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Island Songs
"She wondered what kind of world she had brought her two daughters into – the tedious cycle of rural Jamaican life. No chance for them to set off upon adventures and see the outside world."
But sisters Jenny and Hortense Rodney, descendants of the fierce Maroon people, do get to see the world, and Island Songs is their story. Growing up in rural Claremont, working amid the hustle and bustle, lawn parties and ‘houses of joy’ in Trenchtown, the two sisters take a chance and move to England with their husbands, that far-off land of riches, where they settle down to motherhood amongst the jazz cafés and bleak streets of Brixton.
A hauntingly and beautifully written evocation of twentieth-century Jamaica, its history and traditions, Island Songs is an epic of love, laughter and sorely tested family loyalties. Many stories are told, but many more secrets are never revealed.
But sisters Jenny and Hortense Rodney, descendants of the fierce Maroon people, do get to see the world, and Island Songs is their story. Growing up in rural Claremont, working amid the hustle and bustle, lawn parties and ‘houses of joy’ in Trenchtown, the two sisters take a chance and move to England with their husbands, that far-off land of riches, where they settle down to motherhood amongst the jazz cafés and bleak streets of Brixton.
A hauntingly and beautifully written evocation of twentieth-century Jamaica, its history and traditions, Island Songs is an epic of love, laughter and sorely tested family loyalties. Many stories are told, but many more secrets are never revealed.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
11 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Alex Wheatle
41 books197 followersAlex Alphonso Wheatle was a British novelist, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment after the 1981 Brixton riot in London.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 29, 2015
I really enjoyed this book! Although I read it quite a while ago (approximately nine years now!) I still remember how entertaining it was to read and how I couldn't stop turning the pages. Wheatle is a very witty (and talented) writer and his use of dialogue and portrayal of characters are second to none.
I particularly liked the themes of jealousy and unrequited love in this story; the relationships between Jenny and Hortense (and their men) although tumultuous, were exciting to follow and not once was I bored when reading this book. Following the sisters from childhood to adulthood was very powerful and gives us an insight into the human psyche that is really quite enlightening.
As a person who's never been to Jamaica, I loved the way the writer used language and description to bring the setting of this novel to life.
Did I mention that the story starts off with a bang?! Right from the beginning you are drawn in and I can guarantee that you won't be able to put the book down!
A highly recommended read if you'd like to find out more about Jamaican culture - of if you just enjoy a good read!
I particularly liked the themes of jealousy and unrequited love in this story; the relationships between Jenny and Hortense (and their men) although tumultuous, were exciting to follow and not once was I bored when reading this book. Following the sisters from childhood to adulthood was very powerful and gives us an insight into the human psyche that is really quite enlightening.
As a person who's never been to Jamaica, I loved the way the writer used language and description to bring the setting of this novel to life.
Did I mention that the story starts off with a bang?! Right from the beginning you are drawn in and I can guarantee that you won't be able to put the book down!
A highly recommended read if you'd like to find out more about Jamaican culture - of if you just enjoy a good read!
June 20, 2020
This is a wonderful story. It was well written and I believe that Alex Wheatle did a great job of portraying Jamaican lifestyle, culture, and landscape. I definitely recommend this novel to all. The first time I read it, I was so hooked on the story that I could hardly put it down.
August 8, 2024
What a great book! I saw it among many others on Libby App (in a Windrush Day Collection) and I thought I would give it a try. I am so glad I did.
I spent the Nineties in Jamaica and as tour guide in foreign languages I have learned a lot about the history, including the Maroons. I know all the places mentioned in the book, and may others just like them (on the other side of the island). This book (or rather an audiobook brilliantly narrated by Sara Powell) is a breath-taking retelling of a history from a perspective of one family. It not only brought back a lot of memories, it also showed me the other side 0f why some things are the way they are (or rather were the way they were) when looked at by my young Eastern European eye. When I lived there at the time, there were still stories of the Maroons, the political violence after independence, the aftermath of gun violence. And a completely different pace of life in the countryside.
This book is full of humour too, and to hear the arguments between siblings narrated in Sara Powell's quick paced patois made me laugh a lot. And yes - I had to slow down the pace of narration to 0.9 of the original speed, but I managed without the additional dictionary :)
What I found very interesting, although it is mentioned only as a very short an almost insignificant episode, is the feeling of a Jamaican travelling to South in US after the abolition of slavery to earn some extra money. The perspective of a Free Black Jamaican Man of the oppression still faced by the free, but discriminated against, black population of Georgia is very interesting. The fear of roaming the countryside free due to the curfew, the secret meetings, the fear of looking a white man straight into the eyes... What happened in US seems to be so much more damaging to the people . I have never been the the South of US, but Jamaica is a cauldron of various nations and I always thought that it must be very different to what I know from the books and movies of the US - the need to fight the racism and injustice, the persecutions, KKK and violence.
There were a lot of stories close to my heart in this book and because I later lived in UK for many years- I can also see the other side now - what happened to the generations after their trip to the new country.
I am in love and maybe I will reach for this book again
I spent the Nineties in Jamaica and as tour guide in foreign languages I have learned a lot about the history, including the Maroons. I know all the places mentioned in the book, and may others just like them (on the other side of the island). This book (or rather an audiobook brilliantly narrated by Sara Powell) is a breath-taking retelling of a history from a perspective of one family. It not only brought back a lot of memories, it also showed me the other side 0f why some things are the way they are (or rather were the way they were) when looked at by my young Eastern European eye. When I lived there at the time, there were still stories of the Maroons, the political violence after independence, the aftermath of gun violence. And a completely different pace of life in the countryside.
This book is full of humour too, and to hear the arguments between siblings narrated in Sara Powell's quick paced patois made me laugh a lot. And yes - I had to slow down the pace of narration to 0.9 of the original speed, but I managed without the additional dictionary :)
What I found very interesting, although it is mentioned only as a very short an almost insignificant episode, is the feeling of a Jamaican travelling to South in US after the abolition of slavery to earn some extra money. The perspective of a Free Black Jamaican Man of the oppression still faced by the free, but discriminated against, black population of Georgia is very interesting. The fear of roaming the countryside free due to the curfew, the secret meetings, the fear of looking a white man straight into the eyes... What happened in US seems to be so much more damaging to the people . I have never been the the South of US, but Jamaica is a cauldron of various nations and I always thought that it must be very different to what I know from the books and movies of the US - the need to fight the racism and injustice, the persecutions, KKK and violence.
There were a lot of stories close to my heart in this book and because I later lived in UK for many years- I can also see the other side now - what happened to the generations after their trip to the new country.
I am in love and maybe I will reach for this book again
November 9, 2020
A wonderful tale of family life in Jamaica and migrating to England that had me turning pages to see where the story was going. It touches on death, lust, politics, religion, racism and so much more. I enjoyed how the story came back full circle.
However, as a Jamaican myself, it was hard to believe some of the dialogue between Amy (the mother) and Jenny (one of the daughters). We (no matter how old we are) have so much respect for our parents and to hear Jenny back chatting with her mother was incomprehensible for me.
Also, less use of Jamaican phrases, proverbs, and similes would add more to the authenticity of this novel.
Nevertheless, a great read.
However, as a Jamaican myself, it was hard to believe some of the dialogue between Amy (the mother) and Jenny (one of the daughters). We (no matter how old we are) have so much respect for our parents and to hear Jenny back chatting with her mother was incomprehensible for me.
Also, less use of Jamaican phrases, proverbs, and similes would add more to the authenticity of this novel.
Nevertheless, a great read.
November 8, 2021
Two sisters, from Claremont, Jamaica, emigrate to the 'motherland' they had only heard about. The England they find is not so much a land of opportunity, as one of discrimination.
Island Songs is rich in the social and natural history of Jamaica from the middle of the twentieth century to the present day. At times, this exposition outweighs the plot.
The audiobook, narrated by Sarah Powell, gives a flavour of the voices of Jamaica.
Island Songs is rich in the social and natural history of Jamaica from the middle of the twentieth century to the present day. At times, this exposition outweighs the plot.
The audiobook, narrated by Sarah Powell, gives a flavour of the voices of Jamaica.
March 20, 2024
Beautiful descriptions of life and relationships. As a reader you feel their feelings and see their surroundings. I do think the author brought in too many themes/characters, and wasn't able to do all of them justice. The Readers' Note was useful, but did show some ignorance after all of his research.
April 13, 2019
Good insight in way of live of island people, local and windrush generation. But heavy use of Jamaican language made this book hard to read for me. On other hand it does help setting the scene.
January 24, 2021
Encaptivating
I've blitzed through three of his books so far. This one is the best so far imho. Highly recommend it.
I've blitzed through three of his books so far. This one is the best so far imho. Highly recommend it.
July 28, 2022
Read after seeing the author portrayed in Small Axe. Took me a little bit to get into the rhythm of it but once I was there, it’s a cool story, enjoyable characters.
Narrator was excellent
Narrator was excellent
April 8, 2023
Beautifully written.
August 11, 2023
Beautiful and vivid depiction of life in rural Jamaica and then coming to the UK. A touching and heart wrenching story, as ever written beautifully by Alex Wheatle.
October 20, 2023
Once I got the hang of the Jamaican dialect I really enjoyed it
October 3, 2024
As I was reading this I had the sense I’ve read it before… nonetheless was fab, a generational story (ma fave) and wrote about Jamaica so clearly. Found some of the speech difficult to read at first but got into it as I read more of the book.
February 25, 2024
I am already a fan of Alex Wheatle, whose trilogy of novels East of Acre Lane, Dirty South and Brixton Rock chronicles 1980s Black Britain. Island Songs is in a sense a belated forerunner of these novels. It’s set principally in Jamaica and charts the lives of sisters Jenny and Hortense in rural Claremont, and their motivations in migrating first to Kingston and then to inner city London. In its depiction of life in London, it is reminiscent of Andrea Levy’s Small Island in representing the aspirations of the Windrush generation. In both novels the hope of the main characters, although tinged with disillusion on arrival in the UK, is nonetheless a testament of their resilience.
Island Songs explores the complex emotions involved in taking the decision to leave one's homeland for the ‘mother land’ (as pre-independence Jamaicans of the 1940s when the text is set tended to view Britain). However, Wheatle’s departure from the narrative of homeland/ motherland is in his treatment of themes associated with the Maroons: an independent group of people, often romanticised as having come from one location in Africa and tending to live separately from other compatriots on the island of Jamaica. Thus Joseph, the sisters’ father, is depicted as mystical and warrior-like. In this respect the text conforms to the standard portrayal of Maroons as freedom fighters, without exploring the nuances of their quest for freedom, sometimes at the expense of that of other African descended communities in Jamaica (see Ruma Chopra’s Almost Home).
As a coming-of-age novel, Island Songs charts sibling love and rivalry, and explores two different, yet inevitably similar, sisters’ characters. What I particularly like about the novel is the lyricism in the patois spoken by the characters in the book. The title of the novel is somewhat evocative of WEB DuBois’ notion of sorrow songs, modified by Wheatle to convey a thirst for life and the warmth of the island on the one hand and the hardship of life and the difficult decisions characters are led to make on the other.
Island Songs explores the complex emotions involved in taking the decision to leave one's homeland for the ‘mother land’ (as pre-independence Jamaicans of the 1940s when the text is set tended to view Britain). However, Wheatle’s departure from the narrative of homeland/ motherland is in his treatment of themes associated with the Maroons: an independent group of people, often romanticised as having come from one location in Africa and tending to live separately from other compatriots on the island of Jamaica. Thus Joseph, the sisters’ father, is depicted as mystical and warrior-like. In this respect the text conforms to the standard portrayal of Maroons as freedom fighters, without exploring the nuances of their quest for freedom, sometimes at the expense of that of other African descended communities in Jamaica (see Ruma Chopra’s Almost Home).
As a coming-of-age novel, Island Songs charts sibling love and rivalry, and explores two different, yet inevitably similar, sisters’ characters. What I particularly like about the novel is the lyricism in the patois spoken by the characters in the book. The title of the novel is somewhat evocative of WEB DuBois’ notion of sorrow songs, modified by Wheatle to convey a thirst for life and the warmth of the island on the one hand and the hardship of life and the difficult decisions characters are led to make on the other.
March 27, 2014
I want to give this book three and a half stars or three point seven five stars, but that's not an option. Three is unfair, so I'll just round it up.
Alex Wheatle did an incredible job of taking us back to sights, sounds, and smells of the Jamaica of the forties and fifties. I could almost hear the mento and early ska as I read. I loved the rendering of the Duke Reid soundsystem.
But, by far, the best thing that Wheatle did was show the richness and vibrance of Jamaican patois. It's a language that flows like water but can sting like ice - so beautiful and so expressive. I feel that Wheatle truly did it justice.
Alex Wheatle did an incredible job of taking us back to sights, sounds, and smells of the Jamaica of the forties and fifties. I could almost hear the mento and early ska as I read. I loved the rendering of the Duke Reid soundsystem.
But, by far, the best thing that Wheatle did was show the richness and vibrance of Jamaican patois. It's a language that flows like water but can sting like ice - so beautiful and so expressive. I feel that Wheatle truly did it justice.
November 2, 2015
Island Songs contains some of the most evocative descriptions of early 20th century Jamaica along with honest portrayals of Jamaicans reactions to living in Britain. A must read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews