Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson

I can’t believe this book was published in the late 90s, it was clearly ahead of its time (since dystopian stories are all the rage now). It kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what was going to happen next but feeling apprehensive at the same time because, well, Obeah (aka sorcery) can be creepy! It was great though, Hopkinson expertly blends traditional magic rituals and religion with a vivid and disturbingly believable dystopian future (set in Toronto). It added a depth to the story that reading just didn’t provide.

I thought Fernandez did a great job, and his Caribbean accents (among others) were sooo good. I didn’t mind that the narrator is a man reading for a female protagonist. More so than the kindle version I had but couldn’t finish. 'Never a dull moment' as an elder would say. She must fight the ultimate evil, which is a part of her own blood line, with the ultimate strength which is also within her lineage. The protagonist is forced to come into her own power and self-understanding despite an abrupt separation from her teacher. This story is strikingly similar to Nnedi Okorafor's Who Fears Death, but was written far earlier and in my opinion is stronger in its politic. The orisha names are different here than in my culture so it was fun to force my mind to reorient. With that said, it sparked my imagination in so many moments, especially with the Haitian practices that I'm unfamiliar with. The mysticism and playfulness is ancestral and makes me nostalgic. I love falling asleep to Nalo's books, it's like being read stories by my grandparents who have passed. I underestimated the narrator based off of the sample but he did a great story justice! This is so beautifully written, the patois feels like home.

I'm glad I found it in this form because it is truly enjoyable. I actually picked up this book a few years ago at the library and I was distracted by other books I couldn't get through it. If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be? I have never listened to Peter Jay Fernandez, and he is amazing! The story is written in a patois and he performs it in a way that is still understandable. Have you listened to any of Peter Jay Fernandez’s other performances before? How does this one compare? I love the Author's descriptive writing style, I can connect to the story and all my senses are activated. It does so in a way that does not demonize those who practice it. The story definitely has elements that challenge the western approach to healing and living. all exist in this story centered around one woman's quest to find herself. Social and Political, modern practice of ancestral practices, connecting with spirits, poverty, crime. I appreciate the story on all of its levels. What did you love best about Brown Girl in the Ring?

Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson