[BWF] If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery - 3.5 stars

[Jen K]

A story of first generation Jamaican family trying to make it work in Florida. They left Kingston due to the rise in violence and looking for opportunity. The book starts with the frequent, though never polite, question of "what are you" targeting Trelawny, the youngest, who remembers the least of Jamaica. Trelawny really struggles to understand who he is, Jamaican or American, Black or confused, the successful student or lesser son. He goes back to Jamaica for a visit and tries to understand how the history of the island made him. Told in short but interconnected story format with Trelawny, his father, brother and cousin as POV. It is a bit of a sad story of boys growing up with fathers who grew up without fathers.

The stories and writing start really strong but fizzle as it goes on. The story shifts from one of identity to still living through childhood disappointments. There are stories of race, class and other disadvantages while trying to survive in a disaster prone climate. I did appreciate the writing but found myself not enjoying the characters by the end. The mostly absent mom really perplexed me.

BWF Tenacious Trailblazers: Letter E; Debut x 12

[Dosha (Bluestocking7)]

I read How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair. This book sounds similar except HTSB is a memoir that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I wish I could figure PBT out. There are so many nooks and cranny’s, all I can do is comment on the posts of others and try to figure it out along the way. I have gone to the groups page and read the “rules”. They are too numerous to count. My hat is off to you all.

[Jen K]

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "I read How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair. This book sounds similar except HTSB is a memoir that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I wish I could figure PBT out. There are so..."

I really want to read How to Say Babylon. Though I may need to wait a bit. This was my second book out of Jamaica this month and both were really full of despair.

You will get the hang of PBT eventually and always feel free to ask!! We are a bit group of helpers!

[Booknblues]

Jen K wrote: "Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "I read How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair. This book sounds similar except HTSB is a memoir that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I wish I coul..."

I think How to Say Babylon helps to understand both the history of Jamaica and Rastafarianism in the context of a memoir which is an individual struggle, which in the end is optimistic.

[NancyJ]

You had more persistence than I did with this book. I DNF’d it about halfway. I felt guilty rating a book that I didn’t finish, but it kept popping up, and I needed a way to remind myself not to download it again.

[NancyJ]

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "I read How To Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair. This book sounds similar except HTSB is a memoir that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I wish I could figure PBT out. There are so..."

Dosha, I understand how you feel. It can get overwhelming. I gave up trying to read all the reviews this year. As a group we are reading much more than usual this year, so the reviews folders are exploding. When I first started, I focused on reading a couple of the monthly tag books, and reading reviews to find a few people with similar interests. If you find people reading some of your favorite books, you can comment on their reviews to get a little discussion going.

The buddy reads can be fun. They aren’t as in-depth as some group discussions, but it’s a nice way to start getting to know people. We have a buddy read started for The Red Tent, and I’m reading it this weekend. Amy and I will be reading Lady Tan’s Circle of Women soon too. Also Sense and Sensibility mid-month. You can find them in the Footnotes folder.

[KateNZ]

Lovely review, Jen, and I totally agree with you! I’m glad I read it but it was so sad.

@Dosha, I hear you! It can be so confusing to come into a group part way through the optional year-long challenges that have a bunch of rules to meet. I totally agree with Nancy - ignore everything else and just read something for the monthly tag. The monthly tag is the key thing for PBT and there aren’t any rules. If you think a book fits, it fits. And people always have great suggestions!