Small Island

by Andrea Levy | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 075530750x Global Overview for this book
Registered by pennina of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on 1/23/2005
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12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by pennina from Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Sunday, January 23, 2005
I just bought this today - quick resume

Gilbert Joseph was one of several thousand men who joined the RAF to fight against Hitler. Returning to England as a civilian he finds himself treated very differently.

Journal Entry 2 by pennina from Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, January 27, 2005
This is a book I can put down. I have to, just to digest what I've read so far. It's going to take me a while to read this, evoking as it does so many memories and seeing - even hearing - things from many years ago that now make a different kind of sense to me. I think I could write a book about this book. If it doesn't make you (the reader)writhe I think that can only be because you're very much younger than I am, and even so has anything really changed?

Journal Entry 3 by pennina from Brighton & Hove, East Sussex United Kingdom on Friday, February 4, 2005
What can I say? I couldn't even finish this book but just skimmed the end. I grew up in 1950's London suburbia. There were no children of any other colour than white in the schools that I went to. It breaks my heart now to think that my parents allowed me to believe that immigrant families enjoyed living in cramped conditions because that was how they wanted lived. As a child, it would never have occurred to me that they had no choice. I don't remember my parents ever made a statement that could have been construed as racist. The fact that they said nothing at all speaks volumes.

Journal Entry 4 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 8, 2005
I have enjoyed reading this novel tremendously, though perhaps "enjoyed" is not the most appropriate word to use.

The issues Levy tackles, of Empire, racism, war and migration, are big ones and generated much heated discussion, even argument, at my reading group yesterday evening.

Thinking about what Pennina has written above, I'd suggest that while there undoubtedly was a varying degree of racism displayed by white British to the Jamaicans, both as service personnel and as civilian arrivals, it's not *entirely* the case that people like Gilbert and Hortense were in poor accommodation simply because of their colour. Given the amount of housing stock which Britain lost to bombing in the war, it was inevitable that many whites too ended up living in cramped and sub-standard housing during and after the war.

When I discussed this with my partner, he commented that when he was a child, some close relatives of one of his parents started their married life in London in a single room, probably very similar to that rented by Gilbert and Hortense, in the mid-1950s. Similarly, when my parents married in Middlesbrough in 1953 it was considered remarkable by their friends and families that they were able to begin married life in their own home (a small terraced house) rather than in a room in the house of one set of in-laws, but they could only afford to do so by getting married on the cheap, forgoing the usual one-week honeymoon in the Lake District and delaying starting a family for about 5 years.

The reality was that there was a huge shortage of housing for *many* people, not just black immigrants, in the UK during and in the decade following the war.

It's also significant, I think, that Queenie's neighbours were as hostile to the idea of having bombed-out East End slum-dwellers billeted in their street as they were to Queenie's later renting out her rooms to immigrants. I'd suggest, therefore, that social class, as well as racism, has to be taken into account.

I had also read previously that *one* of the catalysts for the civil rights movement in the US in later decades came from black GIs posted to the UK realising that relations between blacks and whites *could* be different from those they experienced in the US - picked up by Levy both in her dealing with the cinema riot and in the conversation between Gilbert and the two black GIs to whom he gave a lift in his lorry.

This is one of those novels I could comment on almost endlessly but I guess I'd better shut up and post it to BlossomU. In any event I'll certainly be looking out for more of Levy's novels.

Journal Entry 5 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Wednesday, June 29, 2005
A very kind and much appreciated RABCK from pennina. As it's been so highly acclaimed by the critics I'm now offering it as a bookray. Thank you pennina.

RULES

1. The bookring is open to anyone, anywhere who is in “good-standing” but you must be able and willing to ship internationally if required. Surface mail is fine as the book is quite heavy for a paperback. “Good-standing” means that you have a good record of reading and forwarding ring and ray books or are otherwise active in releasing, RABCKing or trading in BC. No collectors, in other words. (If anyone spots a "collector" on the proposed reading list, can you please let me know by PM?)

2. Read and forward the book within 4 weeks of receipt if possible, otherwise 6 weeks.

3. Journal the book on receipt, again with your review when you've finished reading it and finally when you post it to the next reader. If anything crops up to delay your reading it within the expected timeframe (eg, illness, family crisis, etc) please make another entry so everyone knows what's going on.

Participants so far (subject to shuffling):

1. BlossomU - Lisbon, Portugal
2. GirlFromIpanema - Erfurt, Germany
3. Sternschnuppe28 - Mainz, Germany
4. Brujula - Belfort, France
5. spiderchic - Rochdale, UK
6. loveamystery - Vancouver, BC, Canada
7. lauraloo29 - Edmonton, Canada
8. honey1982 - Ottawa, ONT, Canada
9. dospescados - Chittenango, NY, USA <--- Here (12 June 2006)
10. LoveTeaAndBooks - Clarksville, TN, USA
11. bishop75 - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
12.
13.

Journal Entry 6 by Fellraven from Redditch, Worcestershire United Kingdom on Monday, July 4, 2005
Posted to BlossomU by Printed Papers airmail today.

Journal Entry 7 by BlossomU on Wednesday, July 6, 2005
it has just arrived, am very curious, thanks fellraven and pennina! I got to finish another book before starting this but hope to have it moving fast!

Journal Entry 8 by BlossomU on Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Finished last night, shipped it today to GirlfromIpanema, big thanks Fellraven and pennina I was so curious about it.

I thought it moving and instructive, I wish we had heard more from Celia. I expected something more of this book, maybe some plot dazzlement, something else, don´t know why I had such expectations. Very interesting, thanks all!

Journal Entry 9 by FullCircle from Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein Germany on Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Thanks, BlossomU, it arrived Monday and I picked it up at the Post Office yesterday. I already read about 35 pages. We've been discussing "racism in the UK" in our family (my "brother in law" in England is Nigerian), and I am interested in a different look on Britain.

Journal Entry 10 by FullCircle from Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein Germany on Monday, September 26, 2005
Sorry for the long stay of this book. I've had a lot of stress the last two months, but from Oct. 1, I will have 3 weeks of holidays! I have read about half of the book, but will finish it next week, and then it will be ready to travel on!

Journal Entry 11 by FullCircle from Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein Germany on Thursday, November 10, 2005
On its way to Sternschnuppe!

Journal Entry 12 by Sternschnuppe28 from Flörsheim am Main, Hessen Germany on Monday, November 14, 2005
Thanks a lot for this bookring!

Journal Entry 13 by Sternschnuppe28 from Flörsheim am Main, Hessen Germany on Monday, December 19, 2005
Time is passing by, and I have not managed to read "Small Island". I just did not find the peace to let me into the story. It is ok though. Today I finally mailed it Brujula. Thanks again for sharing.

Journal Entry 14 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Thursday, December 22, 2005
The book arrived safely in Belfort today!

I have an overwhelming to be read pile, but I will try to read it within one month!

Journal Entry 15 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Tuesday, January 31, 2006
I really liked this book, and when I turned the last page, I just wished it would go on a little longer, so I could stay with all the characters, see Hortense and Gilbert and Queenie, and Bernard, what they become, how they change...
A very good read, although I had a little trouble with the english in the beginning!

Thank you very much for ringing this, Fellraven!
I'll mail it to Spiderchic this week, as I already have her adress.

Journal Entry 16 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Received today. Am in the middle of a book so as soon as I have finished that I shall get straight on to this!

Thank you

Journal Entry 17 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Sunday, February 26, 2006
I found this book really interesting, I almost wish though that Queenie and Hortense had realised the link between them with Michael.

Shall PM loveamystery for their address. Thank you for sharing!

Book sent out today - 9th March!

Journal Entry 18 by loveamystery from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, March 23, 2006
Arrived in yesterday's mail. Can't wait to read it.

Journal Entry 19 by loveamystery from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, April 12, 2006
I absolutely loved this book. Having been married to a Jamaican man for over thirty-five years now, I could appreciate the shock of racism experienced in the "Mother country" by Michael,Gilbert and Hortense.The thoughts and expressions of Jamaicans about England were priceless. I laughed out loud at times. It was a beautifully written book with great depth of character. Perhaps Queenie and Bernard will deepen their relationship in the future. I want to see a sequel to this book. It truly is a small island - Hortense has Michael's child to raise.

Journal Entry 20 by loveamystery from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, April 13, 2006
Thank you Fellraven for sharing. I have now purchased my own copy and may even start another ring sometime. This book is now on its way to lauraloo29.

Journal Entry 21 by winglauraloo29wing from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Arrived yesterday. I'm in the middle of a another ring, but I'll get to this soon. Thank you!

Update - April 26th - started reading today.

Journal Entry 22 by winglauraloo29wing from Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Friday, April 28, 2006
I have been trying to read this book. But I have successfully avoided reading for the last 2 days! Not sure what the problem is. I find I'm interested in Hortense, but I can't seem to get into the story. I have a growing TBR pile, so I'll send this on its way on Monday. Thank you for sharing!

Journal Entry 23 by honey1982 from Ottawa, Ontario Canada on Wednesday, May 10, 2006
It has arrived. I already started reading it. I noticed that dospescados is moving at the end of this month, so I will most likely wait to mail this book until closer to the end of the month. Having read the rules, I will ensure that this happens within the 4 week time frame. I will journal it as soon as I have finished reading it. If there are any objections, please pm me. This will also give me a chance to read and send her an RABCK, since I have a book she has on her wishlist.

Journal Entry 24 by honey1982 from Ottawa, Ontario Canada on Friday, May 19, 2006
I really enjoyed the book and am sad to read that a few didn't get a chance to finish it. I loved all the relationships. Everything was relative. I too wished that Hortense and Queenie realized their relationship to Michael. I was absolutely astonished to read all the racist comments. My perception of what happens after a war was slighly different. I always assumed everyone was full of love. I think I got that idea from the baby boom. Thanks again for sharing. I will post this next week.

Sending this out June 5th as per dospescados's request. So that she may have a little time to settle into her new place before being bombarded with mail.

Journal Entry 25 by dospescados on Monday, June 12, 2006
Thanks, I'm looking forward to this!

Journal Entry 26 by christymichelle at Patagonia, Arizona USA on Friday, January 11, 2013
Found this today at the library. Can't wait to start it

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