How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House
Shortlisted for the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction
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4.2 • 6 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Women's Prize for Fiction 2021
SHORTLISTED
'Jones's atmospheric debut has a multiracial, multigenerational cast who are brilliantly and even-handedly portrayed' Sunday Times
'Rare is the first book that reveals the writer fully formed, the muscles and sinews of her sentences firm and taut, the voice distinctly her own' Washington Post
'A hard-hitting and unflinching novel from a bold new writer' Bernardine Evaristo
'A bright new star. Cherie Jones draws us with skill, delicacy and glorious style into a vortex of Bajan lives on the edge' Diana Evans
In Baxter's Beach, Barbados, Lala's grandmother Wilma tells the story of the one-armed sister, a cautionary tale about what happens to girls who disobey their mothers.
For Wilma, it's the story of a wilful adventurer, who ignores the warnings of those around her, and suffers as a result.
When Lala grows up, she sees it offers hope - of life after losing a baby in the most terrible of circumstances and marrying the wrong man.
And Mira Whalen? It's about keeping alive, trying to make sense of the fact that her husband has been murdered, and she didn't get the chance to tell him that she loved him after all.
HOW THE ONE-ARMED SISTER SWEEPS HER HOUSE is the powerful, intense story of three marriages, and of a beautiful island paradise where, beyond the white sand beaches and the wealthy tourists, lies poverty, menacing violence and the story of the sacrifices some women make to survive.
'An extraordinarily hard-hitting and evocative novel that packs a tremendous punch with its repercussions of generational trauma, pin-sharp characterisations and strong sense of place' Daily Mail
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jones's intense debut explores the poverty and crime in Baxter's Beach, Barbados, amid an explosive collision between tourists and locals. The place, called Paradise by foreigners and residents alike, turns out to be a living hell for two women whose lives are changed by one horrific incident. Lala, a local hair braider, is stuck in a turbulent marriage to Adan, a burglar. Mira Whalen, a former local who now lives in London, is vacationing with her English husband, Peter, at their beachfront villa. One night, Lala is on the beach, in labor and about to give birth. Adan, meanwhile, is nowhere to be found. Lala stumbles upon the Whalens' mansion and presses the buzzer for help. She hears a gunshot and Adan rushes out, an ear-piercing shriek following on his heels. A parallel narrative follows Mira dealing with the aftermath of Peter's murder by Adan, while a detective works the case, and more violence ensues as Lala and Mira's lives eventually collide. Rich characters and pulsing backstories add a great deal of flavor to the drama. Jones is off to a strong start.
Customer Reviews
Powerful but depressing
Author
Barbadian. (Like Rihanna). Lawyer whose short fiction has appeared in various literary journal.s This is her first novel.
In brief
The poor people of Baxter's Beach, Barbados eke out a living providing menial services and selling drugs to rich white folk, both residents and tourists. Lala, the main protagonist, is a heavily pregnant teenager, whose BF shoots a white dude during a robbery gone wrong the day our gal ends up giving birth. The baby dies. The BF disappears. The grief stricken white neighbour is having a bad time of it too. Cue ongoing misery featuring poverty, sexual abuse, more poverty, domestic violence, crime, prostitution and murder.
Writing
Powerful, at times heart rending, prose that maintains a distinct Caribbean "feel" without excessive use of creole which, while popular in novels from the region nowadays (Marlon James, I'm looking at you), can become a trifle wearing for, dare I say it, old white guys like me. Sorry, I spoke. What would I know?
Bottom line
Powerful tale that relies on familiar literary tropes despite the tropical setting. Consider increasing your SNRI dose before you start reading.