The White Woman on the Green Bicycle in Around the World

Dec 22, 2012 Rusalka rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: around-the-world, prize-formerly-known-as-orange, central-america, ylto-challenges

This is a novel of two parts. The first part is set in modern day, looking at the lives of Sabine and George as 70-something expats living in Trinidad. They have been there since Trinidad achieved it's independence and there is lots of discussion regarding what is still wrong with the country 50 years on. But more importantly, there is a lot going on with George and Sabine. And you're not sure what is happening, or what the history is. It slowly is revealed as the part, and the book goes on howe ...more

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Dec 27, 2021 Jo Reason rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-the-world

https://readinginecuador.wordpress.com/

This book taught me a little about life on the island of Trinidad.

This is all about a relationship, a relationship between a man and a woman and an island, Trinidad.

George wants to be someone, in Trinidad he is ´someone´ but Sabine is not happy, she wants to return to England.

Written with an unusual timeline, the first third of the book is the ending of the book, and then goes to the beginning, with different points of view in each section and although at https://readinginecuador.wordpress.com/

This book taught me a little about life on the island of Trinidad.

This is all about a relationship, a relationship between a man and a woman and an island, Trinidad.

George wants to be someone, in Trinidad he is ´someone´ but Sabine is not happy, she wants to return to England.

Written with an unusual timeline, the first third of the book is the ending of the book, and then goes to the beginning, with different points of view in each section and although at first it was a little uncomfortable, I later enjoyed this style, the first part, which is the ending, had George as a main character and the second part, which was actually the beginning of the timeline had Sabine as the main character.

When George was the main character, I did not like Sabine, and her obsession with the prime minister. I thought she was being selfish and someone who complains a lot. But then again, George wasn’t always an enjoyable character with his attitude towards Sabine and vice versa. This was probably the worst part of the book, the relationship between the two main characters, George and Sabine. They both had different relationships with the island, one loved it, and one hated it. They are both rather unpleasant people. The best part was that the details and descriptions of the island and life on the island are vivid, heat, insects, color, local culture, the politics, the local people, details and smells are all part of the novel. There are also interesting details of the transition from British colonialism to independence.

This book will transport you to the island with its many details, both from the 1950´s onwards and the 2006´s with cricket and football being an important part of the era.

I enjoyed the writing style with the local Trinidadian´s while you are reading the book you can hear the people talk with the local accent. There is love, betrayal, politics, sport, racism from both white and blacks.

I am only giving this book 3 stars rather than 4 due to the main characters who I didn’t like, maybe if they had been a little more likeable I would have given 4 stars.

Please consider following me to continue with me on this journey, see you in the next country, Belarus.
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