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We welcome Joyce Palmer who has agreed to join us in an on going discussion of this book. I have spoken to many of you and I know so many of us couldn't put it down, and were moved in immeasurable ways.. I for one Joyce would like to know if this was strictly a fictional account or if you drew from any of your own experiences? Did you grow up in JA?
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
True BND I wondered the same thing, if she grow up in Jamaica. I brought the book with me to read while on my trip to Jamaica last week. I couldn't put it down. At times I got so caught up in the book I felt like I was Fay. I cried and laughed. In the beginning I though although she was terrible poor that she was blessed to have such a loving and close family. Stumpy reminded me of a boy I grew up with. I felt the yearning she had for her mother, I too grow-up for a while with out my mother. Cokee was my hero, I loved him for coming into her life and loving her. I too lost my son's father when he was two. Still waiting for my Cokee to arrive. When I visited Kingston last week I found myself looking for spots that where mentioned in the book. It was a very good read and I'm looking forward to reading more books from Joyce. -
Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
I was wondering if it was strictly fictional, also.
And, I was so happy to see that Faye / Clara was able emerge from childhood trauma with out being caught up by drugs and or self destructive behavior. She seemed like such a sweet young lady. And loving Mom.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
Me Too !Originally posted by Tee Tee:
[qb]It was a very good read and I'm looking forward to reading more books from Joyce.[/qb]
Joyce, when will your next book be published ?Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
Great book.
I find it really difficult to find quality books with Jamaican Story lines. Some are too concerned with the scenery while others have poorly developed characters. The author spends too much time trying to make the characters Jamaican, which then makes them unbelievable. This book had just the right blend of both.
What other works do you have published?7/5th of all people do not understand fractions.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
When I started reading the book I was caught within 2 pages (and I became Fay also). I thought the book was set in the 1950's because of the poverty level. It is so hard to believe that level of poverty could exist in the last 20 years. I also assumed the author was in her 40's and was shocked to see her young face on the back jacket flap. That's a lot of life knowledge for such a young woman. Also a lot of writing skill because I had no trouble envisioning anything.
1.I had expected to find that Flo was really Fay's mom. I also thought when they returned to the country Momma would already be dead.
2.I thought Cokee was going to give Fay AIDS. (I was really shocked that he turned out to be her hero.)
3. Did Steve ever say he loved Fay or did she make that assumption because that is how she felt? I always tease that I make men sign a prefuctual agreement before having sex because I know my mind will romanticize what is going on. so to save myself I demand all cards on the table as far as what we are to each other.
4. Finger was described physically, but I don't recall the potter being described (or was it Sammy?) I thought this was great because it made them less significant.
5. Even though Flo beat Fay, I really believe she loved her and sacrificed for her. I don't think she was so bad to Fay (although she was hell on the folks she murdered. YIKES). [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Sorry to be a hog, but I can't stay online at work. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
More later....Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
I too was thoroughly moved by the book. Makes you truly appreciate your own life when you realize that some people are just struggling to put food in their bodies. You can also understand why people can't get out of that cycle - if you have to worry about surviving, it makes it more difficult to concentrate and excel at anything else. For example, many times Fay/Clara was only interested in school because they fed her there.
The only thing I felt took away from the book were some of the dialogue sections which seemed forced and clunky. In particular, a scene at the bus yard.
I thought it was interesting how the situation was so similar to situations in American ghettos with one exception - there was a hope and that was to go "a farrin" (foreign). They really grasped on to that fact and when she went to Curacao she was able to lift herself up. So, where is the hope in America when you already live in the most prosperous country and are faced with similar problems?
I'm interested to hear more people's opinions.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
The character that stood out for me was Flo. Her commitment to make a way for Fay to have an education that would make her a better person financially which in turn will lift her up morally. Flo was a strong woman to the point of murder (as wrong as that is). She did what ever she needed to do to survive. By any means necessary.
I found the story depressing though as realistic as it is. Unwed mothering, poverty, drugs, murders, robberies. Flo would take up with any man if he could provide for her. When she started her own business making pottery - I applauded.
I found hope in Cokee and and Hans. Hope in the fact that something good could happen when you least expect it. I don't condone Cokee though. He was a criminal. The good out of this was his early demise. Young ladies shouldn't take up with drug slingers for money or anything else. I seen he had dreams. But he didn't live long enough to see if he was for real.
The story was presented as clear as looking out of a window that has just been thoroughly clean.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
I agree with Tigrr / I was suprised that Cokey turned out to be so good to Fay / Clara. I thought she'd get strung out with him.
I actually thought Steve was going to be her dream man (Silly me !)
I really expected Ma to be dead when they got back to the country.
Flo seemed to soften after the twins where born.
I hated Steves parents for the way that they treated Fay & Flo. I expected them (& Steve ) to come around after the babies were born.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[QB]I also assumed the author was in her 40's and was shocked to see her young face on the back jacket flap. That's a lot of life knowledge for such a young woman. Also a lot of writing skill because I had no trouble envisioning anything.
Me too !
I always tease that I make men sign a prefuctual agreement before having sex because I know my mind will romanticize what is going on. so to save myself I demand all cards on the table as far as what we are to each other.
This is necessary. I hear you on this.
.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
Mollyss I think the hope is better for an american born into poverty because of our numerous social programs. Also there is employment available in service industries for people with limited skills and education. If an American had Fay's ambition and determination they could take the same low-paying job and slowly build something for themselves. Granted she got a windfall in Hans' death, but if you notice she didn't come back to Kingston bling-blinging with gold and fancy clothes.
On a different note - as evil as this sounds, if I were Flo I would not have been able to resist (when Steven was shot and killed) the urge to walk across the street and say to his parents, "Well at least now there is a reason why my grandchildren are fatherless."Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
I was waiting for that to happen, but Flo took the high road. Don't think I would have had that much self control.Originally posted by Tigrrr:
[qb]
On a different note - as evil as this sounds, if I were Flo I would not have been able to resist (when Steven was shot and killed) the urge to walk across the street and say to his parents, "Well at least now there is a reason why my grandchildren are fatherless."[/qb]7/5th of all people do not understand fractions.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
Americans do not get one chance to earn a high school diploma. If you fail a class or do not score high enough on a standardized exam, you can go to night school, or sit through one more semester and try again.Originally posted by mollyss:
[qb]
I thought it was interesting how the situation was so similar to situations in American ghettos with one exception - there was a hope and that was to go "a farrin" (foreign). They really grasped on to that fact and when she went to Curacao she was able to lift herself up. So, where is the hope in America when you already live in the most prosperous country and are faced with similar problems?
I'm interested to hear more people's opinions.[/qb]
And a Tigrr stated, social programs abound here.
The only thing I thought took away from the book was that in the beginning when Clara was small she was able to understand and evaluate certain complex adult situations, but a few pages later, was baffled by other things. The text kind of flip-flopped between looking through the eyes of a child and looking through the eyes of an adult. I Found that kind of annoying, but once Clara grew up, it was all good. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]Originally posted by mollyss:
[qb]
The only thing I felt took away from the book were some of the dialogue sections which seemed forced and clunky. In particular, a scene at the bus yard.
[/qb]7/5th of all people do not understand fractions.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
Why do you all think the Obeah man told Flo she could never return to his yard? I am surprised that before putting a spell on someone, he didn't warn the person to think through the possible repercussions.
As far as high school. Months ago someone started a thread on how was high school for you and I remember one of the guys told a horrible tale of how miserable high school in Jamaica was for him because of the haves and have nots. I think about how we abused the free lunch ticket program in the US (we would forge our parents signature on the form saying there was 6 of us living on $6000 a year) so that we could mess over the free hot lunches. At that age, we had no idea how precious food could be to other people. We thought you were lucky if you qualified for free lunch.Comment
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Re: Greenwichtown Discussion
I really enjoyed this book. It goes by so quickly - I couldn't put it down because I didn't want to miss anything!!!!
I also wondered who was the inspiration for Fay/Clara....
and just how many people did Flo murder??? She was someone that you had to love/hate to me.
I was so sad when Cokie died!!! I thought that everything was going to work out for them, finally.Comment
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