The Book of Colors

by Raymond Barfield

How can a 19-year-old, mixed-race girl who grew up in a crack house and is now pregnant be so innocent? Yslea is full of contradictions, though, seeming both young and old, innocent and wise. Her spirit is surprising, given all the pain she has endured, and that's the counterpoint this story offers—while she sees pain and suffering all around her, Yslea overcomes in her own quiet way. What Yslea struggles with is expressing her thoughts. And she wonders if she will have something of substance to say to her baby. It's the baby growing inside her that begins to wake her up, that causes her to start thinking about things in a different way. Yslea drifts into the lives of four people who occupy three dilapidated row houses along the train tracks outside of Memphis: "The way their three little row houses sort of leaned in toward each other and the way the paint peeled and some of the windows were covered with cardboard, the row might as easily have been empty."

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2015

About the author

Ray is a pediatric oncologist at Duke University. He also teaches philosophy at Duke's Divinity School. He loves to play guitar, attempt improv, and skydive.

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through a GR Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful story! Told in spare language, Yslea slowly reasons & thinks her way to a balance in life & understanding. Along the way, she forgives, finds belief in others & herself.
This story is an awakening, a maturing, a growth of spirit & mind and a healing as Yslea contemplates what she has to offer her unborn child and what it means to live a good life.
Yslea is a wonderful character and she'll stay with me for a long time.
A wonderful story.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yslea is an unforgettable character. A sage soul, observant to minute details with her simple yet profound thoughts along with observations. Her views are organic lacking over analyzing, seeing with both her heart and eyes. A challenging upbringing failing to hinder her growth and optimist outlook. A young woman full of hope, faith, love and happiness. The characters are three dimensional and intricate. Yslea certainly brightened my world in an affecting manner, she taught me much as we shared our short memorable time together. Simply beautiful.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books where when someone asks you, "what is it about?" you realize there's no easy way to summarize it. Books not driven by plot are often like this. It is an exploration of feelings and thoughts; a slow, contemplative discovery of the self. When one's entire being has been focused on survival, one can't stop and ask, "what does it mean?". Yslea may be poor in material wealth, but she discovers she is rich and powerful in her ability to think for herself.

I did some gymnastics in my brain around the fact that the author appears white and has privilege. My friends will know that this is a question with which I wrestle often when reading about characters who are markedly different from their authors. Can we authentically share another person's voice if it is so far from our own experience, without appropriating or distorting it? Yslea felt honest and real. I would love to hear the author speak and ask him about this.

I was going to lament how my return to grad school forced me to take a month to finish this slim volume, but honestly it is richer for being read slowly. Contemplation begets contemplation.

[Kritikal Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

One unquestionable truth about the book is- it is the kind of book you pore your eyes over, dig the deeper meanings of and let the story and characters grow on you.

Faintly reminiscent of The Color Purple, partly because of the narration style and partly because of the characters and situation which form the basis of our reading. Even so, this book is nothing like what you'd have read ever before.

As is obvious, it is not a fast paced read, and letting the characters' lives hijack your own is the most deeply fulfilling experience. Yslea's perspective on live and everything for that matter is so shattering and overwhelming that you'd pause everytime she says something, reflect upon it and then let her grow on you. Not just Yslea, you'll let all the characters grow on you, get under your skin and make you feel the irony, cruel game of fate and pain- all at once. Through her guilelessness and innocence, Yslea shines throughout.
The Book of colors has a beautiful metaphorical meaning too!

The author has done a great job with the plot- it is coherent and structured, with the characters that are all well-etched and with the story- that never fails to move the reader.

[Mandy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still in the middle of this lovely book but had to put it down to tell someone about it. It's the book I'm looking for in every book I read: a blend of realism and hopefulness. The main character, Yslea, spends her days trying to make sense of life, always hoping meaning can be found. Which, I suppose could be a definition of faith. It's a little like a younger version of the wise and introspective Precious Ramotswe (from Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) walked into a Flannery O'Connor novel set in modern Memphis. It also seems likely Yslea has crossed paths with Marilynne Robinson's Lila. And if they did, they would have had an understanding. I'm eager to finish the book but, at the same time, hesitant to come to the end of my time in the company of this courageous and kind young woman.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant tale with depth of thought and grace-filled moments.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delicious book, a page-turner from beginning to end, and at the same time written with such poetic care that I found myself slowing down and marking favorite passages to be read over and over. There's a delightful dark humor in the situation itself: five people living in three railroad-side tumble-down houses, three women, one man, a girl, sharing their misadventures with a donkey named Jesus and the occasional appearance of bums from the tracks. The narrator, Yslea, enchanted me from the get-go with her reassuring philosophy and her desire to create oddly lovely things to hang on the wall--the skeleton of a raccoon put together as carefully as a jigsaw puzzle, and a "stained-glass window" made from pieces of broken glass gathered in a box. This is a novel to be savored by fans of Flannery O'Connor and Toni Morrison, et al.

[ADAM HUTCHINSON · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that would benefit from half star ratings being allowed. I was wavering between three and four stars, and in the end feel a bit harsh giving it three!

The Book of Colors at first reminded me of Woody Guthrie's House of Earth with its slow paced look at life. However, where Guthrie's pace led to a dull read, Barfield's kept me interested all the way through.

Yslea's introspective views of the world were interesting, comical at some points, but in the main searching for meaning within her world.

The novel is steeped in metaphors and although they often hinted towards a deeper meaning, often I couldn't figure out what Barfield was alluding to. Having said that the book did make me think, and perhaps that was all it was meant to do.

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this local writer, whose "day job" is as a pediatric palliative oncologist, speak at our local bookstore. I was taken with his humility, depth of living and life experience and presence. So, of course, I bought the book. As a writer, I was also amazed at his answer to my question, "when do you write?". From 5-6 am every morning was his answer. This book is a beautiful development of a beautiful soul, Yslea. Homeless, 19 and pregnant, we get to see into her heart and mind.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful debut novel in which the author's imagination reveals the small balance in which we live through the eyes of a pregnant teen.

[Isabella Kritzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one caught me by surprise. My initial interest came by being inspiring by Raymond Barfields career path as a pediatric oncologist who weaves theology into medicine to care for the children battling cancer. Upon researching more about him, I stumbled upon his first novel.

The Book of Colors follows nineteen year old Yslea as she escapes the crackhouse she was raised in in hopes of something better. She meets these four people living in three dilapidated row houses along the train tracks outside of Memphis that become her new family carrying all the love, pain, and heaviness that they hold. Fred Chappell sums up my opinion best when he wrote, “Yslea’s world is small, but it embraces an immense universe of wonderments, bright emotions, slant thoughts and patterns that only she can discover — Wholeness is celebrated in these brave pages. They seized upon me like an angelic visitation.”

[Helen Von seth carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished “The Book of Colors” and immediately started reading it again. Without a doubt, the best book I’ve read in ages! I’m so glad that I heard an interview with Raymond Barfield on The State of Things. Be sure to read about his amazing life. I also just finished “Pascal’s Wager”, another by Dr. Barfield which debates the question of what it means to be human. Yslea manifested many of the traits of humanity I admire.

[Ryan Turk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was taken away by the soft authenticity of this book. The Book of Colors sits in between the tension of both death and life; allowing you to realize that the two bring relief in their own ways. This bittersweet story serves as a reminder and a celebration of what comes with living life.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful. It seems weird to say I liked it, but I did.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follows the deep and unique inner monologue of the main character, Yslea.

[Rose K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Young Yslea lived in a place unfit for a child with her mother. After a few years, her mother abandoned her. Now, Yslea is 19 and lives within the lives of four neighbors - Jimmy, Rose, Layla, Ambrosia, and the donkey Jesus. They reside in three shacks facing the train outside of Memphis, Tennessee. They took her in: Jimmy gave her a baby, and Rose gave her a home in exchange for Yslea’s promise of dressing her when she passed. Layla works for Jimmy as her daughter Ambrosia rocks on the porch silently. Within this strange, mangled together family, Yslea learns the truths about life and although poor in money, she is rich in thought and prepares her world for the baby.

Review:
I liked this book a lot. It’s different from the kinds of things I usually read. The author came up with such rich, vivid characters and situations that it was impossible to not be drawn in. I really loved to see how Yslea dealt with her “family” and the problems that arose. Most of the book consisted of Yslea’s thoughts about life. Many things seemed symbolic - such as when Yslea found the bones of racoon and put it back together, or when she frequently visits the bookstore just to browse the magazines. This book was so whole, intricate, and metaphorical. The only thing I disliked was that the everything moved slowly.

[Karen Lausa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. After reading a few glorious reviews, I had to give it a try. But can a book and its prose seem self-conscious? Overly crafted? Intentional but not believable?

The story is simple, the language spare. Poor and pregnant, young Yslea lives in a dilapidated row house along the railroad tracks somewhere in Memphis. A cast of unrelated characters are her misbegotten family, as she passes her days wondering about the world and worrying about the impending birth of her baby. I was supposed to be moved, to feel heartbreak. The story moved slowly and I couldn't grasp the emptiness or the waste of these lives, from the baby daddy who leaves town in a bright yellow Cadillac to the autistic child who rocks endlessly as she holds onto her beloved dogeared book of colors.
Comparisons to Toni Morrison seem like a stretch. I just wanted the book to end, always hoping for a little something more to draw me in.
By the last pages, things are looking up. But Flannery O'Connor, it's not.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this novel if you enjoy fine writing and a good, people-centred story. "The Book of Colors" is a beautifully written story of a young woman from an impoverished and loveless background who finds strength and understanding as she moves into adulthood. The narrator, Yslea, finds herself acting as a caretaker to a dying elderly woman living in a shabby house by the railway tracks. Other abandoned souls live in several houses nearby, forming a neighbourhood almost by accident. As Yslea makes her way through daily life she discovers her strengths and the confidence that her future will be an improvement over her past. "Colors" takes on so many meanings as the metaphor to tie Barfield's tale together. Another talented writer whose day job is a doctor.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

" I love to walk on the old tracks. Even when a train passes by on the good tracks I’m not afraid. I know I’m safe. The train is so tall, heavy, long, fast, carrying thousands of things that have nothing to do with me. I am afraid about other things that are more human-size, and I don’t mind saying that anymore."

Yslea has had a rough life and now finds herself pregnant at 19. She ends up living with 4 other people in 3 row houses along the railroad tracks, and they are all interesting characters. This was a quick, short read, but well-written and grabbed me by the heartstrings. Yslea is a strong young woman with the desire to improve her lot in life, despite her limited options, and I was rooting for her the whole time.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm giving it 2 stars even though I didn't finish it, because the writing really is beautiful. But the characters are uninteresting and there was nothing about the story that made me want to keep reading. I tried, I really did; I wanted to like this book. But at one point I realized I had read about 20 pages without any recollection of what had happened because my mind had wandered. I went back to re-read them and my mind wandered again. Each chapter seemed more like a discrete short story than part of a more cohesive whole, and none of the stories were very interesting. In the end it started to feel like more like work than fun to continue reading, so I just closed the thing for good.

[Hwydiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodread's giveaways for an honest review.

Barfield presents us with a very endearing book. Reads like poetry. I could feel the threadbare clothes upon my skin while sitting in the southern heat. Very original and unique book. One of the rare ones that I will read again. Would have given it five stars, but I didn't care for the ending. In real life, things don't fall together, especially for the poor. Yslea had the potential to save herself in the end. I wish she wasn't saved by a man.

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having no idea what this book would be about, I was really pleased by page two. A few more pages and I was hooked.
Ray weaves a scenerio in the lives of three black people, a child and an unborn baby, by the railroad in the hot south. Not a lot happens here, but that which does is told with understanding and no fear.
The voice of the young woman, maybe 19, is well done, perhaps not perfectly if you're looking for faults, and her thinking and musing is the story told.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad when I finished it.
An unusual debut novel. Read it.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
Received it yesterday in the mail, and I picked it up, thinking I'd only read a few pages and then go about my day. It didn't happen that way. I couldn't put the book back down, and I finished it this evening. It's been a long time since I've found a story so relaxing.

[Mary Saou · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, it was difficult to immerse myself in Yslea's voice. Somehow, though, I found myself lost in the story by the time I was halfway through and was sad when I finished. Barfield fleshes out these characters slowly, soulfully, almost without you even noticing. The story has lingered on my mind for several days-- the mark of a truly good read for me!

[Tanja Traber · Rating 5 out of 5]

i plucked this book off the library shelves with the thought my newly departed aunt would approve. she always meant to write a book about colors in nature. i cried when i finished this gem. it's about a young girl all alone in the world who comes to discover that the universe inside makes her enough.

[Debbie Yacenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book took an impoverished group of next door neighbors with numerous flaws and made you love them through the eyes of the main character, Yslea, a 19 year old pregnant young woman. Despite Yslea's desperate situation. her thoughts are original, beautiful and full of hope and faith. For this reason, all who are close to her are blessed.

[Reagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I have to say it was pretty good! I enjoyed the characters and the plot of the story; however, I thought it moved a bit slow and it took me a while to get through. Overall, I would recommend!

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is easy to see that Barfield is a poet; his language is lyrical and startling. In this series of vignettes and ruminations, he lays out not only a story but a way of looking at the world and a kind of road map to peace. Beautiful and eye-opening.

[Julie Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the storyline. Hated the writing style. Told as a train of thought which often had little substance - there were sections that had a lot of words but said very little. This could have been a really good book if the author used a more direct writing style.

[Steve Orton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received free via a Goodreads giveaway.

I really liked it.