Love this book, my first Caribbean, it's magical in a Marquez way, it's melancholic, lush, and sad, and full of entangled relationships and familial complexities.

It's about Moshe, and his twin not twin; he was found in a cave by Rachel, he's white as clotted cream, so white his extremities look blue, with one blue eye and a brown one, with blonde hair in front, black and curly on the back. His twin not twin Arrienne is so black her skin has a purplish tone. They're together since they're kids, and develop a way of speaking without speaking, something they keep even when Moshe goes to England to look for his biological father, and stays in Europe for other 7 years.

Sugar is "King sugar" and touches every part of society, a product of colonisation of course, one that enriches only some, all white and in England. There are riots in England for the SUS laws, riots in Jamaica after independence towards socialism. There's JAMAICAN PATOIS you have to learn. And longing, looking for one's identity, being seen and stick out, trying to find a way to be invisible and not being able to.

What a gripping dark novel, violent in a subdued (kinda) sneaky way, which doesn't really leave you much in terms of hope or catharsis.

Kambili e Jaja are siblings, they aren't able to smile, can't play with their classmates, can't watch tv or listen to music, but pray with their parents every morning and evening in a completely joyless way. Until they go and stay for a week at their aunt's family, and everything changes.

Two things will stick with me: how masterfully the writer depicts the abyss of domestic horror, that crescendo that makes you sit on edge waiting for the strike to come, how miserable and torn and sorry she makes you feel, yet without being overwhelming. Like a creepy all too real nightmare.

Second: the role of religion. Reading through Pacific Asian novels and Caribbean, I noticed the pattern of missionaries and colonisation, until I found Frantz Fanon voice in The wretched of the earth:

"The Church in the colonies is the white people's Church, the foreigner's Church. She does not call the native to God's ways but to the ways of the white man, of the master, of the oppressor"

I'm not saying it's only so in general terms, but in this specific book, it's definitely so. And I got so filled with anger

Very sweet and very sexy novella, with an unusual set (two people stuck in an elevator), which despite its 100ish pages still got to encompass two very well defined and worthy characters. A treat

Insta-love, extreme jealousy "bordering" stalking/criminal behavior. 2 stars are more for the unapologetic curvy character

So freaking weird

More 2.5 actually

I'm not much of a fan of the she-virgin or she-never been missed before. And as much as I can handle possessiveness as means to an end (aka banter) I can't make it with her accepting that (he threatening everyone who dares watching her). And again as much as I like a huge bear guy with heart of gold, this one's not exactly kind (a bit unlikely onto the alpha side but the end of the story).

So, a fun quick novella, but I'm not really into it

{Thank you to the author for an advance free copy of this title. Pub day: 21/11/19}
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Eyes on is about Greta (should I mention she has this posh accent and wait of showing? and she's generously proportioned?) meeting the owner of a club in NY, Francis, in one of the most embarrassing/endearing way (aka during a striptease)(not hers). She's outspoken and obviously witty, he's the bossy and outspoken, too. The two get to an immediate spark of banter, and consequent sexual tension and then