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Beka Lamb with CXC Study Notes
Set in Belize, Beka Lamb is the record of a few months in the life of Beka and her family. The politics of the small colony, the influence of the matriarchal society and the dominating presence of the Catholic Church are woven into the fabric of the story to provide a compelling portrait of ordinary life in Belize.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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December 15, 2022
Country No 102 on my World Reading Journey.
Country: Belize
Time Frame: 1950's. Belize is a society moving from colonialism to independence.
From Wikipedia:
Beka Lamb is the debut novel from Belizean writer Zee Edgell, published in 1982 as part of the Heinemann Caribbean Writers Series. It won the Fawcett Society Book Prize in 1982 and was one of the first novels from Belize to gain international recognition. In 2022, it was included on the "Big Jubilee Read" list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors, selected to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
My impressions:
This is the story of Beka's maturation in the politically unstable Belize of the 1950's. My first indication that I would like the book was the inclusion of the name MY name was derived from. Beka won an essay contest at St Cecilia's Academy. Beka thought she could never win. She cannot really celebrate, though. Her best friend Toycie Qualo has died and the traditional Belizean nine-day wake has yet to occur.
From this point, the story is a 7 month flashback leading up to ultimately winning this essay contest and her friend’s death. Only by thinking back on everything can Beka move on.
Well written and well thought of, the book is an excellent way to understand Belizean culture and politics.
The story ends on a positive note, so I felt my time reading it well spent.
5 stars
Country: Belize
Time Frame: 1950's. Belize is a society moving from colonialism to independence.
From Wikipedia:
Beka Lamb is the debut novel from Belizean writer Zee Edgell, published in 1982 as part of the Heinemann Caribbean Writers Series. It won the Fawcett Society Book Prize in 1982 and was one of the first novels from Belize to gain international recognition. In 2022, it was included on the "Big Jubilee Read" list of 70 books by Commonwealth authors, selected to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
My impressions:
This is the story of Beka's maturation in the politically unstable Belize of the 1950's. My first indication that I would like the book was the inclusion of the name MY name was derived from. Beka won an essay contest at St Cecilia's Academy. Beka thought she could never win. She cannot really celebrate, though. Her best friend Toycie Qualo has died and the traditional Belizean nine-day wake has yet to occur.
From this point, the story is a 7 month flashback leading up to ultimately winning this essay contest and her friend’s death. Only by thinking back on everything can Beka move on.
Well written and well thought of, the book is an excellent way to understand Belizean culture and politics.
The story ends on a positive note, so I felt my time reading it well spent.
5 stars
April 2, 2022
This book grew on me. Beka Lamb is a 14-year-old girl who lives together with her parents, younger twin brothers and grandmother Ivy in a Belize that is still under British rule. Her best friend is Toycie, who is a few years older and they attend the same Catholic school together. Beka Lamb's problem is that she failed her school year and her family is angry that she has a habit of lying. For Beka's family, her education is an expensive thing and they are starting to doubt whether it is worth the sacrifice. Toycie has her own issues that will threaten her education. Grandma Ivy spends her days attending political meetings and wants to see a Belize free of Britain, whereas Beka's father, a hard-working businessman does not want to meddle into politics and continues to fly the Union Jack outside of his house in order to appease the authorities. From my understanding, Beka's mother was solely interested in the land of Belize and all the people inhabiting it. People are debating whether Belize should be independent, while others worry that out of British rule, the Guatemalans will take over this tiny nation. It was very interesting to read about Belize. The colloquial language used in the Lamb family reminded me a bit of Jamaican. Diverse peoples live in Belize and I was surprised to read in Wikipedia that many of the English-speaking creoles are immigrating to the US. They used to form the majority of the population, but now the mestizo people of the neighbouring countries are the most numerous. Even in Beka Lamb's story, the importance of speaking Spanish alongside English was implied. Another theme of this book was the influence of the Catholic Church in the girls' lives. The school they attend is taught by Catholic sisters and priests. The Catholic faith and teachings struggle and fight against the numerous cultures found in Belize. Finally, there's also a very evocative scene of a hurricane hitting Belize. This was a very mellow book, but also very heart-warming. Beka had strict parents, but they also loved her a lot. I enjoyed reading about how she matured and learned about life. One of the main messages I got from this book is how culture changes so much with each generation. Some traditions remain, others get lost. Some people get to power, others have to step down. Change is the only constant.
"See, in the old days, according to Granny Straker, the more you left behind the old ways, the more acceptable you were to the powerful people in the government and the churches who had the power to change a black person's life."
"All these schools around here teach children to do is to look outside instead of in! One day you'll realize that everyone's own home is paradise!"
"See, in the old days, according to Granny Straker, the more you left behind the old ways, the more acceptable you were to the powerful people in the government and the churches who had the power to change a black person's life."
"All these schools around here teach children to do is to look outside instead of in! One day you'll realize that everyone's own home is paradise!"
February 23, 2025
Belize é um país da América Central, banhado pelo do Mar das Caraíbas, entre o México e a Guatemala.
A língua oficial é o inglês, uma herança do seu passado como colónia britânica (antiga Honduras Britânica), mas o crioulo belizenho e o espanhol também são falados.
Durante os anos sessenta do século XX começou a crescer um sentimento nacionalista e o desejo de se tornarem independentes, o que aconteceu em 21 de Setembro de 1981 quando oficialmente obtêm a independência do Reino Unido.
Beka Lamb foi o primeiro livro de um(a) autor(a) belizenho a ser publicado internacionalmente.
A história acompanha uma rapariga de catorze anos que tem de lidar com as expectativas da família e com o seu percurso de crescimento. Gostei muito das comparações que a autora fez entre Beka Lamb e o Belize, como se os seus destinos estivessem ligados e ambos passassem pelas mesmas transformações.
A história é interessante, os capítulos são curtos, o ritmo é bom, mas a linguagem não é fácil, principalmente com a utilização de expressões em crioulo.
87/198 – Belize
A língua oficial é o inglês, uma herança do seu passado como colónia britânica (antiga Honduras Britânica), mas o crioulo belizenho e o espanhol também são falados.
Durante os anos sessenta do século XX começou a crescer um sentimento nacionalista e o desejo de se tornarem independentes, o que aconteceu em 21 de Setembro de 1981 quando oficialmente obtêm a independência do Reino Unido.
Beka Lamb foi o primeiro livro de um(a) autor(a) belizenho a ser publicado internacionalmente.
A história acompanha uma rapariga de catorze anos que tem de lidar com as expectativas da família e com o seu percurso de crescimento. Gostei muito das comparações que a autora fez entre Beka Lamb e o Belize, como se os seus destinos estivessem ligados e ambos passassem pelas mesmas transformações.
A história é interessante, os capítulos são curtos, o ritmo é bom, mas a linguagem não é fácil, principalmente com a utilização de expressões em crioulo.
87/198 – Belize
November 29, 2018
After booking a trip to Belize, the search for Belizean authors was on. Once I learned about Zee Edgall, I knew it was her novels that would accompany me on my trip. I decided to read the books chronologically, so first up was Beka Lamb. I usually have a terrible time with coming-of-age stories. Perhaps it was because of this book's local setting or maybe it was because the book only captures 3 months in the life of Beka Lamb, a teenage girl, but it turned out to be a lovely complement to my trip. The novel contained a political slant that I didn't really care for (because who needs more politics in their life right now). But the book was published in 1982 and Belize became an independent nation in 1981, so I understand. I truly adored the family dynamics in this novel and admired Zee Edgall for shining a light on issues like teenage pregnancy and community accepted, one-sided consequences. I also appreciated the author's descriptions of Belizean homesteads, racial diversity, and physical landscape that matched what was right before my eyes. The more I think about it the more I think I need to bump this book up from 3 stars.
April 6, 2016
This was such a struggle to get through. Poorly executed (really terrible grammar throughout), structured naively, no storyline to speak of- I only read through to the bitter end hoping for some improvement and it turns out the improvement was the end. If those two words had been written down to mark that juncture they would have been the best two words in the whole bloody book.
The only redeeming feature is the information regarding life in Belize in the dying days of British colonial rule. The descriptions were, at times, interesting, and could have formed a four or five page article. Instead we get a vast section of flashback that has no chance to offer anything dramatic (the key information has already been given), a hurricane that is the most pointless act of God and WAY too many nuns. The eponymous central character bored me. The passages about politics could have been carved out of a school kid's essay about the problems of bringing democracy into a world of rice and beans and outdoor toilets.
I feel it's important to read books from as many different countries as is possible but this one was not a good start for my inaugural reading of the wee Central American nation. Definitely a case of Jeez, Belize.
The only redeeming feature is the information regarding life in Belize in the dying days of British colonial rule. The descriptions were, at times, interesting, and could have formed a four or five page article. Instead we get a vast section of flashback that has no chance to offer anything dramatic (the key information has already been given), a hurricane that is the most pointless act of God and WAY too many nuns. The eponymous central character bored me. The passages about politics could have been carved out of a school kid's essay about the problems of bringing democracy into a world of rice and beans and outdoor toilets.
I feel it's important to read books from as many different countries as is possible but this one was not a good start for my inaugural reading of the wee Central American nation. Definitely a case of Jeez, Belize.
Read
July 30, 2021"...we creoles have a habit of watching for other people's lives to break down, then we laugh. But we are not laughing at the people, we are laughing at something we recognize. If we cried every time somebody's life fall apart, this country would be called the one true valley of tears..."
From BEKA LAMB by Zee Edgell, 1982.
#ReadtheWorld21 📍Belize
In this coming of age novella, we follow Beka Lamb, a 14 year old girl in British colonial Belize over the course of a few months of her life.
Edgell draws a rich contextual story here, one of the larger political forces - rising sentiments for Belizean independence, Guatemala's incursions and border disputes, as well as social nature of this region with deep ties to both the Caribbean and to Mexico and Central America. And while these things are discussed, they are largely backdrop to the story of a girl (Beka) and her friend (Toycie), each girls relation with their families, their school studies, and life-altering situations.
The young teen voice is a familiar one - I thought immediately of Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John and Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn from the early pages.
The story feels like a morality tale in many ways - a warning for girls not to go wayward, but stick to the straight and narrow, and to stay in school. Sound advice, of course, but also a little "after school special" / didactic too. In no way a deterrent from reading, but you can see why this has become a favored school reading text since it carries that moral weight.
Zee Edgell, Belize's most well known writer, passed away in December 2020.
From BEKA LAMB by Zee Edgell, 1982.
#ReadtheWorld21 📍Belize
In this coming of age novella, we follow Beka Lamb, a 14 year old girl in British colonial Belize over the course of a few months of her life.
Edgell draws a rich contextual story here, one of the larger political forces - rising sentiments for Belizean independence, Guatemala's incursions and border disputes, as well as social nature of this region with deep ties to both the Caribbean and to Mexico and Central America. And while these things are discussed, they are largely backdrop to the story of a girl (Beka) and her friend (Toycie), each girls relation with their families, their school studies, and life-altering situations.
The young teen voice is a familiar one - I thought immediately of Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John and Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn from the early pages.
The story feels like a morality tale in many ways - a warning for girls not to go wayward, but stick to the straight and narrow, and to stay in school. Sound advice, of course, but also a little "after school special" / didactic too. In no way a deterrent from reading, but you can see why this has become a favored school reading text since it carries that moral weight.
Zee Edgell, Belize's most well known writer, passed away in December 2020.
January 24, 2019
This time I was off to Belize with Beka Lamb by Zee Edgell!
.
It’s a fairly simple story about a young girl, Beka Lamb funnily enough, growing up in Belize under British colonialism who is quite fond of twisting the truth. The book sets Belize in the context of its struggle for independence alongside racial and social issues, but for me the most compelling aspect was the friendship between Beka and Toycie. They’re in the same year at school despite their 3 year age difference, but Toycie’s chance at an education is cruelly snatched away when she’s expelled due to the covent school’s disapproval of her pregnancy. The subsequent treatment of Toycie in society was also wonderfully written but upsetting, highlighting the double standards between men and women.
.
I thought Edgell did a fantastic job with some of the characters, such as Beka’s grandmother, who is a fierce supporter of the People’s Independence Party, and Miss Eila, Toycie’s aunt who struggles against poverty to give Toycie the best care she can. However, not all the characters felt as fleshed out, and even Beka felt a bit 2D at times which was disappointing.
.
I’m not actually sure whether this book is targeted at a younger audience or not, but I thought it felt that way - it would make an excellent GCSE text I feel, as you really get a feel for the melting pot that is Belize society and the social interactions and prejudices that play a part there, not to mention gender roles and the role of the church.
.
Overall, an informative and interesting read if a little dry at times, but as one of the first books by a Belizean author to be recognised internationally, an important one.
.
It’s a fairly simple story about a young girl, Beka Lamb funnily enough, growing up in Belize under British colonialism who is quite fond of twisting the truth. The book sets Belize in the context of its struggle for independence alongside racial and social issues, but for me the most compelling aspect was the friendship between Beka and Toycie. They’re in the same year at school despite their 3 year age difference, but Toycie’s chance at an education is cruelly snatched away when she’s expelled due to the covent school’s disapproval of her pregnancy. The subsequent treatment of Toycie in society was also wonderfully written but upsetting, highlighting the double standards between men and women.
.
I thought Edgell did a fantastic job with some of the characters, such as Beka’s grandmother, who is a fierce supporter of the People’s Independence Party, and Miss Eila, Toycie’s aunt who struggles against poverty to give Toycie the best care she can. However, not all the characters felt as fleshed out, and even Beka felt a bit 2D at times which was disappointing.
.
I’m not actually sure whether this book is targeted at a younger audience or not, but I thought it felt that way - it would make an excellent GCSE text I feel, as you really get a feel for the melting pot that is Belize society and the social interactions and prejudices that play a part there, not to mention gender roles and the role of the church.
.
Overall, an informative and interesting read if a little dry at times, but as one of the first books by a Belizean author to be recognised internationally, an important one.
September 21, 2009
Beka Lamb tells the story of a few months in the life of a fourteen-year-old girl — Beka — and her slightly older friend Toycie, who both attend a convent school in Belize. It’s published as part of the Heinemann Caribbean Writers Series, and so it has one of those rather off-puttingly institutional covers that makes me feel like I’m back in school. And indeed I’m sure it works well as a GCSE set text: it’s short, it’s about a teenager, it has lots of themes that would provide material for classroom discussion (race, class, politics, colonialism, teenage pregnancy) and it has lots of local colour.
Saturday, pay day for many families, was the biggest marketing, house-cleaning, and cooking day of the week. women and girls, whether they lived in a ‘good house’ or a ‘dawg-siddown’ scrubbed, dusted, polished and cooked in order that they might do as they pleased Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, satisfied that their duty, as best as could be managed with what was available, had been done.
Lunch on a Saturday was mostly crushed avocado or potted meat sandwiches, with perhaps pounded calves’ liver fried with lots of onions and creole bread for six o’clock tea. But the intense activity, and the smells of what was to come on Sunday noon, assuaged the need for bigger meals. In the houses of even the poorest, at the very least red kidney beans and bits of salty pigtails stewed on outdoor fire hearths waiting for the addition of raw rice, assiduously picked over for stones, and washed several times until the water ran clear. And in the houses of those that could better afford it, chickens, pork, or beef roasted in ovens; great pots of grey-black relleno soup thickened on stoves with a dozen hard-boild eggs per pot bobbing up and down like dumplings, and the corn mills of the town ground busily in preparation for the mounds of tortillas that would be needed the following day. Seafood and groundfood were rarely cooked on Sundays: fish, crayfish, conch, yams, cocoa, sweet potatoes, breadfruit and the like were everyday fare.
In fact I think it’s a quirk of a certain kind of post-colonial novel to almost overdo the local colour. The book is absolutely full of references to foodstuffs, flowers and trees, bits of local tradition, references to history; it’s like one long assertion of Belizeyness. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing; in fact I enjoy all that stuff (particularly the food!). It’s just an observation of a phase that, perhaps, national literatures tend to go through.
I did enjoy this book, btw, so I hope my comments don’t across as negative. I enjoyed all the descriptive stuff, found the story engaging, and learn at least slightly more about Belize than I knew before. So that’s all good.
Saturday, pay day for many families, was the biggest marketing, house-cleaning, and cooking day of the week. women and girls, whether they lived in a ‘good house’ or a ‘dawg-siddown’ scrubbed, dusted, polished and cooked in order that they might do as they pleased Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, satisfied that their duty, as best as could be managed with what was available, had been done.
Lunch on a Saturday was mostly crushed avocado or potted meat sandwiches, with perhaps pounded calves’ liver fried with lots of onions and creole bread for six o’clock tea. But the intense activity, and the smells of what was to come on Sunday noon, assuaged the need for bigger meals. In the houses of even the poorest, at the very least red kidney beans and bits of salty pigtails stewed on outdoor fire hearths waiting for the addition of raw rice, assiduously picked over for stones, and washed several times until the water ran clear. And in the houses of those that could better afford it, chickens, pork, or beef roasted in ovens; great pots of grey-black relleno soup thickened on stoves with a dozen hard-boild eggs per pot bobbing up and down like dumplings, and the corn mills of the town ground busily in preparation for the mounds of tortillas that would be needed the following day. Seafood and groundfood were rarely cooked on Sundays: fish, crayfish, conch, yams, cocoa, sweet potatoes, breadfruit and the like were everyday fare.
In fact I think it’s a quirk of a certain kind of post-colonial novel to almost overdo the local colour. The book is absolutely full of references to foodstuffs, flowers and trees, bits of local tradition, references to history; it’s like one long assertion of Belizeyness. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing; in fact I enjoy all that stuff (particularly the food!). It’s just an observation of a phase that, perhaps, national literatures tend to go through.
I did enjoy this book, btw, so I hope my comments don’t across as negative. I enjoyed all the descriptive stuff, found the story engaging, and learn at least slightly more about Belize than I knew before. So that’s all good.
March 1, 2025
Very lovely coming of age story set around the time of Belize’s Independence with an engaging heroine who is just that little bit different from the norm - bright but easily distracted and prone to lying her way out of difficult situations. There is a tragic event at its heart (we know this, if not the exact circumstances, from the very start) but there’s also the best sort of nostalgia and beautiful descriptions of daily life. Alongside this are discussions about Belize’s future and whether its place in the world should be predominantly Central American or Caribbean (for example I had no idea that there was serious consideration about if being taken over by Guatemala) and I particularly enjoyed that it was the female characters who were more politically engaged. A gentle read but also a very informative one.
September 29, 2014
There seems to be a trend in post-colonial literature of juxtaposing a character’s coming-of-age with that of his or her country. This is one of those books: it’s set in mid-20th-century Belize, nearing its independence from the British empire, as seen through the eyes of 14-year-old Beka. Beka has just flunked her freshman year at the local convent school, and since free public education is not yet an option, it's not certain whether her father will let her try again. Meanwhile her best friend, Toycie, gets into some serious trouble.
Unfortunately, Edgell deploys a combination of techniques that, while not always bad, combine to make this a less than engaging read. First, the entire story is told in flashback, so we know up front how all major threads are going to turn out. Second, the book is packed with Belize-related information – food, geography, flora and fauna, architecture, celebrations, politics, local history and legends, etc. – so that the setting threatens to take up more space than the plot. Third, the writing style is rather flat (and my edition needed a bit more copyediting), so that whenever the author moves from one topic to another, any momentum the story has gained is promptly lost. The book has only 171 pages, but feels longer; for more than half its length I had to push myself to read 30-40 pages a day. It does become somewhat more engaging toward the end, however.
That isn’t to say there isn’t some interesting material here, both in the girls’ coming-of-age and in the local politics. Beka’s grandmother is an active supporter of the independence party, but she tries to discourage Beka from striving for a school prize, apparently under the impression that a creole wouldn’t be allowed to win anyway. Meanwhile Beka’s father is less than thrilled with the idea of universal adult suffrage, despite being from a community disadvantaged by restricting the franchise, because he feels this diminishes his achievement as a black man who pulled himself up by his bootstraps. However, Beka’s relatives’ opinions are more memorable than their personalities; the characters aren’t flat, exactly, but nor are they particularly vivid.
Overall, this isn’t a terrible book and I wouldn’t discourage people from reading it, especially those who have some personal connection to Belize, but it was a bit of a chore for me and seems better suited to academic reading than pleasure. So, 2.5 stars.
Unfortunately, Edgell deploys a combination of techniques that, while not always bad, combine to make this a less than engaging read. First, the entire story is told in flashback, so we know up front how all major threads are going to turn out. Second, the book is packed with Belize-related information – food, geography, flora and fauna, architecture, celebrations, politics, local history and legends, etc. – so that the setting threatens to take up more space than the plot. Third, the writing style is rather flat (and my edition needed a bit more copyediting), so that whenever the author moves from one topic to another, any momentum the story has gained is promptly lost. The book has only 171 pages, but feels longer; for more than half its length I had to push myself to read 30-40 pages a day. It does become somewhat more engaging toward the end, however.
That isn’t to say there isn’t some interesting material here, both in the girls’ coming-of-age and in the local politics. Beka’s grandmother is an active supporter of the independence party, but she tries to discourage Beka from striving for a school prize, apparently under the impression that a creole wouldn’t be allowed to win anyway. Meanwhile Beka’s father is less than thrilled with the idea of universal adult suffrage, despite being from a community disadvantaged by restricting the franchise, because he feels this diminishes his achievement as a black man who pulled himself up by his bootstraps. However, Beka’s relatives’ opinions are more memorable than their personalities; the characters aren’t flat, exactly, but nor are they particularly vivid.
Overall, this isn’t a terrible book and I wouldn’t discourage people from reading it, especially those who have some personal connection to Belize, but it was a bit of a chore for me and seems better suited to academic reading than pleasure. So, 2.5 stars.
June 18, 2020
Beka Lamb is a 14 year old girl struggling with life as many teenagers do. She has failed her classes and will have to repeat her freshman year if her father allows her to go back. This is Belize in the early 1950s and Beka is going to a private Catholic school, so her failure means the money to pay for school was wasted. Her family is not rich so paying for school is a sacrifice and her father needs to feel Beka will take school seriously enough in the next term to pass. Otherwise Beka will be finished with school and never have any hope of a well-paying job.
Beka's best friend is Toycie, who will be a senior and who is both pretty and smart. Unfortunately Toycie has a few issues of her own that will derail her plans to graduate and get a good job if she isn't careful.
We follow Beka and Toycie along with Beka's family and Toycie's guardian over the course of about a year. Belize was a poor nation officially named British Honduras still ruled by England at the time. Many Belizeans wanted independence from England but Guatemala claimed sovereignty over Belize, so many Belizeans were worried that independence from England would result in Guatemala taking over the country and that was not preferable to self-rule. These political issues are all part of the story, but they are not explained so a little research is necessary if the reader is unfamiliar with Belize's history.
I've waivered between a 3 and a 4 star rating. I enjoyed reading about Belize and some of its issues, the variety of ethnicities that populate the country, and the struggles of two teenage girls. But something about is kept it from being quite a 4 star book for me. It is well worth reading, especially for an authentic voice of Belize, but it isn't going to be one of my favorites this year.
Beka's best friend is Toycie, who will be a senior and who is both pretty and smart. Unfortunately Toycie has a few issues of her own that will derail her plans to graduate and get a good job if she isn't careful.
We follow Beka and Toycie along with Beka's family and Toycie's guardian over the course of about a year. Belize was a poor nation officially named British Honduras still ruled by England at the time. Many Belizeans wanted independence from England but Guatemala claimed sovereignty over Belize, so many Belizeans were worried that independence from England would result in Guatemala taking over the country and that was not preferable to self-rule. These political issues are all part of the story, but they are not explained so a little research is necessary if the reader is unfamiliar with Belize's history.
I've waivered between a 3 and a 4 star rating. I enjoyed reading about Belize and some of its issues, the variety of ethnicities that populate the country, and the struggles of two teenage girls. But something about is kept it from being quite a 4 star book for me. It is well worth reading, especially for an authentic voice of Belize, but it isn't going to be one of my favorites this year.
February 20, 2008
This book has become a staple on the bookshelves of readers throughout the Caribbean. It is the first novel from leading Belizean writer Zee Edgell (In Times Like These, The Festival of San Joaquin, Time and the River). Beka Lamb is one of those rare books that really does appeal to all ages. It is used as a required text in high school literature classes in the Caribbean, as well as in college and universities around the world. It is also just a great read! The story centers around the title character, a teenager, as she struggles to come to terms with her habit of lying and the pregancy and death of her best friend, and watches her country, British Honduras (present-day Belize), struggle to shake off the bonds of colonialism in the 1950s.
Full disclosure: Zee Edgell is my mother!
Full disclosure: Zee Edgell is my mother!
June 19, 2020
3.5 stars.
A story of growth, not just for Beka but for her country, familial expectations, disappointments and celebrations.
...it's not want of tongue that cows don't talk - Granny Ivy
🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿
In Edgell's #BekaLamb, we are introduced to Beka, a precocious, mendacious teen who is struggling with her studies, and having recently lost her best friend, begins a journey down memory lane where the landscape of her friendship and her Belize unfolds.
🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿
The history of the island is revealed in Beka's memories and the societal make-up, racial diversity, and stratification is also touched on. Beka is also influenced in her coming of age at a time in Belize's history where political independence is desired, by both her grandmother and father's passionate but opposite approach to how independence should be attained.
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Beka slowly comes into her own strength and opinions as tension rises between the Governor and the People's Independence Party, as a hurricane heads towards Belize, and her grandmother struggles to understand the change that has taken root in Beka.
🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿
But at its heart, Beka Lamb is a story of family, friendship, and country. How intertwined they are, how each plays into defining the other, and the importance of accepting and listening to oneself.
A story of growth, not just for Beka but for her country, familial expectations, disappointments and celebrations.
...it's not want of tongue that cows don't talk - Granny Ivy
🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿
In Edgell's #BekaLamb, we are introduced to Beka, a precocious, mendacious teen who is struggling with her studies, and having recently lost her best friend, begins a journey down memory lane where the landscape of her friendship and her Belize unfolds.
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The history of the island is revealed in Beka's memories and the societal make-up, racial diversity, and stratification is also touched on. Beka is also influenced in her coming of age at a time in Belize's history where political independence is desired, by both her grandmother and father's passionate but opposite approach to how independence should be attained.
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Beka slowly comes into her own strength and opinions as tension rises between the Governor and the People's Independence Party, as a hurricane heads towards Belize, and her grandmother struggles to understand the change that has taken root in Beka.
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But at its heart, Beka Lamb is a story of family, friendship, and country. How intertwined they are, how each plays into defining the other, and the importance of accepting and listening to oneself.
May 5, 2021
Este libro lo leí como parte del reto #Readingtheworld, no me quedo mucha alternativa ya que para Belice (de donde es la escritora) no encontré casi ninguna opción.
Al principio, se me hizo lento por lo cual me costó trabajo avanzar rápido, pero al ir avanzando en la lectura descubrí que fue perfecto para el reto ya que describe la vida cotidiana de Beka y como se relaciona con su familia, amigos y en su entorno; al final creo que al leer a un autor por país es interesante ver cómo viven o vivían. Personalmente a mi gusto de lectura lo califique con ⭐⭐⭐, pero tal vez por lo anterior podría ponerle ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Al principio, se me hizo lento por lo cual me costó trabajo avanzar rápido, pero al ir avanzando en la lectura descubrí que fue perfecto para el reto ya que describe la vida cotidiana de Beka y como se relaciona con su familia, amigos y en su entorno; al final creo que al leer a un autor por país es interesante ver cómo viven o vivían. Personalmente a mi gusto de lectura lo califique con ⭐⭐⭐, pero tal vez por lo anterior podría ponerle ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
May 30, 2020
What Beka recognized in herself as 'change' began, as far as she could remember, the day she decided to stop lying. Things were getting almost beyond her control. She sat on the step of the back porch that April Friday, seven months earlier, eating cray-fish foot left over from tea and contemplating her latest, worst lie. The sun was going down and a cool breeze from the Caribbean, severL streets away, blew now and then reminding her that it was 'Caye Time' once again.
April 21, 2025
The first half was miserably boring, but then the second half was rounded out with strong descriptive writing and cohesive themes about racism, colonization, modernization, and misogyny. So interesting to get a peek into a tiny country on the edge of the Caribbean in the 1950s
August 8, 2023
Started this in Belize and finished it on the plane ride home. Lovely novel about a young girl in Belize set in the 1950s during the transition from colony to independent nation. The ending was very touching. All in all, I learned some interesting things about race and class dynamics of the country that I didn’t pick up on just by physically being there. It was also interesting to learn more about the political history of the country. I enjoyed recognizing a lot of references to local food and wildlife that I did encounter in real life. I think I’ll make this a travel tradition - read a novel by a local author any time I’m in a foreign country.
August 19, 2019
From the beginning to the end, this book drops all the truths about living under colonial rule in Belize during the 1950s. With the opening sentence: On a warm November day Beka Lamb won an essay contest at St. Cecilia's Academy, situated not far from the front gate of His Majesty's Prison on Milpa Lane- your attention is arrested. The story that ensues is the background of Beka and as well as life in Belize. Both are attempting to grow up amidst strenuous times. But a key sentence which aptly captures the essence and wisdom of the novel is this gem of a paragraph. The author understands what it means to try to survive and succeed in new circumstances. Everyone does not pass this test, and as a result they may be viewed badly in society as expressed here:
" But he was human and not only that, he was a pioneer and pioneers in non-traditional fields of endeavour generally inhabit an uncertain place. They are faced with complex choices. Should they forsake the old for the new ? This seems simpler, at first, but the emotional cost of attempting to reject one's nurture is dear. Should they hold tightly to the old and shut out the new? How can this be done when they are no longer entirely 'the old"? It is only time, experience, and emotional maturity that teaches some pioneers to try and graft the best of the old onto the best of the new. What is the best of the old, and the best of the ever-changing new? That selection takes generation to evolve, and the task is never done."
It is this sentiment which many Caribbean authors who lived through the Independence era of their nations have sought to grapple and explore. Education is the step toward progress and yet it can be the step that binds a mind as surely as a prison binds a body.
If you are interested in books that showcase colonial rule, this debut novel is an excellent resource to read. It has quite a few gems that I have not touched on such as colorism, the place of women and even control through religion.
" But he was human and not only that, he was a pioneer and pioneers in non-traditional fields of endeavour generally inhabit an uncertain place. They are faced with complex choices. Should they forsake the old for the new ? This seems simpler, at first, but the emotional cost of attempting to reject one's nurture is dear. Should they hold tightly to the old and shut out the new? How can this be done when they are no longer entirely 'the old"? It is only time, experience, and emotional maturity that teaches some pioneers to try and graft the best of the old onto the best of the new. What is the best of the old, and the best of the ever-changing new? That selection takes generation to evolve, and the task is never done."
It is this sentiment which many Caribbean authors who lived through the Independence era of their nations have sought to grapple and explore. Education is the step toward progress and yet it can be the step that binds a mind as surely as a prison binds a body.
If you are interested in books that showcase colonial rule, this debut novel is an excellent resource to read. It has quite a few gems that I have not touched on such as colorism, the place of women and even control through religion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2024
4.5. Definitely a book which grows on you with time, but such an interesting one on growing up - both as from a girl to a teenager and from a colonial state to a nation searching for independence. I felt like I learnt so much about the nation of Belize too so really really enjoyed this book!
September 18, 2022
I enjoyed this coming of age story.
February 12, 2024
2.5 stars…
September 7, 2024
This was a good story to introduce someone to Belize.
June 23, 2024
Beka Lamb by Zee Edgell is considered almost an institution in Belizean literature. Published in 1982, it is one of the first novels from Belize to attract international interest and is a must read in Belizean schools. Set in the 1950s, the story of 14-year old Beka is portrayed within the political turmoil and transformation of the Belizean society from colonialism towards self-governance. The dynamic political background is matched by the challenges not only in Beka’s life – mostly deriving from poverty and lack of self-motivation – but also in the life of her best friend, Toycie, whose death (revealed at the beginning of the book) reflects societal and patriarchal structures.
It is easy to understand why the book forms part of the high school curriculum in Belize. It is meticulous in its description of flora and fauna, traditions and the cultural environment of colonial Belize. It has a strong sense of national pride while also introducing and discussing societal and moral themes from racism and racial diversity to gender roles, patriarchy and the omnipresence of the Catholic church. Although in some parts it is a classic coming-of-age story and commonly symbolic in chronicling the transformation of a society along with the transformation of a school girl into a woman, I like it much better than a similar and more famous Caribbean coming-of-age story, Jamaica Kincaid’s Annie John,
Zee Edgell herself lived a fascinating life, spending time in different countries including Somalia, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Her career spanned journalism, higher education, government posts and international cooperation. Beka Lamb, her first book (and the first book published in independent Belize) is said to have autobiographical tones. She passed away in 2020.
I read this book as part of our project Virtual Nomad that explores and celebrates food, writing, cinema and music from different countries. www.myvirtualnomad.com
It is easy to understand why the book forms part of the high school curriculum in Belize. It is meticulous in its description of flora and fauna, traditions and the cultural environment of colonial Belize. It has a strong sense of national pride while also introducing and discussing societal and moral themes from racism and racial diversity to gender roles, patriarchy and the omnipresence of the Catholic church. Although in some parts it is a classic coming-of-age story and commonly symbolic in chronicling the transformation of a society along with the transformation of a school girl into a woman, I like it much better than a similar and more famous Caribbean coming-of-age story, Jamaica Kincaid’s Annie John,
Zee Edgell herself lived a fascinating life, spending time in different countries including Somalia, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Her career spanned journalism, higher education, government posts and international cooperation. Beka Lamb, her first book (and the first book published in independent Belize) is said to have autobiographical tones. She passed away in 2020.
I read this book as part of our project Virtual Nomad that explores and celebrates food, writing, cinema and music from different countries. www.myvirtualnomad.com
February 11, 2009
Years ago I met Zee Edgell. She was a real peach. I'm always in awe of little-known but influential books. Edgell is a "Caribbean" author, and when I read Beka Lamb she was the most prominent writer in the history of Belize. I wonder if that has changed? I enjoyed Beka Lamb, and I plan to read it again one day. She was a very clever lady.
January 17, 2008
I had to read this in 9th grade, and I hated it. I had to read it again in college, and I tried to go in with an open mind, and I thought it was terrible. Just one more "coming of age" tale, a genre which tends toward mediocrity except when the main character's name is Holden.
April 15, 2015
Great effort, great themes, very good writing, but characters' dialogue seems forced: political, cultural, etc.
Read
September 29, 2015its a great book but i thought it could be more interesting and less factual
August 29, 2020
Llegué a este libro como parte del desafío literario #WorldReadingChallenge, el cual motivo a leer un texto que aborde, desde una perspectiva local, el estilo de vida y las lógicas socio – culturales de cada uno de los países del mundo.
Bajo esa lógica, “Beka Lamb” es uno de los mejores títulos que se pueden encontrar. A pesar de narrar unos pocos meses en la vida de la protagonista homónima, el libro aborda de manera eficaz y contundente diversos temas sociales de importancia para la configuración del Belice de hoy en día.
Al estar situado en la década de 1950, el texto le permitirá conocer al lector los movimientos independentistas del país, sus consecuencias y las opiniones diversas de sus habitantes. Al mismo tiempo, el texto, a través de sus personajes, relata las relaciones de este país centroamericano con sus vecinos: Guatemala, con quiénes hasta el día de hoy mantienen disputas territoriales; y, México, con quiénes mantienen una relación más amical.
Por otro lado, Edgell aprovecha esta historia para reflexionar sobre las posibilidades de construir un país unificado en medio de un territorio habitado por diferentes grupos humanos, quienes, como dice el dicho, “viven juntos, pero no revueltos”. Una duda que, definitivamente, está presente en muchas naciones de la región que, como resultado de su pasado colonial, tuvieron que construir una unidad a partir de la diversificación.
Todos los personajes de Beka Lamb representan algo: una situación, una idea o postura política, una crítica social, etc. Ninguno está en vano. Definitivamente, mi favorito es el personaje de la abuela, que representa muchas cosas del pasado y del futuro. Destaco también a Toycie, de quien podríamos decir que es víctima de su condición, pero que, en realidad, es condenada por una sociedad atrapada en el pasado. Y, por supuesto, no puedo olvidarme de Beka, quién representa a Belice y a los cambios a los que su país se enfrenta a nivel político, social, emocional, etc.
Edgell me parece una autora muy inteligente. Y es que sabe combinar demasiados elementos de manera sencilla, pero efectiva. Quizás la historia como tal no sea de las mejores que he leído, pero leer “Beka Lamb” es leer a Belice, con todo lo que eso implica. Disfruté muchísimo cada detalle de la lectura, cada guiño, cada metáfora. Además, decidí correrme el riesgo de leerla en inglés y pude disfrutar el inglés beliceño, que es el resultado del mestizaje con el español y otras expresiones locales. ¡Una delicia literaria!
Hace mucho no disfrutaba tanto con un libro tan sencillo.
Bajo esa lógica, “Beka Lamb” es uno de los mejores títulos que se pueden encontrar. A pesar de narrar unos pocos meses en la vida de la protagonista homónima, el libro aborda de manera eficaz y contundente diversos temas sociales de importancia para la configuración del Belice de hoy en día.
Al estar situado en la década de 1950, el texto le permitirá conocer al lector los movimientos independentistas del país, sus consecuencias y las opiniones diversas de sus habitantes. Al mismo tiempo, el texto, a través de sus personajes, relata las relaciones de este país centroamericano con sus vecinos: Guatemala, con quiénes hasta el día de hoy mantienen disputas territoriales; y, México, con quiénes mantienen una relación más amical.
Por otro lado, Edgell aprovecha esta historia para reflexionar sobre las posibilidades de construir un país unificado en medio de un territorio habitado por diferentes grupos humanos, quienes, como dice el dicho, “viven juntos, pero no revueltos”. Una duda que, definitivamente, está presente en muchas naciones de la región que, como resultado de su pasado colonial, tuvieron que construir una unidad a partir de la diversificación.
Todos los personajes de Beka Lamb representan algo: una situación, una idea o postura política, una crítica social, etc. Ninguno está en vano. Definitivamente, mi favorito es el personaje de la abuela, que representa muchas cosas del pasado y del futuro. Destaco también a Toycie, de quien podríamos decir que es víctima de su condición, pero que, en realidad, es condenada por una sociedad atrapada en el pasado. Y, por supuesto, no puedo olvidarme de Beka, quién representa a Belice y a los cambios a los que su país se enfrenta a nivel político, social, emocional, etc.
Edgell me parece una autora muy inteligente. Y es que sabe combinar demasiados elementos de manera sencilla, pero efectiva. Quizás la historia como tal no sea de las mejores que he leído, pero leer “Beka Lamb” es leer a Belice, con todo lo que eso implica. Disfruté muchísimo cada detalle de la lectura, cada guiño, cada metáfora. Además, decidí correrme el riesgo de leerla en inglés y pude disfrutar el inglés beliceño, que es el resultado del mestizaje con el español y otras expresiones locales. ¡Una delicia literaria!
Hace mucho no disfrutaba tanto con un libro tan sencillo.
September 12, 2021
Fourteen-year-old Beka and her best friend Toycie (who’s seventeen) are on the cusp of adulthood. They have family, school and boys to contend with as their home and everyone they know have to deal with the political upheaval as Belize strives towards independence.
Beka Lamb is set in the early 1950s and at this point Belize was a British colony. Throughout the novel there’s mentions of different political parties, how products coming from different countries mean different things, and Beka’s grandmother is heavily involved and up to date with the meetings that are happening in town. I knew nothing of Belize’s history before reading Beka Lamb and the way the politics of the country are interwoven in the story made things easy to understand and gave context to the reasons why characters said and did certain things. Having the story be from Beka’s point of view meant that there was almost a naivety to it at times as she had a lot of growing up to do.
As well as the political upheaval Beka’s family are living through there’s also how the Catholic church is a dominating presence in their lives – especially Beka and Toycie’s as the school they go to is run by nuns. The influence the women at the school have over them and the wider society can’t be underestimated. When Beka’s father asks them for help or even understanding when a situation arises, they refuse saying it’s a slight upon the school and their values.
The friendship between Beka and Toycie is the really heart of this story. Even though there’s three years between them they are really close and help each other in different ways. Toycie can help Beka with her school work while Beka will be a sometimes-reluctant alibi when Toycie wants to sneak out to see a boy. The differences in their homelives are glaring but also shows how strong their friendship is as there’s no resentment from Toycie. Beka lives with her parents, young brothers and her grandmother and while not well-off they don’t struggle financially. Toycie on the other hand lives with her aunt and she does struggle to provide for Toycie and is clearly living below the poverty line.
Beka Lamb is a pretty standard coming of age story; Beka tries to find her voice, do well in school, and stop lying. Having this story set in Belize and in a time of political and social upheaval adds extra layers to Beka’s story and while some thing’s are universal, others are deeply personal.
Beka Lamb is set in the early 1950s and at this point Belize was a British colony. Throughout the novel there’s mentions of different political parties, how products coming from different countries mean different things, and Beka’s grandmother is heavily involved and up to date with the meetings that are happening in town. I knew nothing of Belize’s history before reading Beka Lamb and the way the politics of the country are interwoven in the story made things easy to understand and gave context to the reasons why characters said and did certain things. Having the story be from Beka’s point of view meant that there was almost a naivety to it at times as she had a lot of growing up to do.
As well as the political upheaval Beka’s family are living through there’s also how the Catholic church is a dominating presence in their lives – especially Beka and Toycie’s as the school they go to is run by nuns. The influence the women at the school have over them and the wider society can’t be underestimated. When Beka’s father asks them for help or even understanding when a situation arises, they refuse saying it’s a slight upon the school and their values.
The friendship between Beka and Toycie is the really heart of this story. Even though there’s three years between them they are really close and help each other in different ways. Toycie can help Beka with her school work while Beka will be a sometimes-reluctant alibi when Toycie wants to sneak out to see a boy. The differences in their homelives are glaring but also shows how strong their friendship is as there’s no resentment from Toycie. Beka lives with her parents, young brothers and her grandmother and while not well-off they don’t struggle financially. Toycie on the other hand lives with her aunt and she does struggle to provide for Toycie and is clearly living below the poverty line.
Beka Lamb is a pretty standard coming of age story; Beka tries to find her voice, do well in school, and stop lying. Having this story set in Belize and in a time of political and social upheaval adds extra layers to Beka’s story and while some thing’s are universal, others are deeply personal.
August 4, 2024
This was my choice for my Read the World challenge for Belize. The beginning of this book had me really lost as Edgell just drops you in the story and you have keep reading to get enough context to figure out what was going on. For most of this I was going to give it 3 stars but the last couple of chapters pushed it up to 4 stars.
Beka Lamb is our protagonist, she is 14 years old and constantly lies. She lives with her father, mother, grandmother, and 2 younger siblings. Belize is in political conflict, and this is the undercurrent of the story. Beka's father supports the British backing while her grandmother goes to meetings for Independence. The back talks about this being a coming of age story, which is the main plot. Beka is 14 and has just failed her first year in a catholic private high school, she is not sure if she will be allowed to go back which maybe why she lies to her parents saying she has passed. A lie they quickly find out and punish her for lying.
In all coming of age stories there is an event that one can point to that has ended their childhood and required them to "grow up". Beka's best friend, Toycie, is that event. Toycie is older than Beka and is entering her last year of high school, but Toycie has a boyfriend that she often abandons Beka for. Her mother has left her, moving to the United States, to be raised by family members. Her family is poor but they are proud that Toycie is doing well in her education that is until she can no longer go to school. Beka is conflicted in trying to help her friend and to focus on her own education to make her family proud of her. It is the less that will change her.
I struggled with the character of Beka but she was always trying to do what was right but is a 14 year old girl who wants people to think the best of her even when she doesn't always do what is right. Did I cry when the neighbor comes in at the end to talk about her bougainvillea bush? Yes, I did. I also cried at the end when we find out who won the essay contest that Beka's teacher pushed her to write.
I ended up really liking this book. It is relatively short but took me longer to read than others because it was difficult sometimes to figure out what was actually going on. If you are struggling with this one, give it time and it will all come together eventually.
Beka Lamb is our protagonist, she is 14 years old and constantly lies. She lives with her father, mother, grandmother, and 2 younger siblings. Belize is in political conflict, and this is the undercurrent of the story. Beka's father supports the British backing while her grandmother goes to meetings for Independence. The back talks about this being a coming of age story, which is the main plot. Beka is 14 and has just failed her first year in a catholic private high school, she is not sure if she will be allowed to go back which maybe why she lies to her parents saying she has passed. A lie they quickly find out and punish her for lying.
In all coming of age stories there is an event that one can point to that has ended their childhood and required them to "grow up". Beka's best friend, Toycie, is that event. Toycie is older than Beka and is entering her last year of high school, but Toycie has a boyfriend that she often abandons Beka for. Her mother has left her, moving to the United States, to be raised by family members. Her family is poor but they are proud that Toycie is doing well in her education that is until she can no longer go to school. Beka is conflicted in trying to help her friend and to focus on her own education to make her family proud of her. It is the less that will change her.
I struggled with the character of Beka but she was always trying to do what was right but is a 14 year old girl who wants people to think the best of her even when she doesn't always do what is right. Did I cry when the neighbor comes in at the end to talk about her bougainvillea bush? Yes, I did. I also cried at the end when we find out who won the essay contest that Beka's teacher pushed her to write.
I ended up really liking this book. It is relatively short but took me longer to read than others because it was difficult sometimes to figure out what was actually going on. If you are struggling with this one, give it time and it will all come together eventually.
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