The Seasons of Beento Blackbird (Paperback)

by Akosua Busia (Author) "THERE IS NO BLUE like the blue of the Caribbean Sea..." (more)
Key Phrases: Nana Serwah, Akua Gyamma, Cape Corcos (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Unabashedly sentimental and preachily uplifting, Busia's sprawling first novel maps the physical, erotic and spiritual migrations of Solomon Wilberforce. Under the pseudonym of Beento Blackbird, Solomon is a gifted writer of children's books that enlighten black children all over the world about their rich African cultural roots. A blend of American, Caribbean and African antecedents, he's the walking embodiment of the multicultural African diaspora. He seems to have it all and then some: genius, charisma, great looks and the devotion of three women. Solomon spends winters on the Caribbean island of Cape Corcos with Miriam (nine years his senior) and summers in Ghana with his young bride, Ashia. In New York, his literary agent, a woman named Sam, has been in love with him for years, completely unaware of his other lives. Busia enriches her narrative with glimpses of her native Ghana and scenes in London and New York. Too often, however, she mistakes purple prose for lyricism and sentimentality for true feeling. Only late in the story, when the precarious balance of Solomon's life goes awry, do the characters experience anything remotely resembling a convincing crisis. And even then, the resolution lacks gravity. At one point, Busia writes that Solomon's "inner child was eager to come out and show him how to lead the children into a bright new world." This is book is written with a similar, wide-eyed eagerness.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
In this first novel, lead character Solomon is emerging from self-exile and reliving his recent past. His story revolves around three very different women?one from the Caribbean, one from America, one from Africa, and all in love with him.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671014099
• ISBN-13: 978-0671014094
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #373,422 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book for all Seasons 5 +++, January 12, 2001

By A Customer

The Seasons of Beento Blackbird is overwhelming, it is one of the best book I have read, ever. Set mostly in Ghana and the Caribbean , the scenic descriptions were lush, almost visual. The characters were rich in human spirit and intune with a higher power and were able to show the sacrificies made, when you truly love.

Solomon Wilberforce, the main character was delivered by a 9 year old midwife, to a teenage mother. He spent his early childhood in the Caribbean and then moved to New York City, the home of his absentee, unyielding farther. Solomon, using the pen name Beento Blackbird, writes children's stories about African history using the Blackbird to impart his messages. He returns to the Caribbean, marries his midwife, Miriam, and is seemingly happy, but, during his travels gathering infomrmation for his books, he meets and marries Ashia, a young Ghanian woman. Solomon lives his life in seasons, the winter season in the Caribbean with Miriam, the summer season with Ashia and the remaining season is spent in New York writing. Each wife is aware of the other and have different feelings about the arrangement.

The death of Solomon's farher disrupts his seasons, and thrust his life into a tailspin. When Ashia, with her infant son, travels to the Caribbean and the wives meet for the first time, Solomon has a decision to make. The beauy of this story is that aside from having two wives, Solomon is a decent man. Highly influenced by the teachings of is mother and the lack of teachings from his father, Solomon has lived in emotional turmoil. He wants to belong to one wife, one woman, one love, but he loves both and has never committed fully to either.

Miriam and Ashia share an equal love for Solomon and have themselves bonded. As a reader you find yourself pulling for both wives, because they both deserve the best. Will Solomon continue to live with his wives are will he follow his heart and become ONE with one.

At different stops on Solomon's journey you couldn't wait to see how the story would end. This is a must read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5++ Stars, May 28, 2000

By	Gloria L. Few "Purple Daisee" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. Like other readers, I fell in love with "King Solomon". I had my reservations about him from the cover synopsis, but as I read I became too focused on him and his true love for the women in his life to think about what bothered me from the cover.

Solomon's love for the women in his life was phenomenal. He ached for each of them in different ways. The portrayal of Solomon with Ashia and Miriam was profound. I began to ache for Solomon as the story unfolded. As Solomon yearned in different ways for the loves in his life, I yearned for Solomon's happiness.

It is refreshing and unusual to find a man's story told from a different viewpoint. Had the story been told differently, I can see where I might feel some degree of dislike for a man like Solomon. Yet, the author's sensitivity to Solomon and his plight (to love equally but differently two very different women), placed the main male character in a more favorable light. As in reality, the author appears to realize that a man's choices are not always selfish and/or sexually driven.

Through this book, I feel like I have a better understanding of a custom that previously left me with a bad thought. Before the book, I could not understand for what reasons a man might think he needs more than one wife. I now feel I can understand it better. I still don't agree with it, but I can understand Solomon's position. As I read this book, I also found myself sometimes lying the book down as I reflected on my own life and thinking of better ways to educate children in my life about our heritage. Solomon had a fierce pride in his blackness and an even stronger desire to learn about our wonderful history.

Finally, I read a review that described this book as overly long. I disagree; I found this book to be too short. I want more. I want a sequel. I want to learn what happens to Ashia and the baby and what happens in Miriam's life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RAINMAKER, March 24, 2002

By	busylady (Riverdale, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Seasons of Beento Blackbird: A Novel (Hardcover)

Solomon Wilberforce can make it rain! I mean literally and figuratively. He walks in a room and the air shifts, he's a talented writer of books for children, a man of the people,
socially aware, handsome and gracious. Maybe too much for one woman, that's why Solomon has three. No he's not a player anything that trivial and gaudy would be beneath him.

Let's start with Sam, his agent, their relationship is strictly platonic but she knows a rainmaker when she sees one and is hopelessly in love with Solomon. He likes her, enjoys her company, thinks she's a beautiful, talented sister but that's the extent of his interest. He only sees her in the Spring & Fall during his "working" seasons.

Miriam is his winter woman, his first love and wife. Miriam, a beautiful midwife, is an icon herself on their home island of Jamaica, she delivered Solomon when she was only 9 years old. Their souls are connected.

Summer belongs to Aisha, a young beautiful Ghanaian woman, one look in those big, jet black eyes and Solomon was a goner. Aisha is his second wife. Of course this noble warrior asked Miriam's permission to marry Aisha and she consented.

Everything was fine, had been for over 5 years, until Solomon stepped out of season. This is a beautiful story wonderfully told. Busia is a very gifted writer.