Me Dying Trial (Caribbean Writers Series) [Paperback]

Patricia Powell (Author), Edwidge Danticat (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0435989359 | ISBN-13: 978-0435989354 | Publication Date: November 1993

Born and raised in Jamaica, Patricia Powell emigrated to the USA and in 1991 became Assistant Professor Creative of Writing at the University of Massachusetts. Written when she was 19, this novel spans two decades and interweaves the voices and perspectives of three generations of Jamaican women.

Editorial Reviews

Review

One of the most gifted voices among the new generation of writers from the English-speaking Caribbean. With her flawless ear for the poetic vernacular of her native Jamaica and her in-depth understanding of the complexity of island society, Powell continues to affirm the Caribbean's rightful place on the literary map of the world.--Paule Marshall, author of Praisesong for the Widow

"In its appropriation of the singsong accent of Jamaicans, its vivid portrayal of landscape, and its stark portrayal of the trials of womanhood/motherhood, Me Dying Trial is a remarkable first novel."--World Literature Today

"Powell weaves a compelling plot . . . developing a whole cast of characters worth caring about. A bold writer, she takes on economic and political issues."--Belles Lettres --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Patricia Powell is the author of A Small Gathering of Bones, The Pagoda and a forthcoming novel, The Good Life. Her awards include the Bruce Rossley Literary Award, the Ferro-Grumley Award for Fiction, and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Writers' Award. Powell has taught creative writing at Harvard University, Wellesley College, and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Currently she is Martin Luther King Visiting Professor at MIT. Powell lives in Watertown, Massachusetts. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann (Txt) (November 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0435989359
• ISBN-13: 978-0435989354
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,903,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Surprise Jewel, January 19, 2001

By 

IsolaBlue (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Me Dying Trial (Caribbean Writers Series) (Paperback)

Anyone with a love of West Indian literature should real ME DYING TRIAL. Likewise, those with an interest in the gay and lesbian literature that has been coming from Caribbean writers over the past decade. ME DYING TRIAL is the first novel of Jamaican-born Patricia Powell who was only in her 20s when the book was published. It is an amazing accomplishment for a young writer. ME DYING TRIAL traces the life of Gwennie, a bright but unhappy Jamaican woman who has many children, an abusive husband, and a great deal of ambition. We feel we know her intimately and two of her children - Rudi and Peppy - are certainly memorable long after the book is finished as is Ma Cora, the woman who helps to raise Peppy. This is a novel about survival, about the complexities of family, about expectations, about hurt and loss. For those reading of the Caribbean for the first time, it gives a real flavor and feeling for the West Indies. And for those interested in finding characters to identify with in literature who feel slightly out of step with their families, ME DYING TRIAL has a lot to offer. The book may never be a classic, but it is well-written in gorgeously rendered dialect, and it was written by a brave and intelligent young woman.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars jamaica set novel, February 8, 2010

By 

joanna liss (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Me Dying Trial (Bluestreak) (Paperback)

Excellent book. I bought it to read in Jamaica, where it takes place. It gave me excellent insights into the culture and patois and was beautifully written.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, April 17, 2011

By 

Shallet - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Me Dying Trial (Bluestreak) (Paperback)

I became a fan of Patricia Powell after reading this book. Being Jamaican, I could relate to many of the characters in the book. I love reading stories that take place in the Caribbean and this one was so believable and relatable. The author does a great job at depicting Jamaican life, immigration to the U.S., and a woman's struggle to provide a better life for herself and her children. This is a great book!