∎ [PDF] Free Small Island Andrea Levy 9780755307494 Books

Small Island Andrea Levy 9780755307494 Books

Download As PDF : Small Island Andrea Levy 9780755307494 Books

Small Island Andrea Levy 9780755307494 Books

I absolutely LOVED this book. Skillfully written with well-developed characters. This was the first time I'd ever read a book dealing with the subject of Jamaicans immigrating to England after WWII. It was an entirely unknown subject to me. The author made the subject come alive by showing the struggles from each of the four main characters' point of view as well as balancing their struggles with humor and heart.


Tags : Small Island [Andrea Levy] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Hortense shared Gilbert's dream of leaving Jamaica and coming to England to start a better life. But when she at last joins her husband,Andrea Levy,Small Island,Headline Book Pub Ltd,0755307496,Modern fiction,Fiction

Small Island Andrea Levy 9780755307494 Books Reviews

With so many books that address life pre/post World War II, found this one quite fresh as it dealt with the impact of the war from those colonized by the Brits. Very interesting how race was of little interest to the Brits, until the American's came (with money, men and supplies). With a new customer, the Brits accomodated the American values of race separation. Heartbreaking at times that those growing up in the British empire were considered second class citizens.

Regarding the plot, it takes a while to get going and soem of the characters are at times too one dimensional, but I have to say, I didn't expect the plot twist and overall, found the book an enjoyable read.
I absolutely loved this book. Levy is so talented in her character description. I loved every page of this book!
I loved this book! It is so dense and so unbelievably full of human folly that I cannot recommend it highly enough. Andrea Levy obviously did much historical research concerning the Jamaicans that came to England in the 40's to fight in the war. Not only are there prejudices and atrocities, but also sincere endearment concerning the flawed humanity of ALL of the characters.

Another thing that makes this book absolutely fantastic is that it is told by four different narrators, therefore, the perspectives are constantly changing and making the reader feel something new from chapter to chapter.

Levy's writing is realistic and vividly descriptive. Events within the novel are both wildly humorous and impossibly sad. In other words, I think she's done a phenomenal job of making sure her characters are not two dimensional. They are real, and because of that, one is able to deeply care for (and sometimes hate) them, which is what a true fictional experience is about. I believe Levy is a true master of her craft and I would read further works without reservation. This is a truly rich and rewarding read. Enjoy!
Well-written account of life in London during and just after WWII, with a clear view lof social and class relations, racial prejudice, and the struggle of black immigrants to find their place in a very class- and race-conscious society. It also shows up the viciousness of American attitudes to race through the account of encounters with GIs in England during the war. The characterization is excellent, and the author has captured the speech cadences of the various individuals with a musical ear. I enjoyed this book very much!
Small Island is on my Lit class book list. I loved this book and loved how Levy is able to present the point of view of the character without judgment. The reader is able to experience the characters struggle and understand their value system even when the view is contradictory to your own.

Levy breaks down the complex issues of race, racism and combines stratification of class, sex and race. We examine belonging and identity very moving at times. I felt sympathy for all the characters, but some more than others.

All multi-cultural schools should have this book available for their students.

I will be picking the essay questions around assessment time for this book.
Small Island is set in London in 1948. It focuses on the Jamaicans who leave their own "small island" to move to England, the Mother Country, for which the men have fought during World War II. Their reception is not the warm embrace they expected, nor are the opportunities for success as plentiful as they have dreamed. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one of four characters Britishers Queenie and her husband Bernard, and Jamaicans Gilbert and his wife Hortense. The author has a fine ear for the dialogue of both the Britishers and Jamaicans and brings a light, though real, touch to the issue of racial prejudice.
Small Island is a wonderful book. I first began to read it in a bookshop, couldn't put it down, but couldn't afford it at the time. I then read it from the beginning again in a Library copy, and finally bought it online and encouraged my wife to read it, which she did, and also thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are rich and vividly drawn; the intricate plot, with its rewinding of the same episodes from different perspectives is well done, and Levy has a delightful wit and humour. She presents black and white characters with all the foibles, without making one or other race superior to the other. And she creates various worlds - London after the War and during the War (the story weaves back and forth a good deal); the Caribbean, and Europe - without missing a beat. The details in this book are rich too, forever adding colour to the overall story. Highly recommended.
I absolutely LOVED this book. Skillfully written with well-developed characters. This was the first time I'd ever read a book dealing with the subject of Jamaicans immigrating to England after WWII. It was an entirely unknown subject to me. The author made the subject come alive by showing the struggles from each of the four main characters' point of view as well as balancing their struggles with humor and heart.