Olga - A Daughter's Tale [Kindle Edition]

Marie Campbell (Author)

Book Description

A new author's first book written as the result of genealogical research into her mother's past and her family. Based on a true story 'Olga - A Daughter's Tale' is a family saga about love, heritage, culture, identity and belonging with an epic feel - from Jamaica to England amidst World War II.

Written in the form of diary entries and letters, it is about the cruelty, revenge and jealousy inflicted on an innocent young woman and about her moral courage, dignity, resilience and, in particular, love.

It is the story of a remarkable woman who, because of circumstances, made a choice which resulted in her losing contact with her beloved family in Jamaica until nearly half a century later when her daughter discovered her mother's past.

Product Details

• File Size: 581 KB
• Print Length: 183 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Marie Campbell; 1 edition (January 13, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004J4W024
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,903 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book Alert Review June 3, 2011

By Cindy Borgne

Format:Kindle Edition

This story is a great read that brings with it wisdom to be gained based on real life events. It's not your typical novel because it's told through a series of letters and diary entries. At first I didn't think that this format would interest me, but the more I read the more I found it compelling.

Most of the diary entries and letters are from three women: Lucy, Becky and Olga. Through their eyes, I learned interesting and well described details about Jamaican beliefs and customs. I also learned what it was like in England during World War Two. The three women are likable and down to earth types. Lucy and Becky were originally from England and it was interesting to see how they adapted to Jamaica. They even became somewhat caught up in the dark magic practiced by Jamaicans.

The women all experience hard times, and Olga is the one who had the roughest life. There were times she frustrated me, but overall her courage and determination amazed me. Even after I was done reading, I couldn't help thinking about her and what she accomplished considering her situation.

If you're looking for the intensity of the typical genre novel, this isn't it. The format (diaries and letters) basically means the story is told, and telling always tones down any intensity. Yet, I continued to want to get back to it. The strongest points about this story are that it's about real people, and therefore the characterization is excellent. The story is so well written it puts you right into the time period and locations. Readers who enjoy history and genealogy are going to be especially interested. I highly recommend it.

Note: A Free Review copy was provided by the author.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book! July 30, 2011

By kyriaw

Format:Kindle Edition

This is a story of both England and Jamaica, the people and cultures of both countries and the racism that existed there during the early 1900s. Olga, the daughter of a White English woman and a Black Jamaican man, goes to London to study dance and ends up living in London as a colored single woman during WWII. She has some hardships due to her race and her social status but gets through them in the end.

I liked this book. It is written in journal entry form, both from the viewpoint of Olga, who is the main character, as well as her mother, Becky and her Aunt Lucy. It also has a few newspaper articles and letters from others thrown in. It flows easily and I did keep turning the pages to find out what would happen next.

It talks about the prejudices of color in Jamaica, even between blacks and coloreds, who were the lighter skinned blacks. It speaks of obeha, or voodoo, and how it was outlawed in Jamaica for a long time. It talks about the war and some of the stresses there were being in London at the time

This book was thought provoking. I always like hearing a story in a voice that I can understand. Olga's voice was just right.

I give this book at 4 out of 5.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Like a movie!" February 1, 2011

By Freddles

Format:Kindle Edition

Fascinating true story, a very touching and moving book about an inspirational personal life, and which has an epic feel about it, from Jamaica to England amidst World War II !
Can't help but thinking that it's screaming "Make a movie of it, make a movie of it!!".

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