Tags
Book Review, Caribbean Fiction, Guyanese-Canadian Artist Joan Bryan-Muss, Guyanese-Canadian Author Ken Puddicombe, Multicultural Fiction, Under the Tamarind Tree: A Novel by Rosaliene Bacchus
Great news! I’ve received the first review of my debut novel, Under the Tamarind Tree, soon to be released. The reviewer, Guyana-born Ken Puddicombe, is the author of three historical novels Racing With the Rain (2012), Junta (2014), and Down Independence Boulevard & Other Stories (2017). He lives in Toronto, Canada, where he owns and runs a small press.
Do check out his review.
COVER ART BY GUYANESE-CANADIAN ARTIST JOAN BRYAN-MUSS
UNDER THE TAMARIND TREE Copyright 2019 By Rosaliene Bacchus 284 pgs Published by Lulu Press, Inc. USA Review by Ken Puddicombe The fruit of the Tamarind Tree holds a puzzling allure to people in the tropics, its tangy and acidic fruit devoured obsessively, even as it stimulates the taste buds with spasms of unpleasantness […]
via Book Review: Under The Tamarind Tree by Rosaliene Bacchus — Ken Puddicombe -Writer
Three Worlds One Vision 
Congratulations on that excellent review Rosaliene. I’m looking forward to reading when it is available.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Pauline. I appreciate your support ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
A thorough, well written review by one who knows the subject. Congratulations, Rosaliene
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading the review, Derrick. I would imagine that very few people in Britain knew about the then British Guiana’s tumultuous struggle for independence from Britain and the ties that bind the Caribbean with your country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right. As you know, I hadn’t known about British Guiana. The first men from the Caribbean I ever met were key figures in my cricket club – that was in 1957 – we were very good friends. At 15 I regarded them as father figures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Derrick, in those days the top Guyanese batsmen and bowlers were our heroes. The West Indies Cricket Team made us proud when they won the World Cup 1975 under Guyanese captain, Clive Lloyd. By no coincidence, the 1953 troop invasion took place on the opening day of an inter-colonial cricket match with Trinidad at the Bourda Cricket Ground in Georgetown, when most everyone was following the cricket match.
Based on photos available online of that day, some of the British soldiers went to Bourda Green to meet the cricketers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rosie
Think British sent their “Black watch”
Scottish troops to invade BG.
Wore kilts and blew bag pipes !
They were famous for their “ruthless”
barbarism in WW1/2
Take no prisoners !
Kamtan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kamtan, based on an article “British regiments in British Guiana” by David Granger (now President of Guyana), the Royal Welsh Fusiliers were the first to arrive on October 8, 1953. The Scottish Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders took over two weeks later on October 21, 1953.
LikeLike
I well remember Clive Lloyd, but not that he was Guyanese – that, to my shame, says it all
LikeLiked by 1 person
No shame at all, Derrick. You admired him for his performance and skill, not for his country of birth. Where we were born has become a big issue now in America. Shame on us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Rosie
Wish you luck with publication
Will certainly read and review/comment.
Kamtan
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Kamtan 🙂 Lots of luck together with a big dose of persistence.
LikeLike
Congratulations, first on finding a publisher, and on the review. May there be many more books and enthusiastic reviews!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for your continued support, Dr. Stein ❤
To get my work out, I finally opted to self-publish with LULU author services press. Lulu personnel assigned to my project have been very supportive throughout each stage of the production process. It's been a long journey. Just a few more steps ahead before publication.
LikeLike
Congrats! Best of luck with your novel.
Neil Scheinin
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Neil 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Congratulations. I’ll buy a copy when it comes out. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for your support, John 🙂
LikeLike
Congrats! Wonderful review…looking forward to reading your novel.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks on both counts, Decker 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on the upcoming publication!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, River 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations Rosaliene.
We will feature your book on the Guyanese Online list of Authors..
All the best.
Cyril
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Cyril. Much appreciated 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Book Review: Under The Tamarind Tree by Rosaliene Bacchus — Ken Puddicombe -Writer | Guyanese Online
Thanks for sharing, Cyril. Have a great week 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations are definitely in order. A good review for the book which must have been a challenging write by the sound of it. I hope it finds its way ‘up there’ with the other best sellers.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks, Sha’Tara. It was, indeed, challenging to write. I questioned myself several times along the journey toward its completion.
LikeLike
What a good review of what appears to be a fascinating and little known piece of important history.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Denzil. I hope I do it justice in my retelling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations Rosaliene on your first review! Your novel sounds fascinating from both a historical and personal point of view. What a tumultuous time that must have been for the Guyanese people. Wishing you great success with publication!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks on both counts, Henry 🙂 Tragically, they were traumatic events that continue to fuel the racist/ethnic divide in present-day Guyana.
LikeLike
Congratulations, Ros. I hope it becomes a best-seller!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Robert 🙂 I’m not setting my hopes that high, but it’s a writer’s dream.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Angela 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations dear Rosaliene. Will read it soon.❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Laleh 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure.
LikeLike
Well done, a great reviewer and excellent review for your book! -Rebecca
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Rebecca 🙂 I, too, thought it was an excellent review. Hoping that there will be more to come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, this is just the beginning! So exciting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
CONGRATS, ROSALIENE!!! Finally your debut novel – rich reflections of Guyana back in the days. And an excellent review by Ken Puddicombe.
My first glance at the Review reminded me of a long time ago we talked a little about getting your book, Under The Tamarind Tree, in print. Hopefully I’d be fortunate to get an author’s signature copy when the book is available. Meanwhile, here is a poem written almost a decade ago about ‘the tamarind tree’ I wish to share:
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/and-then-she-was-gone-part-iii/
And Then She Was Gone
I stood there
under the tamarind tree
listening to the rain
and the hooting of owls
and realized she was
looking at me
with folded arms
while she leaned on the tombstone.
I wanted to go to her
but somehow my feet were wet
and wedged in the veined roots
of the tamarind tree.
But I did not take my eyes
away from her
thinking how cold
she was in the rain.
Then I heard the owl
hooting louder than before
beckoning me to rescue her.
She did not move
a blade of her trestles
as I approached her
with my black overall
ready to make her warm
as the moonlight
chased the shadows
in the graveyard.
I reached the cross
she was leaning on
but she was no longer there
only her laughter
filled the air
leaving me to wonder
who was she.
[September 7, 2011] Leonard Dabydeen
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Leonard 🙂 Yes, it has been a long journey since I first completed the novel in 2014. Beautiful poem.
LikeLike
When
you
cannot
fail to try
you rise up again
to make your dreams happen with joy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Rosaliene. Great review.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Dr. Bramhall. Glad that you dropped by 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations on this in-depth and intelligent review. The book sounds fascinating on many levels. Looking forward!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree, JoAnna, Puddicombe did a great job! Thanks for your support 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such wonderful news, Rosaliene, and a powerful review! Congratulations, dear friend. I look forward to reading your work! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, my friend 🙂 I appreciate your support ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations Rosaliene!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Judy 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Rosaliene🙂
LikeLike
love the cover design
simple and homey
love tamarind too
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for dropping by, KRC 🙂 Glad you love the cover. I like the artist’s juxtaposition of a violent act with the tranquility of the landscape. Danger lurks even within our quiet, village communities.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations!.. and thank you for sharing your thoughts!!.. I have made note of the title and I will be looking for the book…. 🙂
“The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.” – Joel Brown
LikeLiked by 2 people
I appreciate your support, Dutch 🙂 My book will be officially released on Monday, August 12th, when I’ll be providing the link for obtaining a copy.
Joel Brown’s inspirational words–pinned to the clip board above my work desk–carried me through those early days when I embarked on the journey of writing Under the Tamarind Tree.
LikeLike
smiling to your
success, Rosaliene!
i look forward to
being buried
in your book 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m smiling with you, David 🙂 Thanks. It’s been such a long struggle to this moment that I haven’t yet allowed myself to celebrate. I appreciate your support and hope that, after “being buried in [my] book” you will resurrect with the protagonist, Richard Cheong 🙂
LikeLike
Congrats on the new book and fantastic review, Rosaliene! Sharing…
LikeLiked by 2 people
A big thank you, Bette! Much appreciated 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Rosalienne, but all I get from your latest post, “Book Release – Under the Tamarind Tree: A Novel by Rosaliene Bacchus” is “Page Not Found.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry about that, Sha’Tara. I published it today in error. My book release is scheduled for Monday, August 12th.
LikeLike
Excellent review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by, Chocoviv 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice, Rosaliene! Hope you sell a million!
LikeLiked by 3 people
If only, Tom! Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
YAAAY! Congrats Rosaliene! I’m off to read the review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kathy!
LikeLike
Congrats to this wonderful review, Rosaliene! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Puddicombe’s review is, indeed, a gift for this newbie author. Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just read the review and it sounds wonderful! Congrats on your debut!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kristina! So glad that you dropped by 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person