Winner of the Lambda Literary Award, and Finalist for the NYPL Young Lions Fiction Award and the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize
Named a Best Book of 2016 by the New York Times, NPR, Buzzfeed, San Francisco Chronicle, The Root, BookRiot, Kirkus, Amazon, WBUR’s “On Point,” and Barnes & Noble
In this radiant, highly anticipated debut, a cast of unforgettable women battle for … Noble
In this radiant, highly anticipated debut, a cast of unforgettable women battle for independence while a maelstrom of change threatens their Jamaican village.
Capturing the distinct rhythms of Jamaican life and dialect, Nicole Dennis- Benn pens a tender hymn to a world hidden among pristine beaches and the wide expanse of turquoise seas. At an opulent resort in Montego Bay, Margot hustles to send her younger sister, Thandi, to school. Taught as a girl to trade her sexuality for survival, Margot is ruthlessly determined to shield Thandi from the same fate. When plans for a new hotel threaten their village, Margot sees not only an opportunity for her own financial independence but also perhaps a chance to admit a shocking secret: her forbidden love for another woman. As they face the impending destruction of their community, each woman—fighting to balance the burdens she shoulders with the freedom she craves—must confront long-hidden scars. From a much-heralded new writer, Here Comes the Sun offers a dramatic glimpse into a vibrant, passionate world most outsiders see simply as paradise.more
Intriguing tale of a young Jamaican woman trying to make her way in the narrow space between cultural and familial expectations and her own desires and ambitions. Hauntingly atmospheric with pitch-perfect dialogue with accessible Jamaican dialect. A remarkable, finely crafted book from a young Jamaican author worth keeping an eye on. Expect great things from her.
This is the story of two sisters – Margot and Tandi. Margot – who is about 15 years older than Tandi – has never cared for anyone more. Their mother – who barely gives them the time of day – relies on Margot to work to support the family. Margot works at a hotel on the island but has to perform sexual favors in order to give Tandi everything she needs. She wants her sister to go to school, get good grades, and get away this place. She does everything she can to make that happen. Tandi, though, has other ideas. She wants to be an artist. She wants to fall in love with a boy. She wants to be lighter skinned. All things she doesn’t dare share with her family knowing they are looking to her to make something better for herself. Margot wants financial freedom and to spend the rest of her life with Verdene. Their love must remain a secret and Margo must continue to sell herself so that she can escape as well.
This was a pretty good book. It is written in the Jamaican language, so you have to read slowly to get through the dialogue. It sets you in the space even further – picturing the people among the Jamaican scenery. You become involved in the lives of these two sisters and can picture their struggle. I cannot say that I particularly liked either of the girls – Margot who seemed to be mostly out for herself with her sister’s best interest as second in line. Tandi – who wanted to be anything but herself – not willing to accept the gift of schooling and ability to make things better for herself. But I felt for them. Which I think is what the author was trying to do. They were both in desperate situations and could see no way to get what they really wanted.
I would recommend this one. I don’t get to read many fiction novels for my Read The World challenge, so I am glad I found this one.
Hard time finishing it, despite the reviews
Definitely a well written story of a world of desperate choices. It illustrates how prejudice and social pressure can distort good people.
Story of Jamaica & the tragedy of the poor behind the riches seen by most tourists.
Compelling. Excellent character development
The stories of three generations of women are woven together on the beautiful, but brutal, island of Jamaica. The book has many perspectives and is told from the eyes of a teen, of a woman on the verge of thirty, of their mother, and of a woman who left for some time and is back. The challenges of life as a “black and poor” (her words) woman on the island are extreme. The book can be difficult, as it is “real” and gritty, not a sweet, unrealistic ode to life in Jamaica. The conditions for the characters are extreme and often heart breaking. On the other side, we see an intense drive for something better, a revere for education, ample examples of resiliency and determination. I found myself sticking with it not only because of the interesting characters and the fairly fast paced plot, but for the writing. This is an extremely talented writers, and she’s won many awards already. She is a brave new voice, and this will not be her only book. I plan to read whatever she writes, painful material or not. It’s an important book.