Greenwichtown Discussion

[tuffstuff]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

I am proud of you, Ms. Joyce Palmer that you were able to get your book published and your story heard. Must not have been an easy feat, but you made it nonetheless!! Congrats. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Let me mumble that I haven't really completely thoroughly finished reading it yet, but mi still proud, so oonu lef me alone. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Anyway, i'm wondering about portrayal of men. Seems like towards the end there was at least one redeeming man. Good [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As you mentioned Joyce, there're are many fatherless children, but do they have no inkling as to who daddy is? Don't the neighbors talk? I was surprised that 'family' was not really valued in the book-- where were the grandmothers, adopted aunties, etc? (Did Fay go bsck home to see mom n sibs? No no tell mi, mi a guh read ei in time). That's my experience of Jcans, but sound like it was way different from yours. Why wasn't the family closer and they never questioned that? Maybe that means talking about your own family, which might be hard to do?

[Pepper]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Originally posted by rayna:
[qb]. Its a mandated law in the USA that all children go to school and this should be the case all over the world. Ms. Palmer presented a history lesson in her book. Continuous prayer is needed for this world we live in. [/qb]

rayna,

question, in the USA it is law that children go to school, if every parent had to find money for books, car fare and lunch money...how many poor children would have an attendance record like Fay's?

Even though it is law here in the states, and books are free, lunch is free and transportation is provided, many children still do not go to school everyday. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

BTW, Children are required to attend school in Jamaica. But the infrastructure (truant officers, guidance counselors, etc) is almost non-existant due to lack of available funds. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[joyce palmer]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Hi Everyone,
Quite a few people were wondering about the river....
The river was a metaphor for Fay Myrtle. Even though Fay was happier living in the country with her mother Miss Voy, she still had a life WITHOUT guarantees, especially of having meals on a permanent basis. Her life was reliant on Miss Voy's ability to provide food for her. The river on the other hand was a permamnet fixture in Fay's life and unlike the transient availabilty of food the river was always there, and this feature made Fay connect with it in a surealist sort of way.
About the inklings of who the daddy is..... In all honesty what I have seen and experienced is that to the men who sow their seeds in the wind, without going back to take care of the tree, they don't care if neighbors talk. It is an accepted reality in Jamaica to have several baby mothers and it is also an accepted reality for children to be fatherless. Not all Jamaican men are like that. THERE ARE GOOD JAMAICAN MEN (smile)
In Greenwichtown, I wanted to express Fay's story as it relates to single motherhood. On the other hand I also wanted to express the fact that are good Jamaican men as well. For example, Cokee was a good man to Fay(even though he was a theif and a drug user)and Stumpy was a single father who was taking care of his child and I am sure that Stumpy would be good to Fay. I did not want to condemn a whole island of men. I just wanted to express that it all depended on which guy a girl choosed.
About Fay not knowing about her father. I wrote the story through Fay's life, and without saying it, I wanted to imply that the manner in which Fay ended up with 2 children and no father was probably the same way in which her mother, Miss Voy ended up with all those children and no fathers around.

[BND1999]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Thank you very much Joyce for agreeing to be a part of this discussion.. all of your responses only added to the depth,understanding and respect I had for these characters...this is a book I will not soon forget and one I will definitely give others to read. Please let us know when your other book comes out... nina

[yardgal]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

I loved this book. Congrats Ms Palmer on a great book. My grandmother always said the disgrace is not to fall but it is to lie there. I am glad you were able to get up or land on your feet after twins. While reading the book I was stunned that poverty of that kind was in Ja. Yes I am Jamaican and we were not rich but I did go to high school in Jamaica partly and then finished here. As you said in the country there was always ackee mango or something on the trees where as in your part of the country you had to buy if you want to eat. Uppermost in my mind while reading this book was the question"does this really happen in the ghetto area? Are there really people that are that poor that can't find food for the next meal?" Going back to Jamaica over the years it has been my dream to try to go to these areas and bring a barrel and share out some food. I know the people are proud. And how do you know the people who seh dem need don't really need it. We know they have some 'gravelicious' people out deh who only think about themselves and not people who nuh have nobody a farrin. I hope this makes sense but I was trying to gather my thoughts while getting ready for work. Again congratulations on a great book Ms. Palmer.

[mountaingal]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Thanks, Ms. Palmer, for explaining the river metaphor, and for participating in this discussion.

BND and the other participants, this has been truly a great thread, thanks for making it happen.

[Scarlet]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

I'm late, as usual. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I thought the book was excellent. I picked it up on a Friday evening with BND's urging and didn't put it down until almost 3:00 AM, finished in one sitting. I haven't read a book which was so compelling or thought provoking in years.

I'm so glad that Joyce was able to participate in the discussion, I've read the other posts and there is nothing more I can really add.

[Guest]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Scarlet:
[QB]I'm late, as usual. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Never too late. Good to see you posting !

[Tigrrr]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Did I remember to thank Joyce?

Thank you!

I just remember another theme throughout the book that frightened me - the value the characters placed on life and death.

1) It seemed as if deaths occurred easily and with limited remorse on the parts of the killers.

2) Death seemed like an event with people running down the streets to see the bodies. Very little fear of death. (By contrast, if someone told me there was a dead body at the corner of the street, I wouldn't even pass by that corner for a month.)

3) Then the nigh night (I always thought this was "nine nights" - thanks for schooling me) seems like a party (except to the closest family members).

4) I know in the book a lot of the poor people were cremated, but I've known people throw nigh nights for relatives (who I considered relatively poor) and I always wondered how in the heck do they pay for that? Is it considered shameful to not throw a nigh night?

[joyce palmer]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Hi everyone,
About the perception of death.
It is true that most people will NOT want to go see a dead body but in the ghettos where I grew up, it was an accepted part of life to go and look at dead people before the body was carted off by the police. So in a sense you become used to it. As I child I hated seeing the bodies but this was what the adults did. Nigh-nights are sort of a tribute to the dead person but for the living person who is poor, it simply means a free meal. The funerals of people in the ghetto is another thing. I remember when there was a funeral people would get very dressed up, and part of the main event was to see all the people so "bushed out." in such expensive and beautiful clothes despite their poverty.

[joyce palmer]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS
TO EVERYONE for reading Greenwichtown and taking part in the discussion.
I really enjoyed the comments and positive feedback. And yes, oh yes I will definitely keep you guys posted on my future novels (smile)
If it is not too much trouble would you guys post a review of Greenwichtown at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. (Nina, I know you already did ; ) I would sincerely appreciate it. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Once again thanks for allowing me to be part of such an enjoyable experience. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
joyce.
[email protected]

[Guest]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Thank you Joyce for participating in this discussion. I will post a review, and look forward to reading your next bok.

[Pepper]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Thanks JP for sharing your thoughts and answering our questions.

I'll be sure to post a review on your book.

[rayna]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

Even though it is law here in the states, and books are free, lunch is free and transportation is provided, many children still do not go to school everyday.

Pepper, right you are.

[brownie2]

Re: Greenwichtown Discussion

I am an avid reader and have not read this book as yet. However, after reading this online discussion I intend to purchase from Barnes & Noble on Friday and am anxiously awaiting the reading!

I married into the Jamaican culture and many times I do not understand why he thinks and does things in the manner that he does but many of the posts here have reinforced my knowledge that being poor is a sad state of existence that does not always go away when "you make it out". We Americans tend to take so much for granted and then don't understand why so many (not just Jamaicans) want to come to the States by any means necessary.

I can't imagine getting my first pair of shoes at the age of 5!!!

I can not wait to read this book and I have a feeling that I will passing it along to my children to read also.