Cecil Browne

"Nostalgic but not sentimental", September 22, 2014

This review is from: The Moon is Following Me (Paperback)
Six quite enjoyable short stories that capture the essence of St Vincent. Schooldays...a tentative courtship...forming a band.
I liked 'Taste for Freedom', where the narrator goes off to seek his fortune once emancipation comes, leaving behind the plantation where workers are paid in commodities:
"Damn codfish, blasted brown sugar that rot your teeth, evil white rum that scald your insides like black coffee straight off the coal pot: if you live on Prescott Estate that is the reward for your labour."
Also 'Action Action', where Mrs Goodridge is all a-jitter (not in a good way) at the news that her husband, working for the last twelve years on a London Railway, is coming home...
And the very sad 'Spanish Ladies'.
I can't say these are massively memorable, but they are well-written and a pleasant read.… (mer)