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The Yard
The Namesake meets Wuthering Heights. The Yard is a story of love and redemption, set in Trinidad, that exposes the fault lines in Indo-Muslim culture. Behrooz, an abandoned boy, is brought to a familial complex, The Yard, to live with a devout and extended family, where he struggles to belong. He forms a childish alliance with Maya, a wilful and rebellious girl, and his guardian's daughter. After they share a night of adolescent tenderness, Maya, fearing retribution, flees to London. Behrooz painstakingly rebuilds his life and marries another. When tragedy strikes, Maya returns to her childhood home. There, she and Behrooz must face up to old demons. Can their love endure? Even after Maya is dealt the most "righteous" blow of all?
272 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2016
About the author
Aliyyah Eniath
1 book57 followersThe Yard (literary, romance) is published by Speaking Tiger Books in both paperback and ebook formats.
Eniath explores the ideas of breaking free from imposed boundaries (familial or otherwise), understanding and feeling supported in who you are, overcoming self doubt, and finally being true to yourself. Her writing looks at strict religious ideologies and their potential consequences and begs for a softer approach and innate understanding and compassion towards every human being.
She writes from the perspective of East Indians whose forefathers were brought to Trinidad from India through the British colonial indentureship scheme in 1845.
Eniath explores the ideas of breaking free from imposed boundaries (familial or otherwise), understanding and feeling supported in who you are, overcoming self doubt, and finally being true to yourself. Her writing looks at strict religious ideologies and their potential consequences and begs for a softer approach and innate understanding and compassion towards every human being.
She writes from the perspective of East Indians whose forefathers were brought to Trinidad from India through the British colonial indentureship scheme in 1845.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 6, 2018
A jewel to the Literary World!
Book of The Month | October of 2016
Sit back. Relax. Take The Yard in your hands. For some time in your life, Aliyyah will bring uncontrollable tears and bewilder you with her writing.
Some novels have the tendency that they play Quidditch with your emotions, giving unsettling, disturbing feelings to your soul and heart, then giggle back at you because
They. Have. Played. Well!
Aliyyah Eniath does the very same!
Set in Trinidad, recounts a heart breaking tale of Behrooz, Sara, Maya and her family. The intricate complexity of human nature and behavior is knitted to perfection.
During the whole episode of Maya, Sara and Behrooz, I felt perturbation and agitation contemplating 'what heart shattering thing it will throw at me now!'
The flaw in the characters, their mannerism, perspective, thought process, redemption, regrets, unrestrained fears, rampant melancholy and evocative memories - all of that galvanized me.
These lines brought overwhelming grief to the soul of the reader holding this book.
Aliyyah's steel hard determination and hard work of 5 years is visible, audible and heart-penetrative in this expressive and powerful piece of work.
In mere 272 pages, she made my eyes moisturized.
My tears struggled to come out or go in and dry just there, they didn't know what to do!
The Yard broke my heart many times and each time it did, it did so, so beautifully.
I smiled at every shattering sound. Only because it was heard within me and nowhere else.
An aesthetic cover fits the story, making you halt and admire its unsung glory for a while.
Melancholy at its sheer glory.
A novel that mends your heart, just to break it again and see you bleed ruthlessly.
Verdict : Book of the month indeed...! 5 glorious stars to Alliyah.
Book of The Month | October of 2016
Sit back. Relax. Take The Yard in your hands. For some time in your life, Aliyyah will bring uncontrollable tears and bewilder you with her writing.
Some novels have the tendency that they play Quidditch with your emotions, giving unsettling, disturbing feelings to your soul and heart, then giggle back at you because
They. Have. Played. Well!
Aliyyah Eniath does the very same!
Set in Trinidad, recounts a heart breaking tale of Behrooz, Sara, Maya and her family. The intricate complexity of human nature and behavior is knitted to perfection.
During the whole episode of Maya, Sara and Behrooz, I felt perturbation and agitation contemplating 'what heart shattering thing it will throw at me now!'
The flaw in the characters, their mannerism, perspective, thought process, redemption, regrets, unrestrained fears, rampant melancholy and evocative memories - all of that galvanized me.
He sat, smiling from ear to ear, on the sand, with a sand dollar in his hands. The image was captured on their first visit to Mayaro beach when he was two years old.
His happiness seemed to jump out of the picture and infect anyone who looked at it.
These lines brought overwhelming grief to the soul of the reader holding this book.
Aliyyah's steel hard determination and hard work of 5 years is visible, audible and heart-penetrative in this expressive and powerful piece of work.
In mere 272 pages, she made my eyes moisturized.
My tears struggled to come out or go in and dry just there, they didn't know what to do!
The Yard broke my heart many times and each time it did, it did so, so beautifully.
I smiled at every shattering sound. Only because it was heard within me and nowhere else.
An aesthetic cover fits the story, making you halt and admire its unsung glory for a while.
Melancholy at its sheer glory.
A novel that mends your heart, just to break it again and see you bleed ruthlessly.
Verdict : Book of the month indeed...! 5 glorious stars to Alliyah.
March 6, 2018
This Was Awesome!
This is the kind of book that you take in your hands and leave it only once you finish it all.
But the story never leaves you.
Not for weeks. Not for months.
If you judge a book by its cover then The Yard would certainly stood up well on your expectations.
If you don't judge a book by its cover, then The Yard would make you to start judging books by their covers. So is its impact.
The Yard is a powerful narrative of Maya, Behrooz, Sara and their family and how entangled and complicated their lives are. One's decision affects everyone around them.
The best thing you'll love about it is the strong connection all of them create with you. The strength of this nexus will make you go forward with this one for a long time.
You start breathing with the characters. You start living with the characters. In The Yard.
They get the scruff of your neck and stir your emotions continuously.
The author has touched and discussed subjects nearer to every human's heart and that what makes it a magnificent read.
I admired every single thing about The Yard. There wasn't any other options than that! Such is the writing style, cover and the presentation!
I'm surely gifting this to my sister.
This is the kind of book that you take in your hands and leave it only once you finish it all.
But the story never leaves you.
Not for weeks. Not for months.
If you judge a book by its cover then The Yard would certainly stood up well on your expectations.
If you don't judge a book by its cover, then The Yard would make you to start judging books by their covers. So is its impact.
The Yard is a powerful narrative of Maya, Behrooz, Sara and their family and how entangled and complicated their lives are. One's decision affects everyone around them.
The best thing you'll love about it is the strong connection all of them create with you. The strength of this nexus will make you go forward with this one for a long time.
You start breathing with the characters. You start living with the characters. In The Yard.
They get the scruff of your neck and stir your emotions continuously.
The author has touched and discussed subjects nearer to every human's heart and that what makes it a magnificent read.
I admired every single thing about The Yard. There wasn't any other options than that! Such is the writing style, cover and the presentation!
I'm surely gifting this to my sister.
May 8, 2016
I was offered a signed copy of this novel in return for an honest opinion. Thanks so much for reaching out Eniath.
I always love reading books written by Caribbean nationals, especially when its about an island I have lived in or visited. At this heart of this story is the message of "living your best life, not matter where you are or your circumstances." While I enjoyed reading this book there were some disconnect that I could not see pass.
So this is a book set in Trinidad and Tobago but there was little or no authentic Trini dialect. I think having a bit more authentic dialogue would have helped in me feeling a more genuine connection with the characters. I also could not look pass the general disconnect with the Muslim religion and the actions of the characters. I am not sure if Eniath's goal was present a more relaxed amiable Muslim culture- if so it worked! While I understand this is fiction, some of the actions by the characters were out of character and seemed extremely far fetched, which was a little off-putting for me.
For a debut novel, Eniath did a really great job. The book was engaging, it was fast paced, sprinkled with some curveballs which I loved. I also liked the underlying message of living your best life, and know its never too late for a fresh start.
A refreshing look at Caribbean life! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Do read!
I always love reading books written by Caribbean nationals, especially when its about an island I have lived in or visited. At this heart of this story is the message of "living your best life, not matter where you are or your circumstances." While I enjoyed reading this book there were some disconnect that I could not see pass.
So this is a book set in Trinidad and Tobago but there was little or no authentic Trini dialect. I think having a bit more authentic dialogue would have helped in me feeling a more genuine connection with the characters. I also could not look pass the general disconnect with the Muslim religion and the actions of the characters. I am not sure if Eniath's goal was present a more relaxed amiable Muslim culture- if so it worked! While I understand this is fiction, some of the actions by the characters were out of character and seemed extremely far fetched, which was a little off-putting for me.
For a debut novel, Eniath did a really great job. The book was engaging, it was fast paced, sprinkled with some curveballs which I loved. I also liked the underlying message of living your best life, and know its never too late for a fresh start.
A refreshing look at Caribbean life! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Do read!
April 17, 2016
Let me start off by saying that by the end of this novel I was in tears! So many feels. I don't even know where to begin this review because there's just so much I want to say!
The Yard chronicles the adventures of a young boy who is adopted by a devout Muslim family in Trinidad and Tobago although some persons in the family do not approve of the adoption.
I love how the setting is painted. I could really see The Yard and I love the culture that pervaded everything. Author, Aliyyah Eniath, didn't try to justify it, but rather stated it as it was, which I thought was a really good approach.
Also, it was always a mini-surprise to hear about a local place in Trinidad while reading because that has never happened to me in a novel before and I absolutely loved it. It made it that much more real and enjoyable for me.
The characters are all so perfectly flawed and of course my favourite is Maya. Her journey is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time and I could actually see all the things that she goes through happen in real life which just brings the novel to life for me.
What I love most about the characters are that they're real and I could relate to each of them because they all have real human qualities and aren't abstract fanciful characters.
The author address numerous issues in the novel like death, religion, love, regret, tolerance vs intolerance, compassion, forgiveness etc. and it's refreshing to read about some of these issues in novel form especially when some of them, especially that of religion is so touchy and hard to come across.
The only difficulty was keeping up with sheer number of characters. So if you were to ask about particular Aunties, I wouldn't be able to say who their children were and what their specific role in the grand scheme was. I'm not saying the effect of their choices don't stay with me, because I know that certain things happened, but in my mind I just classify it as 'one of the Aunties' or 'one of the Uncles.'
I enjoyed this novel and I couldn't put it down. I finished The Yard at 3:50am and I started writing my thoughts on it as soon as I was finished reading it.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone! It's one of those MUST-READ novels that readers are blessed with from time to time.
I gave The Yard by Aliyyah Eniath 5/5 stars!
Full review coming to my YouTube Channel "RadeyahTV" soon!
The Yard chronicles the adventures of a young boy who is adopted by a devout Muslim family in Trinidad and Tobago although some persons in the family do not approve of the adoption.
I love how the setting is painted. I could really see The Yard and I love the culture that pervaded everything. Author, Aliyyah Eniath, didn't try to justify it, but rather stated it as it was, which I thought was a really good approach.
Also, it was always a mini-surprise to hear about a local place in Trinidad while reading because that has never happened to me in a novel before and I absolutely loved it. It made it that much more real and enjoyable for me.
The characters are all so perfectly flawed and of course my favourite is Maya. Her journey is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time and I could actually see all the things that she goes through happen in real life which just brings the novel to life for me.
What I love most about the characters are that they're real and I could relate to each of them because they all have real human qualities and aren't abstract fanciful characters.
The author address numerous issues in the novel like death, religion, love, regret, tolerance vs intolerance, compassion, forgiveness etc. and it's refreshing to read about some of these issues in novel form especially when some of them, especially that of religion is so touchy and hard to come across.
The only difficulty was keeping up with sheer number of characters. So if you were to ask about particular Aunties, I wouldn't be able to say who their children were and what their specific role in the grand scheme was. I'm not saying the effect of their choices don't stay with me, because I know that certain things happened, but in my mind I just classify it as 'one of the Aunties' or 'one of the Uncles.'
I enjoyed this novel and I couldn't put it down. I finished The Yard at 3:50am and I started writing my thoughts on it as soon as I was finished reading it.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone! It's one of those MUST-READ novels that readers are blessed with from time to time.
I gave The Yard by Aliyyah Eniath 5/5 stars!
Full review coming to my YouTube Channel "RadeyahTV" soon!
May 15, 2016
What an explosive indulgence of the sweet and cultured life of Caribbean people. I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed this book as each and every character was brought to life with very distinct traits and personalities. The scenes took me back to a time we all wish still existed in Trinidad. It definitely touched my heart as the emotions put forward by each character were so familiar. A positive and refreshing read that breathes life and its ups and downs. Thank you Aliyyah for coloring Trinidad with the beauty of words and giving the reader a glimpse into your world.
July 1, 2016
The Yard
by Aliyyah Eniath
paperback price(IN INDIA):-350rs
The author address numerous issues in the novel like death, religion, love, regret, tolerance vs intolerance, compassion, forgiveness etc. and it's refreshing to read about some of these issues in novel form especially when some of them, especially that of religion is so touchy and hard to come across.
A young boy is brought lo live with an extended and devout family against the wishes of some. The Yard is a story of love and redemption and a captivating look at the fault lines in indo-Muslim culture. It definitely touched my heart as the emotions put forward by each character were so familiar.
A positive and refreshing read that breathes life and its ups and downs.
The story mainly revolves around her but there are also a few subplots involving the other characters which make this book the brilliant piece of art it is. Family and love form the main themes but there are also so many other feelings like guilt, regret, forgiveness and courage to face everything life throws at you.
by Aliyyah Eniath
paperback price(IN INDIA):-350rs
The author address numerous issues in the novel like death, religion, love, regret, tolerance vs intolerance, compassion, forgiveness etc. and it's refreshing to read about some of these issues in novel form especially when some of them, especially that of religion is so touchy and hard to come across.
A young boy is brought lo live with an extended and devout family against the wishes of some. The Yard is a story of love and redemption and a captivating look at the fault lines in indo-Muslim culture. It definitely touched my heart as the emotions put forward by each character were so familiar.
A positive and refreshing read that breathes life and its ups and downs.
The story mainly revolves around her but there are also a few subplots involving the other characters which make this book the brilliant piece of art it is. Family and love form the main themes but there are also so many other feelings like guilt, regret, forgiveness and courage to face everything life throws at you.
May 9, 2016
A beautiful read - one of those where I just kept reading till I reached the end. Aliyyah Eniath presents the culture of her characters in a way that both honours what is and leaves room for us to identify and form our own thoughts.
The Yard tells the story of a young boy adopted by a devout Muslim family in Trinidad and Tobago. It chronicles how he came to be adopted, the family he was adopted into and the various relationships that develop. I loved the progression of the main characters as they begin to become more self-aware and must grapple with love, regret, tolerance, death and forgiveness.
As a Trinbagonian it was a pleasure to read of places I've lived in and have been to. I also found it easy to identify with the large family as it is so true to life for me.
Highly recommended!
The Yard tells the story of a young boy adopted by a devout Muslim family in Trinidad and Tobago. It chronicles how he came to be adopted, the family he was adopted into and the various relationships that develop. I loved the progression of the main characters as they begin to become more self-aware and must grapple with love, regret, tolerance, death and forgiveness.
As a Trinbagonian it was a pleasure to read of places I've lived in and have been to. I also found it easy to identify with the large family as it is so true to life for me.
Highly recommended!
July 10, 2016
I recieved a free copy of this book from the author.
This was a really heart touching story. It chronicles the lives of the families that live in 'The Yard'. It's also a coming of age story of Maya. The story mainly revolves around her but there are also a few subplots involving the other characters which make this book the brilliant piece of art it is. Family and love form the main themes but there are also so many other feelings like guilt, regret, forgiveness and courage to face everything life throws at you. Although it starts off a bit slow, this book was pretty great to read. I loved this story because it just seems so real. The characters in this story could be anyone. This book deals with things many people deal with (in different ways of course) and you can empathise and understand every single one of the characters. Nothing is one sided here. The author makes you understand all the different points of view and I thought that that was just beautiful.
This was a really heart touching story. It chronicles the lives of the families that live in 'The Yard'. It's also a coming of age story of Maya. The story mainly revolves around her but there are also a few subplots involving the other characters which make this book the brilliant piece of art it is. Family and love form the main themes but there are also so many other feelings like guilt, regret, forgiveness and courage to face everything life throws at you. Although it starts off a bit slow, this book was pretty great to read. I loved this story because it just seems so real. The characters in this story could be anyone. This book deals with things many people deal with (in different ways of course) and you can empathise and understand every single one of the characters. Nothing is one sided here. The author makes you understand all the different points of view and I thought that that was just beautiful.
April 17, 2016
THE YARD is one of those pearls of a novel that grow and glow before your very eyes. It is pacey yet takes good time to flesh out the exterior of everything from characters to physical structures and to delve under the pshyce of individuals. It serves up all the emotions and connects you to the lead characters but still leaves nobody out. Atmospheric! It leaps to your imagination like a film. It reads like a dream. A dream that lingers pleasantly with you long after you close the covers. So it easily warrants a revisit and as a writer of stories that are adapted to TV and considered for film I too see this making that transition effortlessly one day. This book breathes.
May 16, 2016
A young boy is brought lo live with an extended and devout family against the wishes of some. The Yard is a story of love and redemption and a captivating look at the fault lines in indo-Muslim culture.
Read
September 28, 2016This book was not at all what I expected. From the synopsis, I expected that the love story between Behrooz and Maya would take center stage on the beautiful island of Trinidad. Instead, I found that the story focused more on the family dynamic which made this an intense and dark family saga, at least to me.
Maya's family and her father's brothers and sisters' families all live in separate houses within a small community, the family calls "The Yard". Families are expected to stay in the Yard and besides school and work, there is little social interaction with outsiders. The Yard seems more like a military compound than a family community governed by the elders who are very strong (and dare I say, judgmental) in their cultural and religious beliefs. There were a couple likeable characters but the rest of the family drove me nuts.
In fact, I think the focus on the family drama stressed me out as I read. The drama evoked in me some painful memories, conflicting thoughts and downright anger at the closed-mindedness of some of the characters. Clearly the book was written well to evoke such an emotional response for me but the negativity of it all left me sad.
I'm still trying to figure out why The Yard triggered such a powerful response. Maybe it's that being Indian myself, I could empathize with the pressures put on Behrooz and Maya, fighting against their feelings in the name of their family's honor. Maybe it's because I am a forty-something year old woman who is always growing and learning and it drives me insane when people think they know it all. Maybe it's that I was teased as a child for my dark skin or the fact that people have preconceived notions about me without knowing the invisible battle I fight daily.
The Yard was filled with unlikeable characters and impossible situations. I never really knew which way the story would go but I had hope that the characters would earn the forgiveness and redemption they sought and it kept me reading until the end.
I am not sure about the star rating for this one because honestly, I really can't decide how I feel about The Yard. While my initial instinct is that the drama was too stressful for me to enjoy it, the fact is I did immerse myself in the story (maybe a little too much) and this book has really got me thinking as often the difficult, challenging and worthwhile books do.
I think readers who can casually observe the story as it unfolds in front of them may enjoy The Yard. For emotional readers like me who immerse themselves in the story, it may be a more intense reading experience. I bet this would make an interesting book club discussion book because it is not a book everyone will love or everyone will dislike. But all hope is not lost, just wait till I tell you my thoughts on the setting...
Setting:
What I loved about this book was learning more about Trinidad, an island in the Caribbean, and how the Indian population is segmented there by faith. I was interested in learning the Trinidad history and the practices and beliefs of Indian Muslims. While writing this review, I learned that the author was born in Trinidad and of Indian descent and the authenticity comes through in the story.
Challenges Satisfied:
Travel the World in Book Reading Challenge - Trinidad
Diversity on the Shelf Reading Challenge - author and characters are of Asian Indian descent
This review was originally posted on Mom's Small Victories
Maya's family and her father's brothers and sisters' families all live in separate houses within a small community, the family calls "The Yard". Families are expected to stay in the Yard and besides school and work, there is little social interaction with outsiders. The Yard seems more like a military compound than a family community governed by the elders who are very strong (and dare I say, judgmental) in their cultural and religious beliefs. There were a couple likeable characters but the rest of the family drove me nuts.
In fact, I think the focus on the family drama stressed me out as I read. The drama evoked in me some painful memories, conflicting thoughts and downright anger at the closed-mindedness of some of the characters. Clearly the book was written well to evoke such an emotional response for me but the negativity of it all left me sad.
I'm still trying to figure out why The Yard triggered such a powerful response. Maybe it's that being Indian myself, I could empathize with the pressures put on Behrooz and Maya, fighting against their feelings in the name of their family's honor. Maybe it's because I am a forty-something year old woman who is always growing and learning and it drives me insane when people think they know it all. Maybe it's that I was teased as a child for my dark skin or the fact that people have preconceived notions about me without knowing the invisible battle I fight daily.
The Yard was filled with unlikeable characters and impossible situations. I never really knew which way the story would go but I had hope that the characters would earn the forgiveness and redemption they sought and it kept me reading until the end.
I am not sure about the star rating for this one because honestly, I really can't decide how I feel about The Yard. While my initial instinct is that the drama was too stressful for me to enjoy it, the fact is I did immerse myself in the story (maybe a little too much) and this book has really got me thinking as often the difficult, challenging and worthwhile books do.
I think readers who can casually observe the story as it unfolds in front of them may enjoy The Yard. For emotional readers like me who immerse themselves in the story, it may be a more intense reading experience. I bet this would make an interesting book club discussion book because it is not a book everyone will love or everyone will dislike. But all hope is not lost, just wait till I tell you my thoughts on the setting...
Setting:
What I loved about this book was learning more about Trinidad, an island in the Caribbean, and how the Indian population is segmented there by faith. I was interested in learning the Trinidad history and the practices and beliefs of Indian Muslims. While writing this review, I learned that the author was born in Trinidad and of Indian descent and the authenticity comes through in the story.
Challenges Satisfied:
Travel the World in Book Reading Challenge - Trinidad
Diversity on the Shelf Reading Challenge - author and characters are of Asian Indian descent
This review was originally posted on Mom's Small Victories
August 29, 2016
"and for the millionth time in her life, she wished to be normal."
A deeply moving and emotional love story about a boy and a girl. Behooz, a boy with no memory of his past or family and Maya, a girl who belongs to a large, extended Muslim family but who has yet to determine where she belongs, form an unusual friendship.
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Yard although I did have a hard time comprehending why such a thoughtful and gentle boy would allow himself to be treated with such an unloving and aloof manner by a girl he truly felt a connection with. Although as a young person Maya is selfish and willful, we see her grow and mature as time passes.
The family dynamics were well developed but I was curious how a family of such extreme differences of belief within the same religion were able to tolerate each other. I found it hard to believe that British raised men were "instantly" converting to Islam and the "insta-love" situations were a little unbelievable.
In my humble opinion, fewer characters would have allowed more character development of the the main persons in this book. I would have enjoyed reading more about Maya and Behrooz.
The dialogue was well written and I enjoyed the conversational quality in the book. I look forward to reading more by this author.
A deeply moving and emotional love story about a boy and a girl. Behooz, a boy with no memory of his past or family and Maya, a girl who belongs to a large, extended Muslim family but who has yet to determine where she belongs, form an unusual friendship.
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Yard although I did have a hard time comprehending why such a thoughtful and gentle boy would allow himself to be treated with such an unloving and aloof manner by a girl he truly felt a connection with. Although as a young person Maya is selfish and willful, we see her grow and mature as time passes.
The family dynamics were well developed but I was curious how a family of such extreme differences of belief within the same religion were able to tolerate each other. I found it hard to believe that British raised men were "instantly" converting to Islam and the "insta-love" situations were a little unbelievable.
In my humble opinion, fewer characters would have allowed more character development of the the main persons in this book. I would have enjoyed reading more about Maya and Behrooz.
The dialogue was well written and I enjoyed the conversational quality in the book. I look forward to reading more by this author.
June 19, 2016
The yard is a beautifully sketched story, with dramatic twists and turns, giving it a character and keeping you on the edge. It is an unconventional but authentic story of love, sacrifice and family drama, which sums up the significance of the yard itself.
The author’s portrayal of Trinidad, all the characters and the yard feeds your imagination, some of the descriptions sounded very poetic. She gives every minute detail of every family member of every generation (including the pets); From celebrating weddings to arranging funerals; From falling in love to heartbreaks; From elements of home to far away adventures; which collectively.. http://goo.gl/5NIVqa
The author’s portrayal of Trinidad, all the characters and the yard feeds your imagination, some of the descriptions sounded very poetic. She gives every minute detail of every family member of every generation (including the pets); From celebrating weddings to arranging funerals; From falling in love to heartbreaks; From elements of home to far away adventures; which collectively.. http://goo.gl/5NIVqa
May 9, 2016
Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful books celebrating the landscape of life in Trinidad & Tobago. Heartfelt, insightful and simply a delight to devour.
January 5, 2021
It's my get-into-reading-zone book. I remember once I was going through an intense phase of reader's block and then came, The Yard. I could not stop turning its pages!
January 18, 2021
A great read and insight into the culture of Trinidad and Tobago at that time, rich in history and imagery. Great story of family, dreams, love and trials.
November 13, 2016
From blurb to browse, from first chapter to last, this book first stirred my interest, captivated my attention from the early chapters and took my emotions and spirit for an extraordinary ride thereafter.
I was so driven to know what happened next that I kept skipping ahead. Yet the writing was so beautiful that knowing what the next scene would bring did not stop me from reading the scenes properly and delighting in the writing!
This is a novel that never drags. Every scene supports the main story in some way, even the most peripheral characters and scenes are building the tapestry of the story experience; thus for all the dramas in a story that spans half a lifetime and is punctuated by the life events that mark the generations, it never seems overdone. The author commands an intricate story that is real and palpable because any foreshadowing and layering is right where it needs to be. In my humble view this is the work of a storyteller par excellence.
I loved and felt for all the main characters but I understood the others too.
I thought I was going to read a love story, set in central Trinidad and centred on Indo-Trini-Muslims – thus coloured by that background. I was looking forward to learning more about what it might be like to be Muslim and Indo-Trini in central Trinidad. After all, am I not always saying wryly that little Trinidad is full of subcultures? And I’ve heard Indo Trinis from North Trinidad joke that ‘Indians from Central Trinidad’ are ‘different.’ Different how? Would the author take me there? But depth of The Yard offered me so much more than I could have guessed and cared little for the questions I thought it might answer before I began to read.
The Yard is a love story between a daughter and an adopted brother which begins as a childhood friendship but is stifled early by pre-judgements, false accusations and family expectations.
Throughout the story the dynamics of life permeate: control and the yearning for freedom, love and duty, hurt and forgiveness, manipulation and vulnerability, disappointments and resignations and of course, escape. Trinidadian authors seem to be fixated on that theme of escape. Escape is not the main theme here but for a change we meet characters who seek and sometimes desperately need to escape The Yard rather than Trinidad itself! Yet while some long to escape, others have wanted the simplicity and stability it offers all their lives and come to it! The irony!
I was relieved and satisfied at first to find that The Yard was real in its portrayal of Muslims in Trinidad and their faith. There were ardent conservative Muslims for whom the letter of the law mattered more than its spirit and then there were others who believed the letter should be guided by the spirit instead. There were those for whom faith was merely a matter of family convention and conformity and a protagonist who was wary and sceptical of a faith that curbed her freedom. The two main characters fell into the latter two categories.
Perhaps religion would not weigh too heavily in this story beyond the childhood experiences of the protagonists?
The charm and potency of the story is that religion does its work in the background, sometimes in a subtle way and sometimes overtly. The contrast between spirituality and dogma was vivid and painful to experience but as in real life, what drives the plot events are human emotions. The life stories that intertwine are full of irony as the story twists and turns, always for me, in an unexpected way. But then, to be human is to be contradictory.
As the story progressed The Yard hit me as a metaphor for many things. Its represents faith and structure, family and predictability. It represents a tight circle which can admit conforming outsiders but will spit out non-conforming insiders. It represents constancy and preservation and was a vision of good will, bestowed upon latter generations by deceased and legendary patriarch, grandfather Latif.
Yet in The Yard as everywhere else, all the goodwill in the world cannot override human nature. We value deeply being truly understood and this understanding is something we seek out and treasure. Not all love stories write about that essence of love but this one does. The characters hurt others pursuing sincerely noble intentions of all kinds. There are ever contradictions between being true to ourselves and true to others. Life is inevitably painful and yet, through it all we must go on. Whether we use religion or intuition as our guide, right and wrong are not always absolute. Few things are certain. These are the stories that The Yard tells us.
This is a powerful story well told.
I was so driven to know what happened next that I kept skipping ahead. Yet the writing was so beautiful that knowing what the next scene would bring did not stop me from reading the scenes properly and delighting in the writing!
This is a novel that never drags. Every scene supports the main story in some way, even the most peripheral characters and scenes are building the tapestry of the story experience; thus for all the dramas in a story that spans half a lifetime and is punctuated by the life events that mark the generations, it never seems overdone. The author commands an intricate story that is real and palpable because any foreshadowing and layering is right where it needs to be. In my humble view this is the work of a storyteller par excellence.
I loved and felt for all the main characters but I understood the others too.
I thought I was going to read a love story, set in central Trinidad and centred on Indo-Trini-Muslims – thus coloured by that background. I was looking forward to learning more about what it might be like to be Muslim and Indo-Trini in central Trinidad. After all, am I not always saying wryly that little Trinidad is full of subcultures? And I’ve heard Indo Trinis from North Trinidad joke that ‘Indians from Central Trinidad’ are ‘different.’ Different how? Would the author take me there? But depth of The Yard offered me so much more than I could have guessed and cared little for the questions I thought it might answer before I began to read.
The Yard is a love story between a daughter and an adopted brother which begins as a childhood friendship but is stifled early by pre-judgements, false accusations and family expectations.
Throughout the story the dynamics of life permeate: control and the yearning for freedom, love and duty, hurt and forgiveness, manipulation and vulnerability, disappointments and resignations and of course, escape. Trinidadian authors seem to be fixated on that theme of escape. Escape is not the main theme here but for a change we meet characters who seek and sometimes desperately need to escape The Yard rather than Trinidad itself! Yet while some long to escape, others have wanted the simplicity and stability it offers all their lives and come to it! The irony!
I was relieved and satisfied at first to find that The Yard was real in its portrayal of Muslims in Trinidad and their faith. There were ardent conservative Muslims for whom the letter of the law mattered more than its spirit and then there were others who believed the letter should be guided by the spirit instead. There were those for whom faith was merely a matter of family convention and conformity and a protagonist who was wary and sceptical of a faith that curbed her freedom. The two main characters fell into the latter two categories.
Perhaps religion would not weigh too heavily in this story beyond the childhood experiences of the protagonists?
The charm and potency of the story is that religion does its work in the background, sometimes in a subtle way and sometimes overtly. The contrast between spirituality and dogma was vivid and painful to experience but as in real life, what drives the plot events are human emotions. The life stories that intertwine are full of irony as the story twists and turns, always for me, in an unexpected way. But then, to be human is to be contradictory.
As the story progressed The Yard hit me as a metaphor for many things. Its represents faith and structure, family and predictability. It represents a tight circle which can admit conforming outsiders but will spit out non-conforming insiders. It represents constancy and preservation and was a vision of good will, bestowed upon latter generations by deceased and legendary patriarch, grandfather Latif.
Yet in The Yard as everywhere else, all the goodwill in the world cannot override human nature. We value deeply being truly understood and this understanding is something we seek out and treasure. Not all love stories write about that essence of love but this one does. The characters hurt others pursuing sincerely noble intentions of all kinds. There are ever contradictions between being true to ourselves and true to others. Life is inevitably painful and yet, through it all we must go on. Whether we use religion or intuition as our guide, right and wrong are not always absolute. Few things are certain. These are the stories that The Yard tells us.
This is a powerful story well told.
September 8, 2016
***4.5 stars. Originally posted here on my blog.****
This book was…amazing and intensely moving and surreal. It’s presented in such a way that the reader is taken on this journey through the intricate parts of these characters lives through a course of three, maybe four, decades and you are truly just along for the ride. A well-rounded and in-depth book. I laughed, gawked and cried. If you are looking for a book that can teach you something, move you, and forever stay with you, The Yard is the book to do that.
I loved that the author introduces us into this little community (family) that makes up The Yard that, over time, really emulates this powerful, influential and almost all-consuming entity. The idea and the history behind the large Ali family was both wonderful and intimidating. With the old expectations, rules/codes, and alterations (or perspectives) on religion, I was just able to connect and empathized with the characters at these different stages in their lives.
Although presented as a narrative focused on two characters in particular, Maya (the beautifully and brutally honest, flawed and intense trapped girl) and Behrooz (the beautifully broken, observant, kind, loyal, lost boy) the reader is given clear insights and details about the rest of the family that lives in the yard. I found myself shifting in my opinion of a few of Maya’s relatives as time went on for their judgment and harsh words from time to time—but only slightly.
Moreover, while I faulted a bit following her departure from the Yard, I really enjoyed Maya’s character throughout this book because the reader gets to watch her grow. As well as Behrooz, who had several demons and issues he needed time to sort out. The love between them and their connection ran so deep to their cores, that by the end of this bittersweet, surreal reflection of life story, I was pleased with the amount of closure the author gives us.
Out of all the characters in this book, I think one I found little to no fault with was Father Khalid who was “overly compassionate,” and who seemed the most reasonable at times. Especially in comparison to his brother, Ansar:
I didn’t have too many notes on the presence of religion in this book because it wasn’t something that over powered the narrative or these characters. It’s a huge part of these characters and this family, but they are presented just as that. A family; One that deals with the raising and protecting their children, different parenting methods, love, commitment and identity among all of the Ali family members.
I really enjoyed the whole community, culture, and the authentic experience this book gives. It was kind of unlike anything I’ve ever read before, while at the same time, it reads as if you are watching a movie. Everything is laid out as it is and the reader can just live it and experience it with these characters. If you like stories that offer authentic perspectives about life, family and love, this is definitely the book for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book was…amazing and intensely moving and surreal. It’s presented in such a way that the reader is taken on this journey through the intricate parts of these characters lives through a course of three, maybe four, decades and you are truly just along for the ride. A well-rounded and in-depth book. I laughed, gawked and cried. If you are looking for a book that can teach you something, move you, and forever stay with you, The Yard is the book to do that.
I loved that the author introduces us into this little community (family) that makes up The Yard that, over time, really emulates this powerful, influential and almost all-consuming entity. The idea and the history behind the large Ali family was both wonderful and intimidating. With the old expectations, rules/codes, and alterations (or perspectives) on religion, I was just able to connect and empathized with the characters at these different stages in their lives.
Although presented as a narrative focused on two characters in particular, Maya (the beautifully and brutally honest, flawed and intense trapped girl) and Behrooz (the beautifully broken, observant, kind, loyal, lost boy) the reader is given clear insights and details about the rest of the family that lives in the yard. I found myself shifting in my opinion of a few of Maya’s relatives as time went on for their judgment and harsh words from time to time—but only slightly.
Moreover, while I faulted a bit following her departure from the Yard, I really enjoyed Maya’s character throughout this book because the reader gets to watch her grow. As well as Behrooz, who had several demons and issues he needed time to sort out. The love between them and their connection ran so deep to their cores, that by the end of this bittersweet, surreal reflection of life story, I was pleased with the amount of closure the author gives us.
Out of all the characters in this book, I think one I found little to no fault with was Father Khalid who was “overly compassionate,” and who seemed the most reasonable at times. Especially in comparison to his brother, Ansar:
“For Father Khalid, religion rules were purely contextual; their literal implications were often insignificant compared to the bigger means behind them, and religion on the whole was void without compassion, love, respect and intrinsic tolerance towards every human being. He valued the Golden Rule and found himself replying on it when in doubt.…It wasn’t overt; but innate, intuited.” – The Yard pg. 188
I didn’t have too many notes on the presence of religion in this book because it wasn’t something that over powered the narrative or these characters. It’s a huge part of these characters and this family, but they are presented just as that. A family; One that deals with the raising and protecting their children, different parenting methods, love, commitment and identity among all of the Ali family members.
I really enjoyed the whole community, culture, and the authentic experience this book gives. It was kind of unlike anything I’ve ever read before, while at the same time, it reads as if you are watching a movie. Everything is laid out as it is and the reader can just live it and experience it with these characters. If you like stories that offer authentic perspectives about life, family and love, this is definitely the book for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2016
4.5 stars: The Yard is the family compound wherein Father Khalid, his four siblings and his elderly mother live. One day Father Khalid brings home Behrooz, an orphan boy who remembers nothing about his past. Over his extended family’s objections, he and his wife take the boy in to raise as their son. Father Khalid’s brother is concerned because Behrooz and Father Khalid’s daughter Maya soon strike up a special friendship and Muslim law permits marrying your adopted sister.
The Yard is an epic story, beginning when Maya and Behrooz are just children and chronicling their lives as well as their family’s lives well beyond their childhood. There are a lot of characters to keep track of! The author’s prose is sparse and charming. I was captivated. I love books with Indian characters and culture. The Indo-Muslim culture of Trinidad and Tobago was new to me and I enjoyed reading about it. My only criticism is that some events, including the ending, seemed rushed. Overall, the story was authentic and I definitely recommend it.
The Yard is an epic story, beginning when Maya and Behrooz are just children and chronicling their lives as well as their family’s lives well beyond their childhood. There are a lot of characters to keep track of! The author’s prose is sparse and charming. I was captivated. I love books with Indian characters and culture. The Indo-Muslim culture of Trinidad and Tobago was new to me and I enjoyed reading about it. My only criticism is that some events, including the ending, seemed rushed. Overall, the story was authentic and I definitely recommend it.
September 26, 2016
The Short of It:
An engaging family tale.
The Rest of It:
From the publisher:
"Behrooz is brought to The Yard, a familial housing complex in Trinidad and Tobago, where he struggles to belong. His adoptive father is kindhearted, but other family members are guarded about the new addition. They contend that Behrooz will betray his family by defiling his adoptive sister, Maya, a rebellious girl who was not romantically forbidden to him under Islamic Law.
Behrooz and Maya form a childish alliance and later, struggle with romantic attraction. After they share a night of adolescent tenderness, Maya, fearing retribution, flees to London where she pursues her artistic talent. Behrooz painstakingly rebuilds his life and marries another. When tragedy strikes, Maya returns to her childhood home. There, she and Behrooz must face up to old demons. Can their love endure? Even after Maya is dealt the most “righteous” blow of all?"
This book was a bit of a surprise for me. I’m not sure what I expected but I didn’t expect to be pulled into this family’s story so quickly. Behrooz’s situation tugged at my heart. Abandoned with no place to go, he is quickly taken into this family but not without angst. Maya is quick to share her displeasure but when the two forge a bond, I can’t say it was surprising when their attraction for one another grew, but it added just enough conflict for the story to hold my interest.
Parts of the story seemed a little too easy or maybe developed too quickly? But overall, I found myself completely absorbed with this family’s story. I feel that the author did a good job of portraying the family itself and although much of it takes place in The Yard, I felt as if I got enough from the setting to understand the motivation of some of the characters.
In the end, I am glad I read it and enjoyed it even though it’s quite different from what I normally read.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
An engaging family tale.
The Rest of It:
From the publisher:
"Behrooz is brought to The Yard, a familial housing complex in Trinidad and Tobago, where he struggles to belong. His adoptive father is kindhearted, but other family members are guarded about the new addition. They contend that Behrooz will betray his family by defiling his adoptive sister, Maya, a rebellious girl who was not romantically forbidden to him under Islamic Law.
Behrooz and Maya form a childish alliance and later, struggle with romantic attraction. After they share a night of adolescent tenderness, Maya, fearing retribution, flees to London where she pursues her artistic talent. Behrooz painstakingly rebuilds his life and marries another. When tragedy strikes, Maya returns to her childhood home. There, she and Behrooz must face up to old demons. Can their love endure? Even after Maya is dealt the most “righteous” blow of all?"
This book was a bit of a surprise for me. I’m not sure what I expected but I didn’t expect to be pulled into this family’s story so quickly. Behrooz’s situation tugged at my heart. Abandoned with no place to go, he is quickly taken into this family but not without angst. Maya is quick to share her displeasure but when the two forge a bond, I can’t say it was surprising when their attraction for one another grew, but it added just enough conflict for the story to hold my interest.
Parts of the story seemed a little too easy or maybe developed too quickly? But overall, I found myself completely absorbed with this family’s story. I feel that the author did a good job of portraying the family itself and although much of it takes place in The Yard, I felt as if I got enough from the setting to understand the motivation of some of the characters.
In the end, I am glad I read it and enjoyed it even though it’s quite different from what I normally read.
For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
July 13, 2019
The yard(the book) is as beautiful and grand as the yard (the family complex).
Its a story of few words, chosen specifically in each phase of the narration to cut through to the reader's heart.
It holds up the cultural aspects as well as shortcomings associated with it, as good as I have seen.
The yard (the book) revolves around the lives of Behrooz, Maya, and various other characters living in and around the yard(the compound).
The story addresses quite a few delicate issues and poses a number of questions and conflicts for the readers to decide upon.
The idea of death being a part of life and not the end of it has been beautifully put forward, as is the idea and the inception of innocent love.
This book will make you cry and smile at the same time, while you sit there admiring at the way it broke you apart.
Each of the phases will hurt you in different places, only for you to wonder how much more can it break you.
The journey is filled with such emotional turmoils that by the end one would be completely drained, both sad and happy to witness it go down.
You will grow with the characters, fall with them, hate them to their very cores and come to love them so very much.
This book justifies each and every character that came onto the scene, flawed as they may be, but pictured and crafted with pure and resonating emotions.
The exotic Carrebian with all of its beauty paints the entire book, many thanks to the sheer brilliance of Aliyyah.
An Absolute must read.
P.S: If you cried reading Nicholas Sparks, you'll probably need a huge pack of tissues. And for your sake, don't read it at one go, it will be too huge to take in. Not the story, but the emotions. :)
Its a story of few words, chosen specifically in each phase of the narration to cut through to the reader's heart.
It holds up the cultural aspects as well as shortcomings associated with it, as good as I have seen.
The yard (the book) revolves around the lives of Behrooz, Maya, and various other characters living in and around the yard(the compound).
The story addresses quite a few delicate issues and poses a number of questions and conflicts for the readers to decide upon.
The idea of death being a part of life and not the end of it has been beautifully put forward, as is the idea and the inception of innocent love.
This book will make you cry and smile at the same time, while you sit there admiring at the way it broke you apart.
Each of the phases will hurt you in different places, only for you to wonder how much more can it break you.
The journey is filled with such emotional turmoils that by the end one would be completely drained, both sad and happy to witness it go down.
You will grow with the characters, fall with them, hate them to their very cores and come to love them so very much.
This book justifies each and every character that came onto the scene, flawed as they may be, but pictured and crafted with pure and resonating emotions.
The exotic Carrebian with all of its beauty paints the entire book, many thanks to the sheer brilliance of Aliyyah.
An Absolute must read.
P.S: If you cried reading Nicholas Sparks, you'll probably need a huge pack of tissues. And for your sake, don't read it at one go, it will be too huge to take in. Not the story, but the emotions. :)
December 14, 2016
This Story starts with Behrooz who is brought to The Yard, a familial housing complex in Trinidad and Tobago, where he struggles to belong. His adoptive father is kind hearted, but other family members are guarded about the new addition.They contend that Behrooz will betray his family by assaulting his adoptive sister, Maya, a rebellious girl who was not romantically forbidden to him under Islamic Law.
Behrooz and Maya form a childish alliance and later, struggle with romantic attraction. After they share a night of adolescent tenderness, Maya, fearing retribution, flees to London where she pursues her artistic talent. Behrooz painstakingly rebuilds his life and marries another. When tragedy strikes, Maya returns to her childhood home. There, she and Behrooz must face up to old demons.
For a debut novel, Author did a really great job. The book was engaging and fast paced sprinkled with some twist.
Fewer characters would have allowed more character development of the the main persons in this book. I would have enjoyed reading more about Maya and Behrooz rather than other characters.
In some events, including the ending, seemed rushed.
Overall, This is one of my fantastic read this year.
Read the complete review here: <Click Here
Image :image:
Contact admin@merrybrains.com for Book review/services.
Behrooz and Maya form a childish alliance and later, struggle with romantic attraction. After they share a night of adolescent tenderness, Maya, fearing retribution, flees to London where she pursues her artistic talent. Behrooz painstakingly rebuilds his life and marries another. When tragedy strikes, Maya returns to her childhood home. There, she and Behrooz must face up to old demons.
For a debut novel, Author did a really great job. The book was engaging and fast paced sprinkled with some twist.
Fewer characters would have allowed more character development of the the main persons in this book. I would have enjoyed reading more about Maya and Behrooz rather than other characters.
In some events, including the ending, seemed rushed.
Overall, This is one of my fantastic read this year.
Read the complete review here: <Click Here
Image :image:
Contact admin@merrybrains.com for Book review/services.
September 27, 2016
The Yard is a love story, and more than that the story of family. Behrooz and Maya grow up on the Yard together, in Trinidad, but Behrooz has always been an outsider and Maya has a desire to explore the world. Her free spirit gets her in trouble often, but she’s on the way to creating her own adventure and discovering a life for herself.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The author moved us through time with grace and ease. Readers were privy to characters faults and flaws, making this a very believable drama. Maya and Behrooz’s character developments were, understandably, the broadest out of all the characters. However, Eniath made sure to focus on each side character individually as well. There were few throw away characters, which made it easier to follow the storyline.
Although the writing style flowed overall, there were times when the author connected verbs with inanimate objects to create imagery that simply bothered me and distracted from the story. I also found that reading the back cover gave away all major plot points, and was disappointed that there wasn’t more left to be uncovered.
Overall I enjoyed this story. The diversity of the characters, their interests, and education made for a fascinating drama. I believe Eniath shows great potential fordown the road.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The author moved us through time with grace and ease. Readers were privy to characters faults and flaws, making this a very believable drama. Maya and Behrooz’s character developments were, understandably, the broadest out of all the characters. However, Eniath made sure to focus on each side character individually as well. There were few throw away characters, which made it easier to follow the storyline.
Although the writing style flowed overall, there were times when the author connected verbs with inanimate objects to create imagery that simply bothered me and distracted from the story. I also found that reading the back cover gave away all major plot points, and was disappointed that there wasn’t more left to be uncovered.
Overall I enjoyed this story. The diversity of the characters, their interests, and education made for a fascinating drama. I believe Eniath shows great potential fordown the road.
February 23, 2021
This book was a hard read. The first part of the book was slow but then the author also jumped years in between the parts which was confusing at times. I would have appreciated a more authentic dialect among the characters especially the area that they were from. The dialect did not reflect these Trinidadians.
However, after putting down the book for a few days,I was determined to finish. But I find the second half of the book caught my attention. The constant death was hard to handle, Behrooz leaving The Yard for good and accepting that Maya was now a spinster because she could not allow herself to love anyone else but her one true love. However, the happy ending was not exactly what I expected and I am a sucker for happy endings however, the trauma to get to this conclusion was a lot.
I would not particularly recommend this book to anyone to read unless the person is looking for a toxic romance novel.
However, after putting down the book for a few days,I was determined to finish. But I find the second half of the book caught my attention. The constant death was hard to handle, Behrooz leaving The Yard for good and accepting that Maya was now a spinster because she could not allow herself to love anyone else but her one true love. However, the happy ending was not exactly what I expected and I am a sucker for happy endings however, the trauma to get to this conclusion was a lot.
I would not particularly recommend this book to anyone to read unless the person is looking for a toxic romance novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2016
Got this book from the author
to review!
First of all, this was a very decent read!
A very heart touching and soothing story! Just amazing!
The book follows the life of six families living in The Yard,
a large compound in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago!
It exposes the fault in Indo-Muslim culture!
It explores the love of two loners, Behrooz and Maya!
The ending is also very nice(makes my eyes moist)! Really
awesome!
to review!
First of all, this was a very decent read!
A very heart touching and soothing story! Just amazing!
The book follows the life of six families living in The Yard,
a large compound in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago!
It exposes the fault in Indo-Muslim culture!
It explores the love of two loners, Behrooz and Maya!
The ending is also very nice(makes my eyes moist)! Really
awesome!
May 4, 2017
New vs traditional Islam
I bought this book hoping for it to shed light into communal living as I grew up in one. Whilst it was an enjoyable read...it lack depth. The impact of having grown up in such a setting is much deeper and wider than portrayed here. If she was trying to illustrate the contrast between the "old" Islam and the new wave - then Uncle Khalid epitomizes the old ( Sunni ) traditions superbly .
I bought this book hoping for it to shed light into communal living as I grew up in one. Whilst it was an enjoyable read...it lack depth. The impact of having grown up in such a setting is much deeper and wider than portrayed here. If she was trying to illustrate the contrast between the "old" Islam and the new wave - then Uncle Khalid epitomizes the old ( Sunni ) traditions superbly .
March 26, 2018
A coming-of-age tale that was both memorable and enjoyable. Eniath's first novel is well constructed and delightfully written, but could have been better edited to omit what I consider to be distracting and unnecessary back story and "fillers". I did really enjoy the dialogue throughout which is realistic and believable and aided in the development of the main characters. Very much worth a read to explore the dynamic of living in a closed familial community in Trinidad.
December 13, 2016
AMAZING !!!<3
May 22, 2016
Excellent. Deals with young love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews