Broken Gourds [Paperback]

Beresford McLean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 22, 2004

Broken Gourds is inspirational folklore. Written in the tradition of Steinbeck's Cannery Row, this inspirational folklore is a story of humanity mirrored in the events of one small farming village of Jamaica. In the story, the author considers the role of the intuitive mind in the form of a lowly healer whose mission is to empower the oppressed while fostering harmony and hope. As the story develops, his success attracts the temptations . . . greed, hate, lust, and jealousy . . . that power positions bring. These he must struggle to overcome. Broken Gourds is an inspirational folklore of change and permanence, love and hate, peace and pestilence. It is, indeed, a story of life. Those very elements, which rocked that multi-ethnic community a century ago, are still at the very core of all society, of life, today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A warm story of how one man s transformation can move a people. Both well-crafted and revealing, this is an inspiring tale of humanity for readers of all ages. --Kirkus Reviews

McLean composes his poetic tale in full consciousness of the power of words. --Forward Magazine

Set in a small Jamaican farming village, Broken Gourds by Beresford McLean is the deftly written and engaging story of a lowly healer, who seeks to empower the suffering yet who learns the hard way that with power comes immense temptation and the seven deadly sins. The eternal struggle of human nature and man at war with himself is exquisitely captured in this exotic yet empathetic tale. --Small Press Review

About the Author

About the Author Beresford McLean was born in western St. Mary, Jamaica. He attended and taught high school in Kingston. In 1970 McLean emigrated to the United States where he studied physics and subsequently worked in engineering. His current focus is writing. Broken Gourds, his first inspirational folklore, was published to great acclaim in 2003. His second novel, Providence Pond, came three years later. McLean s third novel, Fish Hook River, is due by the fall of 2009.

Product Details

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: Anancy Books (January 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975329707
• ISBN-13: 978-0975329702
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,240,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Story, January 26, 2003

By 

A. M. Marcolini "annie" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broken Gourds (Paperback)

I was able to get an advance copy of this wonderful book. I enjoyed ever word of this charming Folklore. This book is a treasure, the characters are rich and powerful you will not soon forget Brother Walk and Twig. I anxiously await the next book from this unforgettable new author. You will not be disappointed in this fabulous new novel , take a chance and read a book filled with powerful messages that touch your heart in todays world yet set in a small remote Jamaican Farming village. I enjoyed reading about the diversity of the Jamaican community and humor that never faltered.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A folktale destined to be a classic..., June 8, 2003

By 

Beverly J. Rowe "MyShelf.com" (Kenai, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Broken Gourds (Paperback)

An exciting new voice in contemporary literature, McLean writes with a master's touch. The offbeat characters, and the clash of cultures entwined with the political unrest in this Caribbean paradise provides the central theme in this novel of historical Jamaica. I fell in love with the wise and loving grandmother, the wretched, deformed Twig who was so dependent on Dada, and the other assorted characters of this island Shangri-La.

The metamorphosis of Dada, a 29 year old man who is seemingly an incompetent and possibly mentally handicapped individual, into a spiritual leader; the politically powerful, articulate and charismatic Brother Walk, is a compelling story. The beliefs of the old Ashanti community's ancient culture clash
with the sophisticated, modern, non-African ideals, and the love and loyalty contrast with the jealously and animosity in the lives of these people. "The very elements that rocked this rustic Jamaican farming village a century ago are still at the core of mankind's search for a sense of self today," according to Beresford McLean.

McLean's great imagination, and eloquent prose take you on a journey through the lives of these island denizens that will long remain in your heart. The unexpected twists in the plot keep you reading long into the night. I hope there is a sequel in Mr. McLeans future....I'll sure watch for it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the full plate of human failings, May 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Broken Gourds (Paperback)

Broken Gourds is a story of the people living in the mountain village of Albion, in Saint Mary's parish, Jamaica in the 1800's. The community is a mixture of the poor Ashanti, an old ancient culture, and the elite British plantation owners. The two cultures co-existed for many years. Treating the villagers as wayward children the plantation owners worked them in their banana fields, employed them as servants in their homes and preached to them in their church. But as always in an evolving society change came that shook them to their core, causing unrest and confusion.

Beresford Mclean's novel has been described as "Inspirational Folklore" written in the tradition of Steinbeck's Cannery Row. Victor Rawlings is the narrator of the story.Wealthy landowners and highly paid professionals who work in Port Maria but live in Albion have petitoned the city to modernize the road making the remote Jamacian village more acsessible to tourists and commercial development. Victor, as spokesman for the villagers, petitions the Port Maria City Council to reconsider the placement of the new road. Citing the destruction of historical buildings he negotiates a meeting with the engineers and Project Manager. He leads them up the quaint dirt road to an old area known as The Balm Yard ( a place of meditation and healing to anyone of African ancestry.) They enter a run down building called The Mission House and stare in disbelief at it's disrepair and wonder why anyone would want to save it. Victor tells them the story of the early days of Albion, how life was, how it changed and of a healer called Brother Walk. He wants them to recognize the significance of the Mission House and it's historical value to the village.

The leaders in Albion were the wealthy plantation owners and members of the church. The women had their afternoon teas, luncheons and book club meetings while the men spent their time hunting birds or wild pigs. They would meet for drinks and play billiards at a social club in Port Maria while discussing politics. They also held meetings at a tavern in Albion to discuss local buisness. Pastor Hamilton acted as the social engineer of Albion. As head of The First Baptist Church he was powerful and influential. He would make the corrections needed for any buisness or social changes with the absolute backing of his congregation. Life for them was peacful and content and the villagers accepted this as the way it should be.

DaDa is a social outcast, the lowly son of a farming family.Unclean, overweight and lazy he spends his time gorging on food and daydreaming. His feet are covered with oozing sores and his nose runs constantly. Everyone believes he is backward and makes fun of him. His grandmother (Granny) is the only one who shows DaDa love. Granny is immersed in the traditions and superstitions of the ancient culture. She senses a spirituality in DaDa that no one else can see. DaDa has one friend called Twig who is crippled from polio. Twig is bent so badly he walks hunched over seeing nothing but the ground.One day DaDa visits Granny who is ill and feeling her old age weakening her body. When he leaves he hears the sound of drums beating. The music is so enchanting that he follows the sound and finds himself high in the hills standing before a shimmering pool of water. He suddenly feels himself pushed from behind into the pool. The water is so warm and relaxing that he lies there and lets the water splash over him. Getting out of the water he sees that all his sores are healed and is amazed at how clear headed he feels. He sees a young girl dressed in African robes holding a highly decorated gourd which she gives to him before she disappears. He fills the gourd with the magical water and starts home to tell Granny what has happened. When he arrives home and hugs Granny she suddenly feels better. She tells him he has been visited by the people from the past and has been chosen to be a healer.

DaDa tries to keep what has happened secret unsure of this remarkable gift. When his father dies DaDa is overcome by grief. He hugs his friend Twig who is suddenly able to stand upright. Twig is so joyous that he runs into the village shouting that DaDa has cured him. The villagers are stunned to see Twig walking upright and begin to go to DaDa for healing and guidance. Because of his ability to heal and his new charasmatic way of speaking DaDa decides to become a preacher and build a Mission House and Balm Yard for the people. DaDa changes his name to Brother Walk and becomes known far and wide as the healer. He does not charge them for his healing but the money and gifts keep flowing in making him a very rich and powerful man. He remembers his youthful dreams of owning Albion and he succumbs to the temptations of greed and lust.

As Brother Walk's ministry and fortune grows the village clinic and The First Baptist Church are going bankrupt. The former leaders of the village are now faced with the loss of their money and power.They devise a plan to rid themselves of Brother Walk and gain back their positions of power and influence.Their devious schemes go awry and in the process of trying to bring Brother Walk down he realizes his mistakes and decides to live out his life as a worthy spirtual leader.

Although Mr. Mclean's novel is written about a remote village in Jamaica long ago in another time frame the issues of human faults and the corruption that too much power and wealth can cause is still very true today in our society. He brings the full plate of human failings to the table, greed, corruption, adultery, the act of judging others for the way they look or their social status, and even murder. He also gives the readers love, forgivness and redemption. And in the end he shows the full circle of life and how God, or destiny as some would say, puts us in the place we are supposed to be in at the time we are meant to be there.

Pat Hayworth
The Compulsive Reader, ...