For the Life of Laetitia

by Merle Hodge

Twelve-year-old Laetita Johnson is the first member of her family to attend secondary school, but her new life requires that she leave her old life in the village behind to live with her father in the city.

Genres: School, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Teen

213 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Merle Hodge (born 1944) is a Trinidadian novelist and critic. Her 1970 novel Crick Crack, Monkey is a classic of West Indian literature.

Merle Hodge was born in 1944, in Curepe, Trinidad, the daughter of an immigration officer. She received both her elementary and high-school education in Trinidad, and as a student of Bishop Anstey High School, she won the Trinidad and Tobago Girls' Island Scholarship in 1962. The scholarship allowed her to attend University College, London, where she pursued studies in French. In 1965 she completed her B.A. Hons. and received a Master of Philosophy degree in 1967, the focus of which concerned the poetry of the French Guyanese writer Léon Damas.

Hodge did quite a bit of traveling after obtaining her degree, working as a typist and baby-sitter to make ends meet. She spent much time in France and Denmark but visited many other countries in both Eastern and Western Europe. After returning to Trinidad in the early 1970s, she taught French for a short time at the junior secondary level. She then received a lecturing position in the French Department at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica. At UWI she also began the pursuit of a Ph.D. in French Caribbean Literature. In 1979 Maurice Bishop became prime minister of Grenada, and Hodge went there to work with the Bishop regime. She was appointed director of the development of curriculum, and it was her job to develop and install a socialist education program. Hodge had to leave Grenada in 1983 because of the execution of Bishop and the resulting U.S. invasion. Hodge is currently working in Women and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.

To date, Merle Hodge has written two novels: Crick Crack, Monkey (1970) and The Life of Laetitia, which was published more than two decades later, in 1993.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really did find this book amazing, I read it out in a couple hours, very compelling. I think it was because of how much I could have related, being from the same island as the author. Being in the author's class in UWI, I recalled certain topics she touched on, such as the deception of the term "Broken Home", there is no such thing as a broken home, no matter who we live with, be it the traditional concept of family, there's nothing inherent that dictates it will always be a happy home. The main character of Laetitia is a wonderful vivacious young girl who I could see and feel from the writer's description. I could feel her strength. Though it was wonderful because it reminisced on early high school life, it became very serious and made me think of sacrifices of women. The way in which women were treated, the way men could not do what was deemed as women's work, and the way in which Indian families threw their women down in the gutter and made them work work work. I'm saying that from other stories I've heard of my own ancestors. Times were tragically unfair to women, it still is of course. I loved this book.

[Siddiqah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book...i could not put it down...the author's style of writing is captivating...the novel had a smooth flow and didnt linger on one issue for too long.

[Elaine Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read for university but it has a beautiful story. It makes me even more grateful for my education and puts a lot of things into perspective.

[Ashley Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and tragic in equal measure.

[Alyssa DaSilva]

I don't know how to read from this app at all

[yeji · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for school, but it was better than expected. I cried.
but what kind of ending is that????

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

•This drawing room was like the store windows you see in town, not a place where you would go and sit in your home clothes.

•I spent hours with my new books. I began to read some of them. For this I needed peace and quiet and an orderly space around me.

•I thought about Anjanee a great deal.

~

1) I see myself in both Laetitia and Anjanee. Just like Laetitia, my heart lies within the comfort of a good book, regardless of it being a school textbook or a fiction one. With Anjanee (and even Laetitia), I sprouted from humble beginnings. I felt and at times still do feel insecure when comparing some things I own to those of the people around me, and I completely understand why Anjanee felt to hide away, scared of someone closely observing her and decoding her situation.

2) It was sad to read the descriptions of the horrible things the females in this book go through. I quickly realized that, intentionally or not, they experienced most of these displeasures because of the men they were amid. I especially sympathized for Anjanee, who, because of the men in her home, faced the probability of dropping out of school, just like Miss Velma had. I wish she had gotten her happy ending. I believe many women could have accomplished their dreams if it wasn't for the antifeminist ideology stamped in the brains of some men. It is absolutely distasteful, and it hurts so much to know that some people wish to pass down the idea of limiting women to uneducated individuals good for only doing domestic tasks and having children.

"𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘔𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯."

I'm not sure if the females in this book were based on real people, but they were definitely inspired by women who had the drive to leave a great mark in this world and unfortunately could not, for they were beaten down, sometimes quite literally, by misogynistic men who are not only unable to do what a woman can do but also live in fear of that woman recognizing her worth before it was too late to stop her from succeeding. Sometimes, unfortunately, it becomes too late for the woman to realize her worth, and sees no way out of that distasteful society except giving in, or worse, ending her own life.

3) I don't even know what to say about the last few chapters. The downward spiral of the once 'golden girl' to Anjanee's suicide and Laetitia's reaction to it was awful to read one after the other. As one event succeeded the next, I felt as if I was further weakened. I knew Anjanee would have committed suicide because I had accidentally read a spoiler, but even though I had it spelled out for me then, I was, for some reason, in denial, and that caused my reaction to be so raw and real when I read it myself. I mourned Anjanee like I knew her. To be honest, I felt like I knew her. I had become so attached to her character, and I felt genuine sympathy for her, so to suddenly lose her was absolutely diabolical. I almost cried as I placed myself in Laetitia's shoes, asking myself the question, "What if I were to lose my best friend to suicide? How would I react?" Even as I am writing this review, I feel absolute pain.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, For the Life of Laetitia can be considered a rewriting of Merle Hodge's preceding novel, Crick Crack, Monkey. The titular Laetitia (Lacey) and Cynthia (Tee) of Crick Crack, Monkey have near identical circumstances. Lacey must go to live with her estranged father to continue her schooling in the same way Tee must go to live with her Aunt Beatrice and leave behind her Tantie who raised her. And yet, Lacey is the resistant subject in every way Tee is pliant. Lacey shows remarkable control over her situation and refuses to submit to the new values of her father. Lacey, in facts, takes up a role of a cultural leader as a mother figure to her half-brother Matthew which serves to infuriate her father based on the transgressing of gender roles Matthew engages in as a result of Lacey's domestic pedagogy. Although Tee experiences existential fragmentation due to Beatrice's childrearing and grows embarrassed and resentful of Tantie, Lacey constantly wants to return to her grandmother and various other extended family members. Lacey's desire to return home is a point of tension, as her father ceases to pay for her bus fare home and wants Lacey to assimilate to his way of life. Her constant refusal manifests in acting out in school and truancy.

The biggest difference between the two novels is the inclusion of Anjanee. Through Anjanee, Hodge explores a number of new themes, particularly cultural contact and racism. Anjanee is a young Trinidadian of Indian descent, and the Indian community in Trinidad faces harsh racism from both the white colonial power structure and some members of the Black community. The close friendship of Anjanee and Lacey represents a suturing of the wounds of conflict between colonial subjects. Anjanee is sick throughout the novel, and ultimately commits suicide. Anjanee is also disapproving of Lacey's truancy. After Anjanee's suicide, Lacey is able to inhabit Anjanee's life by reevaluating her relationship to her own education and taking it seriously, in the way Anjanee always wanted for her. Lacey's circumstances change, too, as her father refuses to let her live with her and she returns to her grandmother's home. There, she must undergo the long journey that is similar to Anjanee's daily commute to school throughout the novel. The coalescing of their experiences serves as a final repudiation of racism and a culmination of the novel's analysis of anti-Indian racism.

For all the difficulty and pessimism of Crick Crack, Monkey, For the Life of Laetitia offers an even more difficult story but with far more perseverance, solidarity, and optimism.

[Deveane Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Life of Laetitia is a beautifully written and straightforward coming-of-age story that I found both simple and relatable. Through Laetitia’s eyes, readers are given a glimpse into the life of a young Caribbean girl navigating the challenges of growing up, family conflict, and finding her voice.

The language is accessible, and the pacing makes it an easy read, especially for young adults or anyone who enjoys character-driven stories. I appreciated how the author captured the nuances of Caribbean life without overcomplicating the narrative. Laetitia’s emotional journey—her hopes, disappointments, and inner strength—felt very real and familiar.

[Mrs. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book within a few hours. It was easy to read and authentically Trinidadian in terms of setting, food, music, schooling, family relations, race relations, language, and characterization. It is impossible to read this story and not sympathize with Laetitia's journey and also her dear friend Anjanee. I was so eager to see Laetitia and Anjanee succeed that I couldnt read fast enough! I think all West Indians (particularly Trinis) will have a deep appreciation for this book.

[•Paula• · Rating 4 out of 5]

ONLY READ SOME EXCERPTS FOR UNI.
Really enjoyed this one. I found myself wanting to keep reading when I reached the last page. So glad it included creole convos and gave me an overview of how Caribbean families work. Would love to keep on with the reading.

[Deshawn Pittison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wonderful novel

[Elizabeth Freeman]

Does anyone know the four major conflicts of the story life of Laetitia?

[Alma · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was so good

[Azra Franklin]

very great and interesting book very well published and very nice to read

[Lara Facchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una storia "pulita", che arriva dritta al cuore, con un finale tronco ed affrettato che la penalizza: consigliato a ragazzi/e delle scuole medie.

[Sharla Elcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pictured everything. beautifully written

[Latoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book in some parts. I liked the descriptions of the rural community and the portrayal of the bond of and trouble with family. I can appreciate the close family bond as a Caribbean woman of African heritage and the pride and joy that come with passing a major exam in order to attend what is seen as a prestigious high school.

I found the darker parts of this novel particularly infuriating or shocking depending on the situation. Most of the shocking parts were near the end of the story which made that part of the book seem rushed. That is the only aspect of the novel I did not appreciate very much.

Laetitia's story shows that strength is not what we think it is like having an opinion and being stubborn about it. That could be our weakness. Strength is knowing who we are, fighting only the necessary battles sensibly and being resilient through it all. Also, having a good support system when we fail is absolutely necessary if we are to survive all the curveballs life throws at us.

[Cookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another book on the summer reading list. I can't believe no one has written a review for this book! It's a story that gives insight into the life of a girl from the Caribbean, Lacey. I enjoyed the glimpse into Lacey's life, but much of the vocabulary made the story VERY difficult to understand. I'm not sure that my kids would be able to understand the story - especially considering the fact that I was constantly Googling words and phrases.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a few hours. Could not put it down. It made me remember going to my village on weekends and holidays to meet my grandma. I highly recommend reading it.

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soobie a dodici anni:

Bel libro. Ambientato a Trinidad, narra di una ragazzina che è sempre vissuta con la nonna e se ne va in città per frequentare il liceo.

[Devrelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book 10+ years ago as a tween and still found myself smiling at the memory. It reads honest and true to a provincial Caribbean childhood, while still being funny.

[Saidah Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than Crick Crack Monkey.

[Cassia Sobers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a beautiful coming of age story. It shows the impartial nature of friendship and youth while remaining true to Trinidadian people and culture at the time.