About the Author Nalo Hopkinson
Nalo Hopkinson is a Jamaican-born Canadian speculative fiction writer and editor. As of 2013, she lived and taught in Riverside, California. Her novels and short stories such as those in her collection Skin Folk often draw on Caribbean history and language, and its traditions of oral and written storytelling. – Wikipedia
now for my review
Set in a near dystopian Toronto, Ti-Jeanne tries to find herself and decide what she wants to do with her life separate from her Mami and maybe also from her child’s father who is just a good looking plum fool.
Steeped in the Caribbean folklore and giving magical realism vibes, I enjoyed every bit of the story. Ti-Jeanne annoyed me alot but now that I’ve sat with it a bit I think it’s because she reminded me of me when I was younger and pinning over a man and all the stupid decisions I made(sighs…)
Mami was a badass and I understood her hurt, ultimately hurt people hurt people. Women are powerful. Mami’s role in the community and strength was unmatched.
Let’s get into these gods, I was so delighted reading about them in this book and screaming I know them, their names might be a little different but I know them and it was a piece of home I didn’t know I needed.
Can we talk about how Christianity made us (at least most of us Africans and Caribbeans) believe that our religions/spirituality before the White men came force theirs down our throats were barbaric? what defines barbaric practices? is something barbaric just because you don’t do it?
The way the old testament sacrifices were made, are they not similar to the practices of our ancestors?
Anyways, before i go off all that is to say that I really enjoyed the infusion of folklore and traditional practices in the story and how they can bring healing. @2treads has an excellent review on this so make sure to check it out.
For people who have read the book I have a question; do you think Legbara intervened and pushed to destroy the bowl only because his son called out to him?