At time the bleakness of the characters' lives, the poverty, the hopelessness put me in a sorrowful mood. But at the same time, there was triumph as Fay a.k.a. Clara plodded through her miserable conditions in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, a town called Greenwichtown.
We see how another culture in the Diaspora of Africa struggles with their way of life and families. Faye was given no choice in who would raise her. Her sister, Flo supposedly could provide a better life. Sometimes she did, sometimes she did not. When Flo had a man, life was, if not good, was bearable and there was money for food and school. Faye learned survival skills but she also had a heart to pull herself out of poverty and despair through education.
Unfortunately she learned the lessons of the heart by being betrayed by a boy she thought loved her. Was she not worthy of love? Would her dreams be deferred by the disease that seemed to plague every young girl in Greenwichtown?
Joyce Palmer has written a compelling, stunningly real view of our Sister's lives in the real Jamaica, not the one we see on the cruises and advertisements. You feel you are there with the patois and the descriptive locations. At times I felt I could see the dirt, feel the despair. I would highly recommend this book

Greenwichtown by Joyce Palmer is an impressive debut novel. Palmer descriptively and vividly brings to life the sights, smells, and tastes of Jamaica as well as its rich history and vibrant people. Palmer introduces us to young Fay who lives in the destitute, rural and impoverished Jamaica that few tourist ever see. One day Fay's older sister comes to visit her mother and decides to take Fay back with her to the city for a two-week vacation. Unfortunately, the two-week vacation turns into years and Fay will be raised in an abusive and lonely environment with her sister. The burning question as one reads is why did Fay's older sister uproot Fay from her mom and other siblings.

Palmer writes with raw talent a lyrical and eloquent story about family, life, hope, love and redemption. Her writing is believable and realistic as she portrays the blight and plight of young Fay's life. The reader will cry, lol and rejoice as Fay comes of age and jumps off the pages into our lives. Greenwichtown is a well-written novel with a tight and sound story that I recommend to anyone looking for a refreshing change of pace. I anxiously await future releases from this young and talented author.

APOOO Bookclub

I was hooked from the very first page. Joyce Palmer describes life in the Jamaican country and in Greenwichtown with such vivid detail that I was transported vicariously to the world of Fay Myrtle. This book is not only touching in its frank description of life in a Jamaican ghetto; it also educates the reader on the effects of Jamaican politics and the caste system. The book is an easy read and used enough patois to be authentic without overwhelming readers who are not familiar with this language. Although there are numerous sad, dark, and shocking moments, hope prevails in the midst of hopelessness and the book will leave you smiling or crying, but definitely satisfied.

Linda Atkins' account of her friendship with a young, deserted girl, abandoned by her mother and lost in the 'system', clearly illustrates the harsh realities thousands of children in this country face every day, the inadequacies of the child welfare system and the seemingly hopeless struggle to find a solution to these problems. Yet, it is also a story about hope, friendship, endurance, spirit and growth.
This book will hopefully inspire others to take action and contribute to "undoing what has been done" to these children.
One organization through which you can effectively speak up for abused and neglected children is CASA

An excellent book - I could LITERALY not put it down. A wonderful story of the relationship between a woman and a lost child. I want to read more and there's no more pages!

I first picked up "Jamaica and me" in Barnes and Noble, while searching for a book to possibly convert into a screenplay. As I read the first chapter, I was captivated by Linda's (the author) discriptive and insightful writing. "Jamaica and me" is a riveting memoir filled with hope, sorrow, and brutal realities. Currently I'm working on the screenplay and would greatly appreciate any information on how to get in contact with Linda Atkins.

This is the best cookbook for Jamaican cuisine that I've ever seen! The author is a well-known cook in Jamaica; therefore, she's an excellent source of information. The cookbook has many wonderful photos of the finished product (a feature that is not commonly found in cookbooks that are geared towards Jamaican cooking), and the recipes are very easy to follow. I am born of Jamaican parents, and I really wanted to find a good book that could help me cook authentic Jamaican dishes in an authentic way. I've had this book for seven years and I successfully made every dish that I've tried. The book covers all types of food (appetizers, entrees, desserts, drinks), and it has a glossary to help you learn about certain foods that are not commonly found outside of Jamaica. If you are serious about learning how to cook Jamaican food, this is the book to have. If you are unable to get this book in your home country, I would suggest contacting the Jamaica Tourist Board and finding out the names of some bookstores in Kingston, Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. Contact those stores directly. If someone is going over to Jamaica, have them get this book for you (it's a great gift). I just bought a copy for someone while I was in a bookstore Ocho Rios. It was being sold in hardback for $29.95 ($60.00 less than what it was being sold for on-line). I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make authentic Jamaican food.

I first saw this book at a friend's house. And asked to borrow it. I read this book from cover to cover within a day. One of the beauties about this book is that you can read it without being a cook.

There is much to be learned about Jamaican culture and food preparation. This book talks about the development of Jamaican food history.

You will learn how the contributions of East Indians, Arawaks, Chinese, Africans and others have made Jamaican dishes so very appealing.

I am going to Jamaica in June and can hardly wait to taste the catch of the day, bananas, paw-paw, jerk, sauces, bullas, otaheite apple pies and other foods found in this book. Photographs by Ray Chen, are inspiring and fresh. Recipes are easy to follow with many color photos. After trying some of the recipes, I know I'll want to explore more of the different Jamacian foods. This was a gift from my wonderful friend Joy, from Jamaica.

This book is a MUST Read for anyone even contemplating a visit to Hedo. It's filled with useful tips for first-timers and I'll be re-reading it before my next trip. You'll be laughing out loud and getting totally psyched for your trip...and when you get back, it's highly likely you'll write to Chris with a true story of your own...even though no one who hasn't been there will believe it. But those of us who've been there will !

Chris has done it again! This book tells the exact truth about Hedonism II. It puts to rest the rumours and half truths that circulate everywhere. My husband and I are Hedo vets, having been three times and I laughed my head off reading this second edition of this book. It's hysterical and brought back so many memories. Without the first book, we would have definately been more apprehensive about going the first time. This book should quell anyone's fears. Chris calls Hedo like it is, a very fun time with lots of friends. This is a great book for any Hedo virgin or vet. It's a great read!

Don't believe the rumors and wild stories reported other places about Hedonism II. In TNTAH2, Chris does a great job of explaining and illustrating the experience of a very different resort in Jamaica. Hedo II is like no other place on earth. If it wasn't for the First Edition book, my wife & I may not have gone there, now we can't wait to get back. Now the Second Edition has even more tips, photos, and great Hedo stories which veterans will find hillarious (or be very jealous!), and the inexperienced will find almost unbelievable. But you can believe it because Chris has "been there, done that" many times and writes without authorization, support or endorsement of Hedo management.

This book will prepare "virgins" for their first trip by giving tips for what to bring, what to expect, and explains who goes to Hedo. Is this the place for me? Do people really.....? Can I really wear THAT? Should I bring.....? These questions are answered, and many others you never thought to ask. Chris is an experienced "repeat offender" at Hedo and tells the true stories, debunks the myths, and gives many tips needed to make the most of your trip. The wife & I read it straight through the minute it arrived at our door, and we review it again everytime we are longing to go again. Whether you are a couple looking to experience some romance, or a single wanting to party for a week, this book will prepare you for a trip to a place that so many repeaters call Home.

As a travel guide "The Naked Truth About Hedonism II" is right on the mark. It is a book which is both fun to read and very practical at the same time. Ms. Santilli provides the first time visitor with a wealth of very practical information about this most unusual of resorts. Look here to find out what to bring, what to buy, what to wear (and not wear), what to do, etc. It should be required reading for the first timer. For those who have been to Hedonism II it is a welcome reminder of past experiences and people. It contains numerous tales of visitors experiences and opinions. The book, and the hotel, are for the open minded. Be warned that some will object to the detailed discussion of nudity, sex, drinking, etc. For them reading this book will help them avoid what will probably be their idea of a 'vacation in hell'. The only problem with 'The Naked Truth About Hedonism II' are the photos. Many of them are too dark (low contrast). This book is recommended reading for those going to Jamaica.

My husband and I toyed with the idea of going to Hedo II for years, but wanted to better understand the dynamics and "expectations" of this resort before we committed. "Naked Truth" offered tips on everything from nude beach photography protocol and resort security, to hot tub flirting and sex, or "thanks but no thanks" etiquette. It's packed full of facts and fun stories that make you feel like you've already been there. From the very first, this sexy book puts you right in the middle of the hot, hot, hottest (and most talked about) resort in Jamaica. You'll know you're experiencing it through the eyes of an "insider" before you get to the second page. Full of facts, fun, and some wild, color photos, Santilli's book is a must-have for anyone considering a trip to Hedonism II. Or for the armchair traveler yearning for a glimpse of what really goes on inside this magical, wild world where fantasy eclipses reality and eroticism reigns supreme.

All I can say is after reading this, we're confident this trip will be whatever WE make it. We're now booked and looking forward to our "virgin" trip!

As a regular visitor to Hedonism II and a member of one of their party groups, I couldn't put this book down. Chris captures the truth essence of this party resort. Novices will find all the answers to their questions (and information they can use to persuade their spouse that Hedonism should be their next vacation spot). Seasoned veterans will recognize the beach games and stories from some of the wildest weeks at Hedo. If you think there is no place where you would vacation time and time again, you haven't been to Jamaica and Hedonism II.

"A True History of Paradise" is one of those novels so compelling you want them never to end, and when they do, you can't wait to hear that the author has published another book continuing the story. It's a fascinating tale told from the point of view of a modern young Jamaican woman, Jean Landing. Her story is punctuated with fascinating reminiscences of her ancestors and descriptions of events from friends' and relatives' viewpoints. Exciting and informative, complex but lucid, and well-crafted, the novel vividly demonstrates the difficulties created by colonization. Because of her mixed-race heritage and her sensitive and intelligent perceptive powers, the story Jean tells is enlightening as well as engrossing. In addition, her vivid descriptions of her homeland reveal it as an almost unbearably beautiful country. I want to visit Jamaica, and I want to hear more about Jean!

Cezair-Thompson's "TRUE" HISTORY is fiction, yet history. This work brings to life the island's harshest realities, centuries of its colourful history, the dynamism of its polygenetic people, and its breathtakingly beautiful landscape in such a manner that leaves the reader marvelling at Cezair-Thompson's amazing artistry...at her talented interweaving of fact and fiction into a most beautiful tapestry depicting Jamaican life. It is a riveting account of a heartbreaking period in our history, and anyone who lived through the 70s in Kingston will inevitably live through it again when reading this book. My job requires me to read a great many books...and never have I so closely identified with any of them as I do to TRUE HISTORY. Cezair-Thompson has told many a Jamaican's story in this book...she tells the story of many of us that live here and has certainly told the story of most of our diaspora. A highly recommended read for all Jamaicans, for anyone interested in Caribbean literature and/or history, for anyone appreciative of literary techniques, and for anyone who just wants a truly great read!

"A True History of Paradise" is one of those novels so totally compelling you want them never to end, and when they do, you can't wait to hear that the author has pubished another book continuing the story. It's a fascinating tale told from the point of view of a modern young Jamaican woman, Jean Landing. Her story is punctuated with fascinating reminiscences of her ancestors and descriptions of events from friends' and relatives'viewpoints. Exciting and informative, complex but lucid, and well-crafted, the novel vividly demonstrates some of the difficulties created by colonialism. Because of her intelligence, her powerful ability to empathize, and her mixed-race heritage, the story Jean tells is enlightening as well as engrossing. Her vivid descriptions of her homeland reveal it as an almost unbearably beautiful country. I want to visit Jamaica, and I want to hear more about Jean!

If you love JA, and you're not from the Island...read this book. It will transport you there(virtual time!) and make you say to yourself"oh yeah, I remember that spot..."
You can TASTE the cocobread...and sugarcane...
Buy it!
A great gift for you or someone you love.

If you have been to Negril, this book takes you right back. If you have not been to Negril, you will have to go after reading this book. Since I've been there, reading about all the adventures took me back. I could feel the sun on my back, the sweet cool breeze and taste the red stripe. Excellent job in describing all the happenings and all the people. The people are real and are instantly recognizable. Wonderful book and one I will keep forever and read often.

Great read!! I have read many books on Jamaica and I have to rate Walk Good towards the top. Jamaica is my passion.

I loved this book. The pictures were very nice to look at. This book tends to focus more on Bob's music career then his personal life though. But otherwise this is a great book for all you Marley fans.

Like so many other deceased musicians, there are way too many "insider" books about the person. This is the only authorized book by the Bob Marley Foundation and it is a superb picture book. Filled with an abundance of color and black and white photographs this book brings the man to life. The pictures are rare as some are private family photos that are being released for the first time. This is a book that you want nearby so you can look at the photos periodically and remember the man as you listen to his music. The introduction by his wife Rita Marley is heartfelt and lays the foundation for intimate views of Bob Marley. His passions, his friends, his children, and even his music is here for all fans of Bob Marley. One of the cool features of this book is the format and how the narrative is given using some of the titles of his albums as a backdrop. Just a great book about a great man who passed this world much too quickly but left his mark for all to listen to the whisperings of a mystic. "Bob will come again. Like Christ he shall come in a new name"-Rita Marley.

Songs of Freedom truely gave me as a Bob Marley fan a better look at the life of a legend. Next to Bob's biography, Catch a Fire, this is the best acount of Bob Marley I have read. Songs of Freedom is filled with unseen photgraphs and quotes from Bob's loved ones, friends, and colleagues. An excellent story that has touched me deeply. I give this book a strong recomendation to life long Marley fans and those who have yet to discover the mystery, inspiration, and spirituality in this mans life.

What an excellent escape! It's the type of book you can read on a long flight and before you know it you're there. It was such a page turner that I couldn't put it down. This was the first book I've read from Sandra Brown - now I can't wait to read her others - she could be my new 'favorite author'. I highly recommend this book.

Sandra Brown's "Tiger Prince" is an excellent book. I read about it first from your reviews. I thought that it sounded very interesting so I bought it. It really is a great read. I have read two other Sandra Brown books and loved them both. I have read "Love's Encore" and "Bittersweet Rain." They were both excellent but "Tiger Prince" is my all time favorite book now. Caren and Derek had more chemistry than any other two characters in any book. One scene that sticks out in my mind is the attic scene where Caren thanks him for her new studio. I loved this book because you can really tell that Sandra Brown really put her heart into this one. It is nothing like the other two of her books I have read. I recommend this book to anyone. A really great book!

I received the Sandra Brown book Tiger Prince from a very good friend after I returned home from the hospital. I had to be home from work for 7 weeks and she said this was a good book to be home with. WOW was she right. I loved it. Derek and Caren were the most romantic couple. It was sensual and will certainly hold your interest page after page. I've began my second Sandra Brown book, The Witness, recently and once again she's captivated me with her writing. I can't wait to finish this one and begin another. Sandra Brown is a wonderful romance author!

Jamaica and Canada are the backdrop of the thirteen short stories contained in author Bernadette Dyer's "Villa Fair." The characters in the book are of various ethnic backgrounds and classes.

Of the thirteen stories in the book there were two that stood out in my opinion. These two stories are entitled "Driving Through Red Lights" and "Roberta on the Beach."

"Driving Through Red Lights is about Kamla, the child of Hindu Indians who have immigrated to Canada. Kamla was born and raised in Canada therefore she know more of the western culture than she does of her Hindu heritage. This is something that causes her parents great stress. Tradition states that women should marry fairly young, so at twenty-three Kamla is considered an embarassment and disappointment to her family. Tradition also states that the marriage must be arranged.

One day Kamla's aunt Rashna comes to visit from Bombay, India and she announces that she has found someone to marry Kamla. Kamla's husband-to-be, a future doctor, is named Lachman Ramsingh. He will come to Canada in two months to claim his bride and take her back to India. She does not want any of this, she wants to marry for love and live in Canada. The many twists, turns, and emotions make this a very enjoyable and touching story. As a reader I felt drawn into the story.

"Roberta on the Beach" is the story of the Douglas family, a poor working class family from Montego Bay, Jamaica. They are a family of ten, with eight children: Slim, Caleb, Sheila, Georgina, Elaine, Lorraine, Maggie, and Roberta. Roberta is the oldest girl in the family. When she turns eighteen and graduates from high school Roberta is contemplating her future, when fate intervenes. Roberta's aunt Melanie, who is her mother's sister, has written a letter advising her sister that she would like to provide a college education for one of her children. Roberta's parents quickly decide to give Roberta the opportunity of a lifetime. Little do they know that this decision will alter the course of their family forever. "Roberta on the Beach" is a good lesson in family and the strength that families must have to survive.

"Villa Fair" was a good read. The stories were good but not great. "Driving Through Red Lights" and "Roberta on the Beach" were excellent and if these two stories were complete books I would definitely read them. On the RAW scale this book is a 3.5.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks

Villa Fair is a wonderful collection of stories that have common universal themes integrated in a multicultural context. The themes of love, identity, tradition versus modern beliefs are woven well in stories such as Ackee Night in Canada, Segovia's Stories and Driving Through Red Lights. These three stories had characters of mixed heritage. Thus it was quite interesting to read how these themes were developed from a different cultural perspective. These stories were even more interesting because the endings were unpredictable, yet believable. Ms. Dyer writes very well. Her poetic and lyrical style engrossed me in her stories. I enjoyed the stories immensely and look forward to reading more from her.

From the Library in Toronto where she works to the neighborhood in which she lives, Bernadette Dyer sees much go by representing Toronto's multicultural panoply. This clearly inspires many of the takes in "Villa Fair," her collection of short stories. Other tales in the book are the germinated seeds of her own multiracial, multiethnic Jamaican and Portuguese Jewish ancestry. The people in her stories mirror her own ancestors --emigrés from somewhere else, establishing roots in new lands, living through generational conflict fueled by the meeting of old with new, yet influencing the host country and/or culture which is richer for it, and will never be the same. For example, there's Kamla, the twenty-three-year-old Indian-Canadian narrator of "Driving Through Red Lights," in love with a young Canadian man, while promised to an arranged marriage with someone from India. A surprise ending has Kamla's parents and aunt facing cultural change on two continents. In "Segovia Nights," Carlos Fernandez captivates his listeners with legends, reinvented stories about a mythical family and past. The tall tales are indicative, however, of a far deeper problem. One senses that the author and librarian in the story are one. Jomo, from "An African Out in the Cold," is lost, then found again while visiting Toronto, as, unknown to him, his host has suffered a heart attack. His isolation and cultural shock are palpable. Then there are tales coming from the richness of the author's Jamaican memories. The story "Man Man" dances back and forth from spirit world to "reality," as the ghost of a drowned seven-year-old boy moves comfortably among the local people of a plantation, until a new anglo mistress comes to stay. Another from the Jamaican collection, "Ackee Night," show how a much aggrieved woman, whose man has threatened idly to leave for years, calls on a Jamaican culinary secret to keep him permanently from other women -- and herself. The ending takes the reader by surprise. The title story, "Villa Fair," also catches one off guard, yet this reader felt puzzled by its sharp, unredeeming ending. Is Thunder, the chief male character, destroyed as a punishment for straying from his promise? Does the exotic, the magical always win out over the more conventional path? "Leaving Faro," the final tale, is a paean to Dyer's Portuguese Jewish ancestors, who fled to Jamaica to escape persecution. The mythical and the magical touch many of the stories. "Close the Blue Door" tells of mermen who lure their chosen loves to disaster, while in "Six Little Sparrows," the same number of Pakistani children and their mother shape shift into the title. The author's Jamaica and Canada are pulsing, vibrant settings where her characters don't want racial barriers to exist. Her families are strong and loving, evidencing the blurred lines of racial identity. Several of the stories, such as "Man Man" and "Roberta on the Beach," satisfy in their present form, yet would benefit also as longer fictional works, with some of the characters developed further. "An African Out in the Cold" seems a fragment, and one wishes for more. "Villa Fair" is an entertaining collection of well-told tales. We await future works with interest.

(originally reviewed in Halapid, Vol. VIII Issue 2, Spring 2001)