Customer Reviews

Me Dying Trial (Caribbean Writers Series)

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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.

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.

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!