to her parents' wisdom, Faith is sent to Jamaica for a two-week visit, submerged in the riotous island culture with her Auntie Coral and Cousin Vincent. There she receives a much-needed introduction to family history, Coral disclosing the secrets of the family tree. Immersed in her intimate cultural identity, Faith achieves the necessary balance to navigate a world at war with its own worst impulses to separate and subjugate, the hearts and minds of citizens wedded to the past prejudices and assumptions.

Adrift in confusion and growing angst in England, it is Faith's Jamaican experience that that restores her soul and enhances her sense of family support. In true Levy style, the dialog is spot on, both the sharp English quips of the roommates and lilting patois of the Jamaicans. With a particular talent for portraying the daily struggles of her protagonists as they tackle the inevitable challenges of their lives, the author delivers once again, this time a young black woman's identity crisis and racial awakening, the questing Faith renewed by the roots of ancestry. Luan Gaines/2007.

buried treasure.......2007-02-01

The daughter of Jamaican migrants, Levy writes what she knows and what she knows is the experience of the diaspora of former British colonies as they try to become a part of "white" British society.

Levy writes with nuanced subtlety. Her 2004 novel, SMALL ISLAND brought her international acclaim. Now, we can look back at her earlier work. This novel, written in 1999, just came out in the US.

Levy takes some pages from her own life to form her protagonist, Faith Jackson, a young woman whose parents came to England from Jamaica in 1948. Faith lacks a sense of her family history. Her parents have worked hard to scratch out a middle class life.

Faith is the naive nestling leaving the nest for the first time. She has a new job and 3 white roommates. Her naivete' is slowly replaced with disillusionment as she finally comprehends the racism inherent in British society. Levy experienced the same thing. Born in England and being asked: "Where are you from?"

Faith suffers a breakdown. Her parents step in and send her off to Jamaica where she finds family and a sense of her place in the world. She puts down roots.

Levy tells a lovely and inspiring story.

From Babylon to Rastafari: Origin and History of the Rastafarian Movement

Average customer rating:

Dread History
scattered thoughts...
Very informative!
babylon and rastafari
Back to the Roots

From Babylon to Rastafari: Origin and History of the Rastafarian Movement
Douglas R. A. Mack
Manufacturer: Frontline Distribution International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0948390476

Book Description

A splendid piece of work written on a remarkable, dynamic and indigenous movement by one of its ardent followers. In this book, Mack unfolds the one true binding tenet of the Rastafari concept.

Customer Reviews:

Dread History.......2006-07-03

For someone like myself, who knows a little about Rasta, and would like to know more this is a great starting point.
Douglas Mack really was there, on both missions to Africa, and at Sellasie's visit to Jamaica.
The intro is a little long, and covers in brief everything that is covered in more detail in the book itself.
In many caes it is more interesting to read between the lines to guess what DM isn't saying. Especially on the second visit to Africa when you get the distinct feeling that the Rasta's weren't that welcome in some countries.
Also the relationship with the other delegates on the missions seem strained at times.
It's a shame DM doesn't include the history of the wearing of dreadlocks, and some more events after the sixties.
All in all a good starting point in Dread history, well written, and well worth a look.

scattered thoughts..........2006-03-27

I think a better and more thorough discussion of the rastafarian movement is The Rastafarians by Sr., Leonard E. Barrett. Douglas's thoughts seem to jump around in the book with long lists of individuals whose signifigance and part in the rastafarian movement needs more clarity.

Very informative!.......2001-06-15

I love this book. It's very insightful and gives a well-rounded historical view of Rastafari. I felt a sense of overstanding of what Rasta elders went through. Naturally, I highly recommend it as an excellent resource.

babylon and rastafari.......2000-08-02

Very good source of information on the genesis of Rastafarianism and it's impact on Jamaica. However it is a little heavy on name dropping, and would have been better if it had more information on the philosophy rather than the biography. The descriptions of the early 'Rasta Camps' was great, but it left me wanting for a description of what was discussed at them. Still I would recommend this book to anyone deeply interested in the 'I'story.

Back to the Roots.......2000-05-24

This text reveals one of the most important aspect of the Rastafari culture : repatriation. The author was one of the jamaican "elders" who participate to the "Mission to Africa" in 1963 with Filmore Alvaranga and Mortimo Planno. The Rasta ideology is closely linked to the Back-To-Africa movement. This text explains the fondamental concept of this carribean way of life.

Marley Legend: An Illustrated Life of Bob Marley

Average customer rating:

A Must for the true Marley Fan
A NICE CELEBRATORY OVERVIEW...

Marley Legend: An Illustrated Life of Bob Marley
James Henke
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Accessories:

Lennon Legend

ASIN: 0811850366

Book Description

Published to coincide with the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death, Marley Legend celebrates the life and work of Bob Marley in an authorized and fully illustrated biography. In the same interactive format as the best-selling Lennon Legend, this innovative book features rare photographs and 20 removable facsimiles, including Marley's handwritten lyrics and concert memorabilia, even a private sketchbook. The package also includes a 50-minute spoken word CD featuring archival Marley interviews. Rock journalist James Henke relates the dramatic story of Marley's life, from his impoverished childhood in Jamaica's Trenchtown to his spiritual awakening through Rastafarianism, his multinational musical success, and his death from cancer at age 36. In addition to interviews with Marley's family and associates conducted especially for this book, Henke includes thoughts on favorite Marley songs from such diverse artists as U2's Bono, Sean Paul, Ben Harper, and Chrissie Hynde. Marley's message was one of love, peace, and equality -- and in words and pictures, Marley Legend shows why Bob Marley is, as Entertainment Weekly recently called him, "still the world's biggest rock star."

Customer Reviews:

A Must for the true Marley Fan.......2006-12-30

When this was opened at X-mas, brought the recipient to tears. All the goodies packed into the book are amazing & worth every penny!

A NICE CELEBRATORY OVERVIEW..........2006-06-04

This is a nicely packaged (and slipcased) celebration of a reggae icon with beautiful pictures and interesting tidbits...the gatefolds and pockets with little surprises might become tiresome after a few browsings but Bob Marley is one those performers whose legend only grows with time and he is entirely deserving of this elaborate book. It's not too deep but then there are plenty of good books to choose from...in the end, it's all about the music.

Average customer rating:

Not Worth It
Don't bother if you already have the 2nd edition
The ultimate honeymoon guide.

Frommer's(r) Jamaica, 2nd Edition
Darwin Porter , and Danforth Prince
Manufacturer: Frommers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Walk Good: Travels to Negril, Jamaica

ASIN: 0764566490

Book Description

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and sightseeing. You'd be lost without us!

Frommer's Jamaica is the premier guide to the island, with complete coverage of Montego Bay and the Northern Coast; Negril; Mandeville and the South Coast; Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay; Port Antonio; Kingston; and more. You'll get candid reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife, as well as the author's picks for the best travel experiences, including: relaxing at Doctor's Cave Beach; surfing Boston Bay Beach; golfing at White Witch of Rose Hall Golf Course; enjoy a romantic picnic at YS Falls; down a daiquiri at Time'n' Place in Falmouth; and more.

Download Description

Customer Reviews:

Not Worth It.......2007-05-13

A fairly useless guide, with many facts but no feeling. Everyone knows their own expectations of Jamaica. This book does not address this at all.

Don't bother if you already have the 2nd edition.......2004-09-23

I very much liked the 2nd edition of this text. I purchased the 3rd edition because we are planning our third trip to Jamaica. Unfortunately, this new edition contains very little updated information. In fact, two of the newer Riu hotels in Negril (one of which opened in 2001) are not even included in this guide.
This is a very helpful guidebook, but don't bother buying the new edition if you already have the 2nd edition. You can find as much useful information online.

The ultimate honeymoon guide........2003-08-15

I recently got married and this guide was all I needed to find the best of Jamaica. With its section on the Best of Jamaica, I was given the top choices for everything from the best beaches, honeymoon resorts, romantic getaways, shopping buys, and gold courses. This guide made planning my trip simple, with all the information I needed to know before I got there, like the exchange rate, the calendar of events, and tips on dining out and shopping.

Jamaican Volunteers in the First World War: Race, Masculinity and the Development of National Consciousness

Average customer rating:

Jamaican Volunteers in the First World War: Race, Masculinity and the Development of National Consciousness
Richard Smith
Manufacturer: Manchester University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0719069858
Release Date: 2005-02-10

Book Description

This groundbreaking study explores the dynamics of race and masculinity to provide fresh historical insight into the First World War and its imperial dimensions, by examining the experiences of Jamaicans who served in British regiments. Despite their exclusion from the battlefield, the author shows that the experience of war was invaluable in allowing veterans to appropriate codes of heroism, sacrifice and citizenship in order to wage their own battles for independence on their return home, culminating in the nationalist upsurge of the late 1930s.

Tropical Houses: Living in Nature in Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Java, Bali, and the Coasts of Mexico and Belize

Average customer rating:

Island living
Beautiful and Exotic
Perfect for Decorating Ideas
Great book
The Best in Tropical Houses

Tropical Houses: Living in Nature in Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Java, Bali, and the Coasts of Mexico and Belize
Tim Street-Porter
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517704625
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Amazon.com

Before opening Tropical Houses, hide your passport. As soon as you get a glimpse of these incredible houses nestled among lush tropical landscapes, you'll want to head straight to the airport. Author Tim Street-Porter spent more than 10 years traveling through Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Bali, Java, Mexico, and Belize, meeting the owners of these Shangri-las and taking interior and exterior photos. Tropical Houses offers intelligent, dreamy commentary and over 272 breathtaking full-color photos.

Visit the House of Iseh in Bali and sit in the verdant shadow of the sacred volcano Gunung Agung. Said writer Anna Mathews of the view from the terrace: "Once you have lived in this place you can never be the same again. You are driven mad by beauty." In Jamaica, imagine you're a guest at Good Hope. Originally a plantation, Good Hope is now a 10-room villa that overlooks the Queen of Spain valley and the Cockpit Mountains. To look at these provocative photos is to imagine yourself in another life--one where you lounge on the veranda while white-jacketed waiters quietly replace your empty rum-and-pineapple drink. The owners of these estates have taken great care (at great expense) to create private, tropical paradises. One of the most stunning is Taprobane, an incredible retreat dominating the tiny island of the same name. Built by Count de Mauny-Talvande, the house is "an octagonal villa that allowed for verandahs in every direction; a 1930s folly, which, with small gardens extending through the foliage to the overhanging edges, fully occupied the crest of his island."

The careful architecture and landscaping of these estates "opens a world of sensual experiences." When the sky is gray and you don't have time for a vacation, Tropical Houses will lift your spirits and quiet your wanderlust. --Dana Van Nest

Book Description

The ambient warmth of the tropics causes architectural distinctions between indoors and out to evaporate, along with the walls that divide them. Houses expand into the landscape, while the sights, sounds, and scents of nature waft through living spaces. Indeed, one of the pleasures of living in the tropics is an awakening of the senses that brings us closer to nature.

Internationally renowned photographer and writer Tim Street-Porter has spent more than ten years traveling through Bali, Java, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Belize, and Jamaica. This book's 272 stunning photographs, supported by Street-Porter's fascinating and informed commentary, capture the appeal and the meaning of the enviable dwellings he found in his journeys. It may be the outdoor bath, a sybarite's delight, with sun filtering through a frangipani tree . . . the deep-eaved verandah, where one sips coffee while contemplating the neighboring valley shrouded in early morning mist . . . or the thatch-roofed palapa, its main supports local tree trunks wrapped in strangler vine.

These wonderful expressions of vernacular architecture -- many the products of the world's finest architects and designers--nest in jungles, perch over volcanic cliffs, stand placidly beside lagoons, and exist always in harmony with the nature that envelops them. These are real places where people really live, but each seems suspended in a setting that is at once dreamlike and elemental.

Customer Reviews:

Island living.......2005-08-02

Excellent book with something for all tastes. Beautiful pictures make you want to go home and decorate immediately.

Beautiful and Exotic.......2004-05-28

The cover is just a teaser to the exciting tropical houses Tim Street-Porter captures in this wondeful book. A real treat to exclusive tropical living around the world. Also an excellent reference to decorate in the tropical look. Street-Porter does it again as he did in Casa Mexicana. A book to enjoy over and over.

Perfect for Decorating Ideas.......2003-01-15

We are trying to get an "island" feel for our home and this book was the perfect reference. Not only are the pictures of the homes (inside and out) breathtaking, but there is enough detail about the decorating itself to be useful for our purpose. The only downside is that it makes you want to sell your current house and just travel the world staying in these amazing homes! Especially tempting is the contact information at the very end in case you actually want to rent one of them on vacation...

Great book.......2002-05-25

I found this to be a wonderful book - it has some amazing pictures. It affords you the opportunity to view some beautiful private houses that you are unlikely to be able to visit. Unlike some other books that focus primarily on houses in South East Asia, this one also features some great houses in Mexico and Jamaica.

The Best in Tropical Houses.......2001-11-29

Tropical Houses takes you around the globe to find some of the most interestingly designed homes in the world. The photographs are at once detailed and lush. If you are going to buy one book on tropical interiors, this should be the one.

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