Author: Dexter, Pete

This book sat on the shelf on Texada for a long time. After reading a book that was really awful it was time to find something I might like better. The book cover reminded me of another book I loved – Bastard Out of Carolina – so I thought I’d give it a read.

Paris Trout is a mean shopkeeper who earns extra money on the side by lending to the Negro population in his small Southern town. A series of events, over the lending and purchase of a vehicle, leads to the murder of little Rosie Sayers, a 14-year old coloured girl. Through the book we learn of Rosie’s difficult past and the horrific man Paris Trout is.

I’m surprised our library doesn’t carry any of the author’s work, but I’d certainly read more if I came across them. This one will stay on my shelf.

Goodreads Rating: * * * * *

Author: Jamaica Kincaid

Pat suggested that I might like this book. Since I was waiting on a book from the library I picked it off the shelf to read. If ever a book was written to make me break the rules (finishing every book I start), this was probably the one.

Although not a memoir it tells the story of a family (mother, father, a boy and a girl). Most of it is told through the eyes of the mother and father, and the father doesn’t seem to love any of his family other than his daughter, who is barely mentioned in the book. The mother dotes on her son but seems indifferent to her daughter. Not a happy book at all and, although it is small, it was a real challenge to get through it.

Goodreads Rating: *