It’s definitely a very good historical novel, and I liked the portrayal of different kinds of racism. But yeah, July wasn’t a character I could love, and I do prefer to have a sympathetic protagonist in the books I read. (I know you’re not supposed to prefer that! :p)

Robert Goodwin, the plantation overseer, ended up being unpredictably irrational.

I also couldn’t identify in any capacity with the main character, July, who seemed airy and immensely passive to issues relating to her. She proved very flaccid to the end, and I could identify more with the storyteller than with the character, which is in itself a paradox, seeing as they are meant to be one and the same. I also didn’t find it realistic that July spent all those years as a castaway, yet eventually “rehabilitated” herself to such an extent as to write her memoirs in such capacity as demonstrated in “The Long Song”.

But it did have some positives. It’s a good historical reference, and Levy did a great job in capturing the essence of everyday life in 18th century Jamaica. It was also an eye-opener to the Genesis of 21st century African-Americans’ obsession with having fairer skin and “good hair”, since their forefathers were relegated for having the same features.

Don’t read it, you won’t like it. It’s more upsetting than you’re thinking.

I’ll be interested to see what you think! I’m a little relieved to see that other people had the same response to Andrea Levy, even though it does give me less hope that I’ll love Small Island as I was hoping to do.

Which one, if I can ask? I am sort of thinking I might give Small Island a miss for the time being and just watch the BBC miniseries. It’s got Benedict Cumberbatch!

Well, damn. I was having such high hopes for Small Island. I love multiple narrators ordinarily.

I’ll be posting a review of Magic Toyshop pretty soon, probably. I didn’t feel polarizing about her: no incredibly strong feelings one way or the other. I liked her though!

I can absolutely see why you’d have that reaction. There is an extent to which it’s flippant about slavery, but I think the author makes it clear that this is the way July-as-narrator is protecting herself from painful memories. The agony of slavery is definitely still there, when July wants to deal with it.

I’ve always thought Small Island sounded better anyway. I’m still planning on reading that one.