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Pleasantview
Coconut trees. Carnival. Rum and coke. To many outsiders, these idyllic images represent the supposed easy life in Caribbean nations such as Trinidad and Tobago. However, the reality is far different for those who live there—a society where poverty and patriarchy savagely rule, and where love and revenge often go hand in hand.
Written in a combination of English and Trinidad Creole, Pleasantview reveals the dark side of the Caribbean dream. In this novel-in-stories about a fictional town in Trinidad, we meet a political candidate who sets out to slaughter endangered turtles for fun, while his rival candidate beats his “outside-woman,” so badly she ends up losing their baby. On the night of a political rally, the abused woman exacts a very public revenge, the trajectory of which echoes through Pleasantview, ending with one boy introducing another boy to a gun and to an ideology which will help him aim the weapon.
Merging the beauty and brutality of Trinidadian culture evoked by writers such as Ingrid Persaud and Claire Adam with the linguistic experimentation of Marlon James’s A Brief History of Seven Killings, Pleasantview is a landmark work from an important new voice in international literary fiction.
Written in a combination of English and Trinidad Creole, Pleasantview reveals the dark side of the Caribbean dream. In this novel-in-stories about a fictional town in Trinidad, we meet a political candidate who sets out to slaughter endangered turtles for fun, while his rival candidate beats his “outside-woman,” so badly she ends up losing their baby. On the night of a political rally, the abused woman exacts a very public revenge, the trajectory of which echoes through Pleasantview, ending with one boy introducing another boy to a gun and to an ideology which will help him aim the weapon.
Merging the beauty and brutality of Trinidadian culture evoked by writers such as Ingrid Persaud and Claire Adam with the linguistic experimentation of Marlon James’s A Brief History of Seven Killings, Pleasantview is a landmark work from an important new voice in international literary fiction.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2021
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August 2, 2021
WOW! Addictive reading from a fresh new voice in Trinidad and Tobago literature landscape.
In Pleasantview foreword given by author Rachel Manley she says, “It’s my turn to suspect the mantle of Chekov, then Naipaul has now fallen to Celeste Mohammed.” When I read that line I literally wrote, “really?” because that is such a huge mantle for anyone to accept. I literally thought, “Rachel Manley is setting me up, I am going to expect Miguel Street and be profoundly disappointed.” Friends, I am here to report, that Rachel Manley was on SPOT with the Miguel Street comparison, Pleasantview was all that and MORE! WOW!
Pleaseantview is a series of interconnected stories told from the perspective of different residents of the fictional town of Pleasantview, in Trinidad. Each story gives a diverse in-depth look into the resident’s lives but at the core of it, Mr. H seems to be a character that is involved deeply in Pleasantview’s running.
These nine stories are distinct, engaging, fresh, jarring, realistic and unforgettable. We meet characters who are escaping from the prison in Bocas to be with his girlfriend being held captive at a local whorehouse. A young man forced to leave Matura, the turtle watching village to go Pleasantview for a better life, only to met up in trouble. There is Gail who wants to be a chef but finds herself as a kept woman for a Syrian man, she goes against the one rule of a kept outside woman- do not fall for the man- she falls hard in more ways than one. We meet Kimberley who is estranged from her Syrian father after he finds out she is a lesbian. She exiles herself in Barbados with her Soulmates With Benefits who keeps pushing her to come out. We meet characters who want to be good but so many opportunities forces them to be bad, we meet corrupt policemen, reader women, men marrying for green card, sons growing up fatherless, unfulfilled marriages- you meet all of these people and their battles at Pleasantview.
Let me just say, this is hands down, one of my favorite 2021 Read Caribbean Release. I am blown away by how impeccable this book was. The characters were full formed, the plot was engaging and I felt the author did a brilliant job of giving you a bird eye’s view of this community. I literally feel like I was at the top looking down on them going about their business with all their troubles and secrets tagging along behind them. It is not every day you pick up a contemporary collection of stories set in Trinidad and you know that this is distinctly Trini. WOW.
The use of language I think was spot on. The views and landscape of Trinidad was also impeccable. I loved how each character had a distinct voice internally and externally, it was beyond believable. There are so many things culturally that happened that was nuanced that was perfectly included in the stories.
There is a darkness to these stories that gets under your skin and does not leave. Sometimes I felt the author went very dark, but I also thought it was a realistic look contemporary Trinidad. Themes discussed includes, prostitution, generational trauma, father-son relationship, racism, classism, poverty, religion and sexuality. Each story gives a snapshot of the reality of Caribbean life, this is not your sun, sea and sand look, it is way more than that.
A truly great novel.
In Pleasantview foreword given by author Rachel Manley she says, “It’s my turn to suspect the mantle of Chekov, then Naipaul has now fallen to Celeste Mohammed.” When I read that line I literally wrote, “really?” because that is such a huge mantle for anyone to accept. I literally thought, “Rachel Manley is setting me up, I am going to expect Miguel Street and be profoundly disappointed.” Friends, I am here to report, that Rachel Manley was on SPOT with the Miguel Street comparison, Pleasantview was all that and MORE! WOW!
Pleaseantview is a series of interconnected stories told from the perspective of different residents of the fictional town of Pleasantview, in Trinidad. Each story gives a diverse in-depth look into the resident’s lives but at the core of it, Mr. H seems to be a character that is involved deeply in Pleasantview’s running.
These nine stories are distinct, engaging, fresh, jarring, realistic and unforgettable. We meet characters who are escaping from the prison in Bocas to be with his girlfriend being held captive at a local whorehouse. A young man forced to leave Matura, the turtle watching village to go Pleasantview for a better life, only to met up in trouble. There is Gail who wants to be a chef but finds herself as a kept woman for a Syrian man, she goes against the one rule of a kept outside woman- do not fall for the man- she falls hard in more ways than one. We meet Kimberley who is estranged from her Syrian father after he finds out she is a lesbian. She exiles herself in Barbados with her Soulmates With Benefits who keeps pushing her to come out. We meet characters who want to be good but so many opportunities forces them to be bad, we meet corrupt policemen, reader women, men marrying for green card, sons growing up fatherless, unfulfilled marriages- you meet all of these people and their battles at Pleasantview.
Let me just say, this is hands down, one of my favorite 2021 Read Caribbean Release. I am blown away by how impeccable this book was. The characters were full formed, the plot was engaging and I felt the author did a brilliant job of giving you a bird eye’s view of this community. I literally feel like I was at the top looking down on them going about their business with all their troubles and secrets tagging along behind them. It is not every day you pick up a contemporary collection of stories set in Trinidad and you know that this is distinctly Trini. WOW.
The use of language I think was spot on. The views and landscape of Trinidad was also impeccable. I loved how each character had a distinct voice internally and externally, it was beyond believable. There are so many things culturally that happened that was nuanced that was perfectly included in the stories.
There is a darkness to these stories that gets under your skin and does not leave. Sometimes I felt the author went very dark, but I also thought it was a realistic look contemporary Trinidad. Themes discussed includes, prostitution, generational trauma, father-son relationship, racism, classism, poverty, religion and sexuality. Each story gives a snapshot of the reality of Caribbean life, this is not your sun, sea and sand look, it is way more than that.
A truly great novel.
January 22, 2023
Overall winner of the 2022 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, as well as winner in the fiction category.
Winner of the CLMP Firecracker Literary Award for Fiction 2022
Exactly seven days before the PNM rally, seven days before Mr. H was shot, Miss Ivy had gotten a mysterious message from her best friend, Agnita: “Come this evening. It urgent. Walk with the cards.”
Published by Jacaranda Books in the UK (winner of the 2021 Republic of Consciousness Prize) and Ig Publishing in the US, Pleasantview is a wonderfully crafted debut, a novel in stories covering a group of connected characters in the fictional Trinidanian town of Pleasantview (the author has said she had the town of Curepe in mind).
This is not the tourist side of the country - even a visit to a beach to see the turtles ends in violence - but rather, in the author's own words from another interview:
The novel's subject matter is at times dark but spiked with humour, and the story is deliberately accessible (a little overly so for some of my literary sensibilities, and some of the stories are variations on familiar tales such as the mistress who thinks her lover will be happy when she falls pregnant) yet rich with local dialect and Creole. The author has explained that, inspired by Naipaul's approach:
Perhaps my favourite story comes at the unofficial wake for the aforementioned political candidate, Mr H, where members of the crowd engage in extempo calypso battles, satirising the events of the novel, each verse ending with the 'mic drop' signature "Santimanitay" which a footnote explains as follows: A traditional refrain to each verse of an extempo war. Derived from the French, "sans humanite, which is loosely translated as "without mercy." Extempo is a calypso artform where verses are made up on the spot, in response to a particular stimulus or challenge, usually in a lyrical war between two or more calypsonians.
Originally these were written as separate stories but in Pleasantview the author has successfully brought them together as a whole, most notably in the final story where one of the younger characters, disgusted by the behaviour he sees around him, is lured into the early stages of terrorism - a reminder that, pro-rata, Trinidad ranked first amongst western countries in ISIS recruits.
A worthy winner of the prize and recommended.
Extracts:
https://therumpus.net/2021/04/15/rump...
https://www.thecommononline.org/home-...
A book guide from a blogger:
https://www.marmaladeandmustardseed.c...
Winner of the CLMP Firecracker Literary Award for Fiction 2022
Exactly seven days before the PNM rally, seven days before Mr. H was shot, Miss Ivy had gotten a mysterious message from her best friend, Agnita: “Come this evening. It urgent. Walk with the cards.”
Published by Jacaranda Books in the UK (winner of the 2021 Republic of Consciousness Prize) and Ig Publishing in the US, Pleasantview is a wonderfully crafted debut, a novel in stories covering a group of connected characters in the fictional Trinidanian town of Pleasantview (the author has said she had the town of Curepe in mind).
This is not the tourist side of the country - even a visit to a beach to see the turtles ends in violence - but rather, in the author's own words from another interview:
So, come visit Pleasantview district. Come during election season; see how a candidate’s character means nothing. Come on the night one potential candidate sets out to slaughter endangered turtles – just for fun. Or on the day another candidate, Mr. H, beats Gail, his “outside-woman,” so badly she ends up losing their baby. Come on the night of the political rally, where this grieving woman exacts a very public revenge. Stay a while, and see how this single event has a trajectory far beyond the lives of the immediate actors. See how it brings Mr. H’s estranged daughter and Gail’s ambitious brother back home – just when they thought that, by getting on an airplane, they had escaped the suffocation of Pleasantview. Watch the old “seer-woman,” Miss Ivy, weave her way through all this bacchanal. Mourn the marriage of another couple, Ruth and Declan, Pleasantview upstarts who dared to think that, with education, they could achieve a better life. And, in the end, witness one lost boy introducing another lost boy to a gun and to an ideology which will help him aim the weapon.
The novel's subject matter is at times dark but spiked with humour, and the story is deliberately accessible (a little overly so for some of my literary sensibilities, and some of the stories are variations on familiar tales such as the mistress who thinks her lover will be happy when she falls pregnant) yet rich with local dialect and Creole. The author has explained that, inspired by Naipaul's approach:
My strategy is to subtly disguise Creole by according it minimal syntactical and grammatical differentiation, thereby maintaining the appearance (and eye-comfort) of Standard English but signaling the need for an accented reinterpretation of the sentence. My focus is always on replicating rhythm, rather than exact imitation.
Perhaps my favourite story comes at the unofficial wake for the aforementioned political candidate, Mr H, where members of the crowd engage in extempo calypso battles, satirising the events of the novel, each verse ending with the 'mic drop' signature "Santimanitay" which a footnote explains as follows: A traditional refrain to each verse of an extempo war. Derived from the French, "sans humanite, which is loosely translated as "without mercy." Extempo is a calypso artform where verses are made up on the spot, in response to a particular stimulus or challenge, usually in a lyrical war between two or more calypsonians.
Originally these were written as separate stories but in Pleasantview the author has successfully brought them together as a whole, most notably in the final story where one of the younger characters, disgusted by the behaviour he sees around him, is lured into the early stages of terrorism - a reminder that, pro-rata, Trinidad ranked first amongst western countries in ISIS recruits.
A worthy winner of the prize and recommended.
Extracts:
https://therumpus.net/2021/04/15/rump...
https://www.thecommononline.org/home-...
A book guide from a blogger:
https://www.marmaladeandmustardseed.c...
January 24, 2022
This is such a beautiful book, the characters, the plot, the cliffhangers...I still need closure though
April 14, 2023
Love this collection. I'm in awe of the transitions and character development. A very strong debut, I'll be looking forward to more books from this writer
July 13, 2021
What a hard hitting debut!
Pleasantview is a collection of interconnected short stories about the inhabitants of a poor neighborhood in Trinidad.
The book is character driven, full of despair and hardship. The stories were gripping and it made for a read that was hard to put down. Each story also ended with a cliff hanger which definitely caused an adrenaline surge.
I loved the use of dialect not only in conversation but in the actual body of the book as well as the references to Trinidadian culture. The book placed me directly on a street corner in Trinidad observing the drama. The writing is superb and I know some of these stories will never leave me.
I’m so excited for Celeste’s next work of art! Bravo!
Pleasantview is a collection of interconnected short stories about the inhabitants of a poor neighborhood in Trinidad.
The book is character driven, full of despair and hardship. The stories were gripping and it made for a read that was hard to put down. Each story also ended with a cliff hanger which definitely caused an adrenaline surge.
I loved the use of dialect not only in conversation but in the actual body of the book as well as the references to Trinidadian culture. The book placed me directly on a street corner in Trinidad observing the drama. The writing is superb and I know some of these stories will never leave me.
I’m so excited for Celeste’s next work of art! Bravo!
February 5, 2022
UPDATED REVIEW (RE-READ) :
There's nothing that'd still change the way I feel about this book. Yes, the cliffhangers still hurts, but I'm at peace and I have a profound new love and care for the character of Omar, Michelle and Kimberly.
FIRST REVIEW:
Each story leads to the other in unexpected ways, and that connectedness was amazing to see.This was so entertaining and heart wrenching. Oh the cliffhangers, the cliffhangers.....WHY??? 😫😫😫.
I NEED MOREEEE. Why do you have to be a novel in stories. WHY??? 😩😩
How can this book be a debut?? 😱
I couldn't shut up about this book. Fck, I couldn't fall asleep when I finished reading it. I kept reminiscing about all of my favorite stories and characters in it.😂
PleasantView is a novel in stories or collection of 9
Interconnected stories that give you (reader) vivid insights into life in the Caribbean from different facets of life and perspective. I laughed so hard, cursed a lot, and wanted to throw hands.
With heavy topics/scenes such as miscarriage, sex trafficking, infidelity, sexual orientation and denial, classism, corruption, politics, immigration, and poverty.
But there are loads of humor and entertaining characters that will give you that break (breath of fresh air) to pick up where you left off 😂. Trinidadian scenes (carnival and funeral gathering)
I was living for the gossips 😂🤭. Who doesn't love knowing everyone's business in secret? 🤡
Yes, short stories do leave those cliffhangers that make you scream at the book. But, other aspects of the stories give room for thought and paid it off. And the interconnectedness/twist made it a page-turner. Emotions were written so vividly, you could feel them.
There's nothing that'd still change the way I feel about this book. Yes, the cliffhangers still hurts, but I'm at peace and I have a profound new love and care for the character of Omar, Michelle and Kimberly.
FIRST REVIEW:
Each story leads to the other in unexpected ways, and that connectedness was amazing to see.This was so entertaining and heart wrenching. Oh the cliffhangers, the cliffhangers.....WHY??? 😫😫😫.
I NEED MOREEEE. Why do you have to be a novel in stories. WHY??? 😩😩
How can this book be a debut?? 😱
I couldn't shut up about this book. Fck, I couldn't fall asleep when I finished reading it. I kept reminiscing about all of my favorite stories and characters in it.😂
PleasantView is a novel in stories or collection of 9
Interconnected stories that give you (reader) vivid insights into life in the Caribbean from different facets of life and perspective. I laughed so hard, cursed a lot, and wanted to throw hands.
With heavy topics/scenes such as miscarriage, sex trafficking, infidelity, sexual orientation and denial, classism, corruption, politics, immigration, and poverty.
But there are loads of humor and entertaining characters that will give you that break (breath of fresh air) to pick up where you left off 😂. Trinidadian scenes (carnival and funeral gathering)
I was living for the gossips 😂🤭. Who doesn't love knowing everyone's business in secret? 🤡
Yes, short stories do leave those cliffhangers that make you scream at the book. But, other aspects of the stories give room for thought and paid it off. And the interconnectedness/twist made it a page-turner. Emotions were written so vividly, you could feel them.
June 25, 2022
"Women were cursed, Kimberley had decided then: their own bodies didn't even belong to them. She had run to her room and locked the door. Curled up, under her magical pony-and-rainbow sheets, she had prayed and prayed to fall asleep and wake up a boy. That way, she'd always belong to herself, other people might even belong to her."
This was all the rage last year on bookstagram and I am glad I gave in to the hype and added it to my wishlist and I appreciate the person who got it for me. With a lot of novel-in-stories, their stories are too interconnected, actual chapters in all but name. Not so with Pleasantview. Here new stories not only explore new perspectives, but they also show changes in voice and language as they move between characters, highlighting differences in their background. Sometimes it's just mentions of the same peripheral character connecting them, resulting in a riveting mosaic where humour does not always defeat tragedy.
Events you would imagine are centrestage take place off-stage and are only reported after the fact through conversations between characters who weren't even there. There is no "aha" moment at the end where it all comes together. The stories often end in ambiguity which sometimes gets a resolution through succeeding stories but most times don't, charting character transformations but not necessarily explaining them away. The last story is particularly disturbing in the way it promises violence beyond the pages. The town of Pleasantview is anything but pleasant; these stories explode and narrate those possibilities.
June 15, 2021
Thoroughly became entrenched in the familiarity and voice of these stories.
Mohammed has definitely captured the essence of what life can mean for many people who reside in islands that most use to 'getaway', to 'kick back', 'relax', and 'live'. Pleasantview gives snippets of the realness of island life, what is faced and experienced and does so with a sharpness, clarity, deftness that underscores but never edifies the violence and poverty that is exists.
The characters are written so well, their circumstances, decisions, and motivations relayed with such intent, and makes these stories hard to look away from.
Mohammed underscores her stories with issues of identity crisis, greed, corruption, violence, sexuality, denial, secrets, illicit acts and relationships; widening a window into the complexities that people are, that their situations are and what that all looks like when the chickens come home to roost.
This collection was a breeze to read with characters that propelled each story, behaviours and tricks that both thrilled and dismayed, while centering vulnerabilities and hopes.
Mohammed has definitely captured the essence of what life can mean for many people who reside in islands that most use to 'getaway', to 'kick back', 'relax', and 'live'. Pleasantview gives snippets of the realness of island life, what is faced and experienced and does so with a sharpness, clarity, deftness that underscores but never edifies the violence and poverty that is exists.
The characters are written so well, their circumstances, decisions, and motivations relayed with such intent, and makes these stories hard to look away from.
Mohammed underscores her stories with issues of identity crisis, greed, corruption, violence, sexuality, denial, secrets, illicit acts and relationships; widening a window into the complexities that people are, that their situations are and what that all looks like when the chickens come home to roost.
This collection was a breeze to read with characters that propelled each story, behaviours and tricks that both thrilled and dismayed, while centering vulnerabilities and hopes.
May 11, 2021
This book pulled me out of my 6-week reading slump with her impressive collection of inter-connected short stories set in a fictional area called Pleasantview in Trinidad. I gifted myself the entire day on Mother’s Day to lay on my couch and read this book from cover to cover (I rarely do that) pausing only to eat and write notes.
Each story is like a slice of macaroni pie, each piece having the same ingredients, but still slightly different because of the size of each slice. Similarly the people of Pleasantview are experiencing the same poverty and corruption performed by the same people, but they each carry their individual pain.
Mohammed explores illegal immigration, sexual and domestic abuse, homophobia, incarceration, mental illness, religious discrepancies, and the regular village gossip!
If it sounds like these topics have been written about before: touché. What makes Pleasantview unique is how each story builds on the former, casting a web incrementally wider by introducing more characters and building on ones already introduced. You will ache for some and want to planass others! The ex-tempo at the wake was just....fire! (San-tee-man-e-tay!)
I do have two issues: One deals with the portrayal of a white, female character who is overweight. I felt that some of the descriptions of her body were degratory and I was disappointed that a stereotypical portrayal was used. The second was the use of the word “Ain’t” when to me in some instances the correct word should have been “Ent” a slang that’s used frequently in Trini dialect. Someone let me know if I’m wrong here, I don’t mind being corrected, but that’s how it felt to me.
Mohammed is a solid writer who’s done an excellent job capturing the way life flows in small villages where racial tensions, big and small time criminals, and those trying to swim upstream without getting wet, all mesh. I do highly recommend this one.
Each story is like a slice of macaroni pie, each piece having the same ingredients, but still slightly different because of the size of each slice. Similarly the people of Pleasantview are experiencing the same poverty and corruption performed by the same people, but they each carry their individual pain.
Mohammed explores illegal immigration, sexual and domestic abuse, homophobia, incarceration, mental illness, religious discrepancies, and the regular village gossip!
If it sounds like these topics have been written about before: touché. What makes Pleasantview unique is how each story builds on the former, casting a web incrementally wider by introducing more characters and building on ones already introduced. You will ache for some and want to planass others! The ex-tempo at the wake was just....fire! (San-tee-man-e-tay!)
I do have two issues: One deals with the portrayal of a white, female character who is overweight. I felt that some of the descriptions of her body were degratory and I was disappointed that a stereotypical portrayal was used. The second was the use of the word “Ain’t” when to me in some instances the correct word should have been “Ent” a slang that’s used frequently in Trini dialect. Someone let me know if I’m wrong here, I don’t mind being corrected, but that’s how it felt to me.
Mohammed is a solid writer who’s done an excellent job capturing the way life flows in small villages where racial tensions, big and small time criminals, and those trying to swim upstream without getting wet, all mesh. I do highly recommend this one.
June 23, 2022
Celeste’s Mohammed’s Pleasantview is a debut novel-in-stories that won the 2022 OCM Boas Prize for Fiction.
When was I hooked from? The first chapter/story. Each short story is equivalent to the Caribbean situation:
🌴Being on island and witnessing a “Bassa bassa” from a safe distance. In the Caribbean, we want to know what’s going on but we don’t want to get too close to the action 🤣🤣🌴
Each story is filled with total Caribbean vibes:
🥥 everyone one knows each other’s business
🥥 deep love, horning (infidelity), lies
🥥 scrunting (poverty), trying to survive daily
🥥 folklore
🥥 migrating to America for a better life
🥥 sexuality
🥥 abuse (mental and physical)
🥥 pride
I loved and enjoyed how each story was connected with each other.
🌺My favourite character was Ms. Ivy!
🏷 I’m ready for Pleasantview part 2!
Thank you Celeste.
When was I hooked from? The first chapter/story. Each short story is equivalent to the Caribbean situation:
🌴Being on island and witnessing a “Bassa bassa” from a safe distance. In the Caribbean, we want to know what’s going on but we don’t want to get too close to the action 🤣🤣🌴
Each story is filled with total Caribbean vibes:
🥥 everyone one knows each other’s business
🥥 deep love, horning (infidelity), lies
🥥 scrunting (poverty), trying to survive daily
🥥 folklore
🥥 migrating to America for a better life
🥥 sexuality
🥥 abuse (mental and physical)
🥥 pride
I loved and enjoyed how each story was connected with each other.
🌺My favourite character was Ms. Ivy!
🏷 I’m ready for Pleasantview part 2!
Thank you Celeste.
December 30, 2022
4.5 stars.
This was such a well-written collection. I generally love intertwined short stories but this collection gave me a whole new experience of it! So well-crafted!
I love how it feels like each new stories layers perfectly on the other, without compromising on its own individuality. I got introduced to new characters, while gaining closure on characters from previous stories.
And the languages! My God! I’m not from Trinidad and Tobago but I imagine that the myriad of language/styles in this collection reflects how diverse the culture of the country is. My Spanish is not very good but with the context Mohammed provides, I was able to understand the Spanish sprinkled in the book. My own knowledge of pidgin English made it easy to get into the rhythm of the Trinidadian creole. All in all, a sweet experience.
This was such a well-written collection. I generally love intertwined short stories but this collection gave me a whole new experience of it! So well-crafted!
I love how it feels like each new stories layers perfectly on the other, without compromising on its own individuality. I got introduced to new characters, while gaining closure on characters from previous stories.
And the languages! My God! I’m not from Trinidad and Tobago but I imagine that the myriad of language/styles in this collection reflects how diverse the culture of the country is. My Spanish is not very good but with the context Mohammed provides, I was able to understand the Spanish sprinkled in the book. My own knowledge of pidgin English made it easy to get into the rhythm of the Trinidadian creole. All in all, a sweet experience.
July 11, 2022
"Women were cursed, Kimberly had decided then: their own bodies didn't even belong to them."
Pleasantview by Celeste Mohamed was on of my favorite reads for Caribbean Heritage Month. This was a propulsive read that I devoured on my plane ride home from vacation. Each short story didn't feel disconnected from the next but instead added more layers to the full picture. Mohamed has solidified herself as an auto-buy for me from now on. All I can say is "What a debut!"
Reading this one made me think about the expression "All that glitters isn't gold." Often time people go on vacation to escape their real.life but never once think about the daily lives of people that live in the places where they vacation. It is easy to forget real life when you are lost in the allure of resort life but just steps away from these places is where you find the reality of life in these places. Mohamed's writing grips you and you won't be able to look away because what she says in these pages is powerful and challenges what you thought you knew about Caribbean island life.
Mohamed does this by giving you a glimpse into the life of the residents of imaginary town Pleasantview. Not only did Mohamed show you Trinidadian life but she also interrogates heavy themes and call outs the things that need to change. The stories felt cohesive and the characters were complex. The core themes that intersected with the characters were:
🇹🇹 sex trafficking
🇹🇹 violence against women
🇹🇹 colorism
🇹🇹 homophobia in the Caribbean
🇹🇹 mixed race heritage
🇹🇹 diversity of island culture
🇹🇹 sexuality and identity
🇹🇹 social stratification
🇹🇹 myth of tourism benefiting residents
🇹🇹 dominance of religion, misogyny & patriarchy
🇹🇹 allure & falsehood of the American dream
🇹🇹 reality of immigration process for Black Caribbean people
🇹🇹 ancestral ways of wisdom
If you haven't read this one yet, then what are you waiting for? Mohamed is already a commanding voice in Caribbean literature and one that I am looking forward to reading more from.
Pleasantview by Celeste Mohamed was on of my favorite reads for Caribbean Heritage Month. This was a propulsive read that I devoured on my plane ride home from vacation. Each short story didn't feel disconnected from the next but instead added more layers to the full picture. Mohamed has solidified herself as an auto-buy for me from now on. All I can say is "What a debut!"
Reading this one made me think about the expression "All that glitters isn't gold." Often time people go on vacation to escape their real.life but never once think about the daily lives of people that live in the places where they vacation. It is easy to forget real life when you are lost in the allure of resort life but just steps away from these places is where you find the reality of life in these places. Mohamed's writing grips you and you won't be able to look away because what she says in these pages is powerful and challenges what you thought you knew about Caribbean island life.
Mohamed does this by giving you a glimpse into the life of the residents of imaginary town Pleasantview. Not only did Mohamed show you Trinidadian life but she also interrogates heavy themes and call outs the things that need to change. The stories felt cohesive and the characters were complex. The core themes that intersected with the characters were:
🇹🇹 sex trafficking
🇹🇹 violence against women
🇹🇹 colorism
🇹🇹 homophobia in the Caribbean
🇹🇹 mixed race heritage
🇹🇹 diversity of island culture
🇹🇹 sexuality and identity
🇹🇹 social stratification
🇹🇹 myth of tourism benefiting residents
🇹🇹 dominance of religion, misogyny & patriarchy
🇹🇹 allure & falsehood of the American dream
🇹🇹 reality of immigration process for Black Caribbean people
🇹🇹 ancestral ways of wisdom
If you haven't read this one yet, then what are you waiting for? Mohamed is already a commanding voice in Caribbean literature and one that I am looking forward to reading more from.
January 31, 2022
This is a novel in stories told in little slice of life interconnected stories. It focuses on the residents of a small Trinidadian community called Pleasantview. Don't let the name or cover fool you. Pleasantview is far from pleasant. I found the first two stories just okay but the third story? It gripped my heart and the book just took off from there. My heart is with Gail and Ms Ivy and with Kimberley and the women and young boys affected by the horrible men of Pleasantview. So many heavy themes but the author still found a way to infuse humor into it. Top tier stuff tbh. The book club chat with the author facilitated by @lipglossmaffia / @theindulgentbibliophile was the icing on the cake. I definitely recommend this one.
August 4, 2024
I loved the voices, loved the stories, loved the writing. Wish there was more of them!!!!! Too short
June 27, 2022
Pleasantview deserves ALL the stars!! This novel in stories started off with a bang that continued until the tuen of the very last page! At the heart of these stories are a yearning and celebration for life, happiness and hope in the midst of tragedy. Its the simple....or not so simple day to day happenings in the lives of a community not seen on the resort brochures that are often associated with caribbean life. I can sit here on this app and try to convince you about the authentic Caribbean imagery, the boldness and vivid come to life experiences, the rich dialogue that will have you wanting to adopt the Trinidadian culture but honestly, you'd really have to read it to understand the brilliance bouncing off these pages. I loved this book! Ms. Ivy, Gail, Consuela, Kimberly, Jason, will all have a place in my heart. Take this as your cue to run and pick this up now. I cannot wait to see what Celeste comes with next.
May 6, 2021
This book is based on the reality of Caribbean nations such as Trinidad and Tobago and it is also written in the combination of English and Trinidad Creole. People find the life of such nations quite easy and interesting but it is not a fairy tale for the people who live there. The author presents us a with story that is not so pleasant unlike the book’s title.
The life of such places is filled with poverty and patriarchy which is full of politics. This is author’s debut novel which brings out the reality that people are not how they actually look and show themselves as to be. This story is set in the background of Trinidadian village but in a fictional town. Here, we meet two political candidates who were rivals and taking upon each other.
This book presents us with the dark side of the, what author terms it as, Caribbean dream. This is quite an intriguing book that brings us to hidden life and reality, including exploitation of women, young, and weak. This is an amazing read with unexpected twists and turns. I highly recommend this. MUST BUY.
The life of such places is filled with poverty and patriarchy which is full of politics. This is author’s debut novel which brings out the reality that people are not how they actually look and show themselves as to be. This story is set in the background of Trinidadian village but in a fictional town. Here, we meet two political candidates who were rivals and taking upon each other.
This book presents us with the dark side of the, what author terms it as, Caribbean dream. This is quite an intriguing book that brings us to hidden life and reality, including exploitation of women, young, and weak. This is an amazing read with unexpected twists and turns. I highly recommend this. MUST BUY.
June 10, 2021
I needed to sit quietly to ensure my review is sufficient for this book.
On the regular, I don't usually read reviews prior to reading a book for fear of being dissuaded, or misguided by bias. However, I happened to read the very high ratings bestowed upon Celeste Mohammed, and a little doubt crept over me. I hoped the booked held up to those.
Two days were all I needed to complete this book. Couldn't put it down!
Pleasantview, is one of the most intriguing books I've read this year, and probably in my life!
Realistic representation of True Caribbean Life.
The small-town living.
Simple characters and the connection webbed due to their life's choices.
Misunderstood life choices.
Their experiences, hopes and fears!
Immigration and what wanting more can do to and cost a family.
Family bonds and how they can be broken.
Youth and how fragile life is and how the choices we make sometimes define us for the rest of our lives.
How Money and Power can bring joy for some until it consumes completely.
Not to mention she included my home town of Rio Claro! (Forever a Rio Girl)
Truly I was completely invested in these characters and their circumstances.
Honestly, Pleasantview made me miss English Literature class and the discussions held there.
Thank you Celeste Mohammed, you deserve all the accolades and more!
Please note: I CANNOT HAVE JUST ONE FAVOURITE STORY HERE.
On the regular, I don't usually read reviews prior to reading a book for fear of being dissuaded, or misguided by bias. However, I happened to read the very high ratings bestowed upon Celeste Mohammed, and a little doubt crept over me. I hoped the booked held up to those.
Two days were all I needed to complete this book. Couldn't put it down!
Pleasantview, is one of the most intriguing books I've read this year, and probably in my life!
Realistic representation of True Caribbean Life.
The small-town living.
Simple characters and the connection webbed due to their life's choices.
Misunderstood life choices.
Their experiences, hopes and fears!
Immigration and what wanting more can do to and cost a family.
Family bonds and how they can be broken.
Youth and how fragile life is and how the choices we make sometimes define us for the rest of our lives.
How Money and Power can bring joy for some until it consumes completely.
Not to mention she included my home town of Rio Claro! (Forever a Rio Girl)
Truly I was completely invested in these characters and their circumstances.
Honestly, Pleasantview made me miss English Literature class and the discussions held there.
Thank you Celeste Mohammed, you deserve all the accolades and more!
Please note: I CANNOT HAVE JUST ONE FAVOURITE STORY HERE.
July 7, 2021
***Reflections of Pleasantview by Celeste Mohammed***
Allyuh need to go read this book! Not only because it full a bacchanal and ting but because Celeste Mohammed write she ass off in dis short story collection!
The short stories being interconnected gives us a full, panoramic view of Pleasantview: from the beautiful azure surface to the deep, dark underbelly of paradise. Normally, for short stories, we get a snippet of characters and their environment, but somehow Celeste manages to do full on character development and an amazing world building. I feel like I was literally inside of Pleasantview and only now on a bus going back home and still thinking bout all what went on during my visit.
There’s so much that goes on and here are some content warnings:
Violence
Rape
Domestic abuse
Grief
Death
Miscarriage
Sex trafficking
Abandonment
This is all weaved with the sweetest writing. Sweeter than doubles with nuff chutney.
Allyuh need to go read this book! Not only because it full a bacchanal and ting but because Celeste Mohammed write she ass off in dis short story collection!
The short stories being interconnected gives us a full, panoramic view of Pleasantview: from the beautiful azure surface to the deep, dark underbelly of paradise. Normally, for short stories, we get a snippet of characters and their environment, but somehow Celeste manages to do full on character development and an amazing world building. I feel like I was literally inside of Pleasantview and only now on a bus going back home and still thinking bout all what went on during my visit.
There’s so much that goes on and here are some content warnings:
Violence
Rape
Domestic abuse
Grief
Death
Miscarriage
Sex trafficking
Abandonment
This is all weaved with the sweetest writing. Sweeter than doubles with nuff chutney.
February 2, 2022
Set in the fictional town of Pleasantview, this collection of interconnected short stories gives a glimpse into what life can be like in Trinidad and Tobago; it's not all about the sand, sun, and the sea. In fact, every single character goes through trials and travails.
This was my book club's pick for January, and we were privileged to have the author join us on zoom to discuss the book. She gave us a short history lesson on T&T, which provided more context that gave me a deeper understanding of the characters in the book.
The writing is so excellent that I didn't come away feeling like the stories were unfinished, which tends to happen with short story collections.
Loved this a lot and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.
This was my book club's pick for January, and we were privileged to have the author join us on zoom to discuss the book. She gave us a short history lesson on T&T, which provided more context that gave me a deeper understanding of the characters in the book.
The writing is so excellent that I didn't come away feeling like the stories were unfinished, which tends to happen with short story collections.
Loved this a lot and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.
October 16, 2024
This book is a reminder to all that life in the Caribbean isn’t all sunshine, sand and sea.
This was a quick read not simply because it is a small book but because I just could not put it down! What a beautiful collection of interconnect stories!
I loved everything about this book and its characters, it felt organic and none of the topic touched in this book felt like too much. Truly enjoyable!
This was a quick read not simply because it is a small book but because I just could not put it down! What a beautiful collection of interconnect stories!
I loved everything about this book and its characters, it felt organic and none of the topic touched in this book felt like too much. Truly enjoyable!
August 24, 2021
Talk about a gripping novel! Literally every chapter was jaw dropping. This is one of those novels where each short story ties into the other and I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT I WISH IT DID NOT HAVE TO END! I'm looking forward to more work from this author. This is one of the top books I've read this year!
June 30, 2022
Pleasantview is a collection of interrelated short stories that when read together weave the story of a neighborhood and the ways that the lives of family and neighbor wind together through shared experiences. Often when I read short stories, I feel like I am just scratching the surface with the characters. In this collection, Mohammed does an incredible job painting a rich and vivid portrayal of each character. In just a few pages, you get to know them, and then when they resurface in another story, it’s like you turn about 45 degrees and see them from another angle. These are not light, fluffy stories - Mohammed is working with some substantial and complicated themes about poverty and patriarchy, but you also see friendship and connection within the community. There is some ache to this impressive collection and I am looking forward to reading more by the author.
September 11, 2021
Pleasantview is easily one of my top five reads for 2021!!!
Its a fictional community that is synonymous with the "bacchanal" that Trinidad is known for... except I'm not speaking of music. Celeste Mohammad perfectly coordinated a set of short stories into a novel which gave us a front seat movie theatre like view into the lives of each character all separated but still contributing to the whole in this small community.
What was evident is that Pleasantview, much the opposite of what its name suggests, is a troubled place, possibly akin to a "ghetto" that is plagued by violence and crime, Fatherless children (single parent homes), corrupt politicians, and cops.
However, each character (young and old alike) are all seeking one thing, they are desirous of matriculating to the upper echelons of society i.e to simply leave Pleasantview and to make a life for themselves. Each looking to escape this forbidden place and to make it someway, somehow.
This book is a recommended bookclub read also. There's alot to unpack. The writing which is a mixture of Trinidad creole was beautifully represented and if i must say, this book reminded me a bit of AugusTown by Kei Miller in relation to a novel about a community plagued by much hurt, pain, corruption and crime.
Its a fictional community that is synonymous with the "bacchanal" that Trinidad is known for... except I'm not speaking of music. Celeste Mohammad perfectly coordinated a set of short stories into a novel which gave us a front seat movie theatre like view into the lives of each character all separated but still contributing to the whole in this small community.
What was evident is that Pleasantview, much the opposite of what its name suggests, is a troubled place, possibly akin to a "ghetto" that is plagued by violence and crime, Fatherless children (single parent homes), corrupt politicians, and cops.
However, each character (young and old alike) are all seeking one thing, they are desirous of matriculating to the upper echelons of society i.e to simply leave Pleasantview and to make a life for themselves. Each looking to escape this forbidden place and to make it someway, somehow.
This book is a recommended bookclub read also. There's alot to unpack. The writing which is a mixture of Trinidad creole was beautifully represented and if i must say, this book reminded me a bit of AugusTown by Kei Miller in relation to a novel about a community plagued by much hurt, pain, corruption and crime.
July 6, 2021
There are times when we pick up a book and it resonates with our soul. This is one of those times. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that took me from the opening pages to the end in a visual, sensory, journey that had me questioning where I was half the time. I started slowly because I knew by two pages in that this book was going to take me. I read one chapter and put it down, knowing I wanted to savour it. Second reading took me halfway through. I saw everyone and everything. These are people I know. I had to put the book down and build up to reading the rest. I didn’t want to get to the end.
The attention to detail in setting means you can recognise each street, junction, yard, house, rum shop. You can smell who is cooking what and hear the sounds of life inside each building and on each street. But the real strength in this novel is the characters. The nuanced telling of the emotions and motives of everyone we meet on the pages. The hard ears of Gail that make you want to shake her, the weak excuses of Luther that make you want to cuss him, the coldness of Judith who was just waiting for her man to carry on with some stupidness and being vindicated when he finally did. Omar, the hero who found himself in saving the turtle and Jagroop who couldn’t see his own true colours even though they were illuminated loud for anyone who cared to look. Mr H, you could see, hear, smell and taste the man with bile rising in your throat each time his hands reached for Gail or any other woman. And Mrs H who supported his disgusting ways in order to maintain the pretence of her life. And don’t even get me started on Miss Ivy and the life of pain she carried inside. Ordinary everyday people searching for a connection whilst at the same time only looking out for themselves.
This is life. This is fiction. Mohammed has drawn so heavily and so beautifully on the human condition without reserve, that even as we’re in the middle of all the tragedy, we know it is us. We know it is life. It has captured a time of change in global humanity when people became more conscious of the self and placed it above all else. In the UK this was during the Thatcher years, but I know it wasn’t isolated to Britain, it was a global phenomenon that was taking hold and shifting the balance to take or be taken. This microcosm of life in Pleasantview shows this global entity of selfishness in all its glory.
The final story pulls it all together and shows the effect on the future generations from the state of society and the self-centeredness of the adults. It shows how we home grow the disillusioned, degenerate, uneducated, selfish youth who feel they deserve whatever they desire. It is terrifying in its truth, it is heart breaking in its candidness. The novel could easily be called cause and effect or consequences and it would sum up each story. This is exceptional writing, imagination and truth telling and does not shy away from the ugliness of life. It doesn’t excuse, glorify or pity any of the characters, simply writes them into being and allows us, the reader to understand who they are and ultimately who we are.
The attention to detail in setting means you can recognise each street, junction, yard, house, rum shop. You can smell who is cooking what and hear the sounds of life inside each building and on each street. But the real strength in this novel is the characters. The nuanced telling of the emotions and motives of everyone we meet on the pages. The hard ears of Gail that make you want to shake her, the weak excuses of Luther that make you want to cuss him, the coldness of Judith who was just waiting for her man to carry on with some stupidness and being vindicated when he finally did. Omar, the hero who found himself in saving the turtle and Jagroop who couldn’t see his own true colours even though they were illuminated loud for anyone who cared to look. Mr H, you could see, hear, smell and taste the man with bile rising in your throat each time his hands reached for Gail or any other woman. And Mrs H who supported his disgusting ways in order to maintain the pretence of her life. And don’t even get me started on Miss Ivy and the life of pain she carried inside. Ordinary everyday people searching for a connection whilst at the same time only looking out for themselves.
This is life. This is fiction. Mohammed has drawn so heavily and so beautifully on the human condition without reserve, that even as we’re in the middle of all the tragedy, we know it is us. We know it is life. It has captured a time of change in global humanity when people became more conscious of the self and placed it above all else. In the UK this was during the Thatcher years, but I know it wasn’t isolated to Britain, it was a global phenomenon that was taking hold and shifting the balance to take or be taken. This microcosm of life in Pleasantview shows this global entity of selfishness in all its glory.
The final story pulls it all together and shows the effect on the future generations from the state of society and the self-centeredness of the adults. It shows how we home grow the disillusioned, degenerate, uneducated, selfish youth who feel they deserve whatever they desire. It is terrifying in its truth, it is heart breaking in its candidness. The novel could easily be called cause and effect or consequences and it would sum up each story. This is exceptional writing, imagination and truth telling and does not shy away from the ugliness of life. It doesn’t excuse, glorify or pity any of the characters, simply writes them into being and allows us, the reader to understand who they are and ultimately who we are.
June 21, 2023
You know the kind of book where the characters stay with you long after you’ve closed the book? The kind of book where the characters feel like family members and people you’ve met before. Celeste Mohammad invites you to the living room table, the backyard, inside the house and shares stories of life with you.
Pleasantview is such a breathe of life. From start to end you are stumbling, falling, and dreaming with the characters. The short story format leaves you with questions. How is this character doing? Did they recover? But just like life, you will never know.
Pleasantview is such a breathe of life. From start to end you are stumbling, falling, and dreaming with the characters. The short story format leaves you with questions. How is this character doing? Did they recover? But just like life, you will never know.
December 31, 2022
4.5 ⭐
📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
This is a novel-in-stories about a fictional neighborhood in Trinidad. The 9 stories have characters in different living situations but they all interconnect seamlessly. The range of the characters though...there is a prison escapee, sex-worker, kept woman, politicians, policeman, seer etc.
Characters: The characters are so diverse but each has a distinct voice and perspective. The character development is impeccable. I especially love how Gail was written.
Writing: I LOVE Celeste' writing. It's breezy, witty and humorous. Gets very dark sometimes. She makes light of difficult situations in her writing. Many times I felt terrible for laughing at tragedy 🤭
Themes: poverty, unemployment, classism, politics, corruption, immigration, religion, marriage, sexuality, trauma, radicalization
I loved the Trini dialect. It's reminiscent of all the Caribbean books I've read recently. Also, how the cultural events were described e.g Carnival and the extempo at the funeral gathering.
These stories are so good that I believe each would stand as a complete novel...yes, that good. Even the cliffhangers were easier to take with this one.
This is truly an unforgettable read.
📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
This is a novel-in-stories about a fictional neighborhood in Trinidad. The 9 stories have characters in different living situations but they all interconnect seamlessly. The range of the characters though...there is a prison escapee, sex-worker, kept woman, politicians, policeman, seer etc.
Characters: The characters are so diverse but each has a distinct voice and perspective. The character development is impeccable. I especially love how Gail was written.
Writing: I LOVE Celeste' writing. It's breezy, witty and humorous. Gets very dark sometimes. She makes light of difficult situations in her writing. Many times I felt terrible for laughing at tragedy 🤭
Themes: poverty, unemployment, classism, politics, corruption, immigration, religion, marriage, sexuality, trauma, radicalization
I loved the Trini dialect. It's reminiscent of all the Caribbean books I've read recently. Also, how the cultural events were described e.g Carnival and the extempo at the funeral gathering.
These stories are so good that I believe each would stand as a complete novel...yes, that good. Even the cliffhangers were easier to take with this one.
This is truly an unforgettable read.
June 11, 2022
This 2021 release has been getting rave reviews from Caribbean readers. Written as interconnected short stories, this book provides a picture of a impoverished town in Trinidad, Pleasantview. It is character based collection, reminding me of Minty Alley by C.L.R James but quite modern look at the issues facing Trinidad. Be prepared to meet characters that will linger in your mind for days, who you long to know the rest of their story.
I understand the hype for this as you feel thrust into Trinidad - the language, the food, the culture and the music. Recently, there has been quite a bit discussion on the intertwining of colonialism and tourism with the current slogan of I live where you vacation. This book definitely would be a great way to counter the glossy nature given to the Caribbean. My major critique would be the stereotypical view of most of the characters. TO be fair, this book gives a look without judging the characters for their action. But.......... I wanted more, I wanted to be challenged at how I view certain classes in society. And that happens for one character - Sister Ivy. This isn't meant to dissuade or counter the love, it is a compelling read. I read it in 24 hours and obviously it struck a chord. And I am keen to see how this author grows.
I understand the hype for this as you feel thrust into Trinidad - the language, the food, the culture and the music. Recently, there has been quite a bit discussion on the intertwining of colonialism and tourism with the current slogan of I live where you vacation. This book definitely would be a great way to counter the glossy nature given to the Caribbean. My major critique would be the stereotypical view of most of the characters. TO be fair, this book gives a look without judging the characters for their action. But.......... I wanted more, I wanted to be challenged at how I view certain classes in society. And that happens for one character - Sister Ivy. This isn't meant to dissuade or counter the love, it is a compelling read. I read it in 24 hours and obviously it struck a chord. And I am keen to see how this author grows.
August 13, 2021
Our book club started this August 2021 and to start things off we decided we’d go local for our first read. Choosing Pleasantview was easy. I didn’t start reading until the 12th because I speed read and I knew I’d finish it within 24 hours. Let me tell you I could not put down the book. Every detail, every dialect, every slang has made me feel proud to be a Trini and with that every devastating, honest aspect of what really goes on in the villages, hit home in so many ways.
Pleasantview is filled with EVERYTHING that takes place in our little island and touched on so many things we may take for granted on the daily.
I especially felt proud that some, if not most, of the stories included experiences that I myself have encountered. I was especially astounded at the use of our dialect. Growing up you always felt like our dialect tongue was not as great as another country’s accent, but boy now I have this book as a passport to who I am as a Trinidadian. Everything that makes us. I even sang along to the extempos. Very overwhelmingly patriotic moment for me. Santimanitay.
Kudos to Celeste!
Pleasantview is filled with EVERYTHING that takes place in our little island and touched on so many things we may take for granted on the daily.
I especially felt proud that some, if not most, of the stories included experiences that I myself have encountered. I was especially astounded at the use of our dialect. Growing up you always felt like our dialect tongue was not as great as another country’s accent, but boy now I have this book as a passport to who I am as a Trinidadian. Everything that makes us. I even sang along to the extempos. Very overwhelmingly patriotic moment for me. Santimanitay.
Kudos to Celeste!
November 11, 2021
Short stories which are interconnected giving readers what could be realities of someone but rather people living Trinidad & Tobago, though set in a fictional community of Pleasantview.
The bravery that is Celeste Mohammed. She took ya on a ride into the ills of seemingly T&T via a community Pleasantview. From illegal immigrants, to poverty, adultery, to political crimes, etc.
Read this and you get some raw realities. For some it may have some triggers but this piece of work isn’t far from actualities in our beloved T&T.
I love the use of the dialect and local parlance and some are:
• “….she does much-him-up”
• Santimantay- come from a French phrase sans humanité which loosely means “without mercy”
• kilkitay
• wele-wele
• mauvais langue
The bravery that is Celeste Mohammed. She took ya on a ride into the ills of seemingly T&T via a community Pleasantview. From illegal immigrants, to poverty, adultery, to political crimes, etc.
Read this and you get some raw realities. For some it may have some triggers but this piece of work isn’t far from actualities in our beloved T&T.
I love the use of the dialect and local parlance and some are:
• “….she does much-him-up”
• Santimantay- come from a French phrase sans humanité which loosely means “without mercy”
• kilkitay
• wele-wele
• mauvais langue
June 25, 2021
thoughts coming shortly
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