Customer Reviews

Walk Good: Travels to Negril, Jamaica

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A nifty (and funny!) travelogue set in Negril on the western tip of Jamaica, known as the `Capital of Cool'. Walk Good is an affectionate look at the people and places of Negril by one Roland "Thomas" Reimer, self styled expert on Bob Marley lyrics and questor for the perfect conch shell. Reimer's semi-fictional account of his journey to the fabled seven-mile-beach town -- ostensibly to get married -- is packed with humorous adventures and encounters with characters of both the local and tourist varieties.

The first part of the book deals with Reimer's final bachelor days in Negril. It's a convenient foil for his vignettes of scuba diving, fishing and partying with various Negrillites. These stories have no doubt been gathered from his various trips to the area over the years. Meet Danny, whose lack of the latest in scuba equipment doesn't stop him diving to scary depths; the `Jerks', obnoxious but essentially naive "good ole boys" from Toronto; and a cast of hustlers and survivors making a living on the beach yet not too busy to stop and exchange pleasantries with a curious and laid back white man.

The second part of the book goes into Thomas's wedding, where he's transformed from beachcomber to prospective groom and protective father of teen daughters. After the nuptials, the scene switches to the all-inclusive Negril experience, and Reimer provides a funny look at the goings on at the wacky Hedonism II. Note to the queasy: reports on hot tub activities are not for the faint of hygiene. There's also an account of the infamous nude mass wedding, which, with Reimer's keen and cynical eye, is seen as for the publicity stunt it was (attended by no less than the head of Superclubs- though, it must be said, fully dressed). Underlying all this is a rather sweet story of a guy getting hitched to the love of his life, and introducing her to the paradise that is Negril.

The Thomas in the book is one step beyond the usual repeat tourist: he's the guy who goes outside the comfort zones and gets behind the facades of the huts and shops to see and understand what life is like for locals. His account of his `Pilgrimage' to the resting place of the great reggae star `Bob Marley, is both captivating and moving. The book is refreshingly short on the sentimentalized (and therefore patronizing) view of Jamaicans that some Jamaica lovers can develop.

Overall, Reimer has an easy style that makes the book a quick and absorbing read. There is a healthy sprinkling of Jamaican proverbs throughout the book, which are helpfully translated in a section on Jamaican patois at the end ("Mi come yah fe drink milk, me no come yah fe count cow" - `More action! Less talk! Let's get down to business!')

Walk Good is a nifty travelogue and handbook for those who want to take a little more of Negril on its own terms.

If you have been to Negril, this book takes you right back. If you have not been to Negril, you will have to go after reading this book. Since I've been there, reading about all the adventures took me back. I could feel the sun on my back, the sweet cool breeze and taste the red stripe. Excellent job in describing all the happenings and all the people. The people are real and are instantly recognizable. Wonderful book and one I will keep forever and read often.

If you love JA, and you're not from the Island...read this book. It will transport you there(virtual time!) and make you say to yourself"oh yeah, I remember that spot..."
You can TASTE the cocobread...and sugarcane...
Buy it!
A great gift for you or someone you love.

If you have ever been to Negril, you will find a lot familiar stories in this book. The ride from Montego Bay to Negril was identical to several I have taken. I enjoyed most the parts of the book that talked about the history of Jamaica and Negril. The stories of encounters with locals and vendors were also amusing and very familiar to my own experiences. Beyond that, this was a very tedious book to read. There were portions that were a blow by blow, (no pun intended regarding Hedo II) account of some very boring events. Some of it read like a "dear diary" entry. "Today I saw so and so, we talked, we said goodbye" Okay, not that bad but close in spots. If you can get past those spots, I found myself skipping portions, there is a lot of good information about Jamaica and Negril.

I read Walk Good, written by fellow Negril-aholic Roland Thomas Reimer, on two successive trips to Negril. On the first trip I read it cover to cover, and on the second I went straight for the dog-eared highlights trying to decipher the code of names changed to protect the not-so-innocent.

Walk Good is a two-hundred and sixty-two page vacation. You go to the airport, you take a trip on "The Road to Negril," and you meet myriad unique characters all along the beach in Negril. Roland uses the literary device of an extended Negril vacation with many vivid flashbacks, and a few interludes into Jamaican history to tell his story.

I loved how the book spoke my language; the language of a guy who loves Negril. The book's dedication lists my friend Rob Graves, and all the boardies of Negril.com. Hey, I'm one of them! And Roland was one of us, although I was yet to discover the Negril.com Message Board when the book came out.

The Jamaicans are described realistically, but if you haven't been to Negril you may think some things are over stated. I assure you he's spot on. Roland treats the Jamaicans with respect, an important commodity for people who "get it," and something Jamaicans can smell as soon as they meet you.

When I talk to my Negril-nut friends, the subject is often a question our friends and families constantly ask: "Why do you keep going back there?" Walk Good, in giving the reader an "in your bones" feel for that little strip of land on the tip of Jamaica, answers that question.

So I recommend buying the book, taking a flight to Negril Jamaica, and reading Walk Good on the beach.

I laughed I cried. If you've been to Jamaica or are thinking about going to Jamaica this is a great book. It will give you a flavor of the country, the people, and his experience there.

If you've never been to Negril or even if you've been many times, you need to read this book. Walk Good is an excellent book that captures the essence of Negril with style and humour. Once you start this book you won't be able to put it down. Also includes a great section on Jamaican proverbs.

Negril is a special place, and Reimer's book takes you there. It brings back lots of sweet memories. If you want a great novel set in this magical place, take a look at "JAMAICA GIRL." Jon Michael Miller's novel shows you the real Jamaica, far behind the walls of the famous all-inclusive resorts. You will see the struggles and the joys of a wonderful people, as well as meet Rosalind Juliet Mitchell, a fabulously brave and resourceful protagonist, on her search for love and freedom. It is by far the best book about Jamaica I have ever read. A wonderful story, suspenseful, sexy, funny, disturbing, and quite moving. Wonderful characters. And a great message about the power of love to transform one's existence. A great read for a vacation, or, even, a vacation in itself.

Great read!! I have read many books on Jamaica and I have to rate Walk Good towards the top. Jamaica is my passion.

I bought this book to take on my trip to Jamaica. I always like to read some local history/stories when I travel and this was a great book for that. It gave me a fun look into the culture of the island and some of the things I didn't get to see only spending five days there. The author has a fun style of writing - I laughed more than once while reading. Reading this book made me want to plan a return trip to Jamaica to see some parts of the island I missed while I was there.

My only complaint was that the book binding was starting to lose some of the pages after only reading it once. Maybe the author will consider using a different publisher if there's a second edition.

A great book to take with you to Jamaica, or to read as an escape even if you don't have a trip planned anytime soon. The prose will take you there. A fun read!