Good books featuring Tobago

Tom Purnell · Post by **Tom Purnell** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 6:36 pm

Just wanted to quickly mention 2 excellent books set in Tobago which are worth a read.

Firstly a novel for adults called Tide Running by Oonya Kempadoo. A thought provoking and elegantly written book which digs beneath the seemingly idyllic surface of Tobago life.

Secondly a superbly illustrated book for children called Gregory Cool, by Caroline Binch. My sons of 8 and 4 have really enjoyed looking at the book since we returned from our trip as it so effectively remonds them of their time on the island. A good, thoughtful storyline too.

Both widely available online - eg at Amazon etc - but have to say I didn't see either for sale in Tobago itself.

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:05 am

you don't get much books on the island at all! thats why we are always happy if someone leaves us a good read for our "guest library" and sad if people take a book from us home...
there used to be a bookshop on the way out of scarborough, but even this closed down. Trinidad has book shops, but still limited choice.
wish we could by more books about tobago here....

Mary Black · Post by **Mary Black** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:28 pm

hi brian
i'm hoping to get the tide running book before i travel to tobago 6/7 once i've read it your very welcome to it - i'll drop it off in castara if you let me know where to leave it
i always leave a few books behind wherever we stay
counting down

mary

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 6:58 pm

oh that would be EXCELLENT!

we are in little bay (down depot road) a lot, look out for the zebra-jeep and check the house on the very right (facung the sea) or we are at the mainroad beside the methodist church, at the taylor-house, thats where we live until our house on the beach is ready to finally move in...

if you don't come to castara for any reason, call alibabas cell 686 7957 and he will meet up with you somewhere.

we would appreciate that a lot.

especially READING STEPHANIE....

Tom Purnell · Post by **Tom Purnell** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:52 pm

For those wanting a bit more info about Tide Running here's a useful, and in my view fair, review:

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Caribbean island of Tobago is the setting for Oonya Kempadoo's second novel, Tide Running. The story's narrators are handsome, brooding Cliff, a reserved 20-year-old living in Plymouth, one of the roughest towns on the island, and Bella, a mixed-race woman who comes to live on Tobago with her English husband and young son.

While Cliff and his brother Ossie live in unemployed boredom and poverty with their mother, sister and baby niece (fathers and responsible adult males do not figure here), Bella and Peter--a high-flying corporate lawyer--live in a David Hockney-inspired architect-designed home fit for a film star. Surprisingly, an unlikely friendship develops. Although innocent at first, with the brothers happy to hang out at the house watching videos, or on day trips to the island¹s beaches, something darker, and unsettling, begins to surface. Street-wise, cheeky Ossie takes a back seat as his quieter brother slowly lowers his guard. Before long, Bella finds herself drawn to Cliff's striking beauty, and a sexual tension, charged with excitement and danger, hangs in the steamy Tobagan air. Unwittingly, though, it seems that Bella has unleashed a dangerous undercurrent and can only watch, helpless, as the backwash gathers speed and events spiral towards the inevitable.

Kempadoo has not only switched continents for Tide Running--her highly acclaimed debut Buxton Spice was set in Guyana--she has also changed tone, from the flowing exuberance of childhood sexual awakenings to an altogether more serious, troublesome tale of trust and responsibilities. If you can cut through the challenging Tobagan patois-this is not a book to be rushed--Tide Running is an illuminating, if disturbing tale of modern-day Caribbean life and the repercussions of Western culture.

Kate H · Post by **Kate H** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:00 pm

Thanks Tom!

I ordered the book (Oonya Kempadoo's second novel, Tide Running) today at my favorite book store. They didn't have it in stock (not available at Amazon???) and it took a while to find a place to order it from. I am always interested in getting under the skin of a place - to learn and understand the culture and the history even if it's just from a book. I have read many other books about Caribbean islands but never found a story situated in Tobago. So I'm looking forward to this read and thank you very much for the tip!

p.s. when finished reading, I'll leave it where ever I've stayed in Castara

Robert Wiseman · Post by **Robert Wiseman** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:53 pm

Robinson Crusoe is another good one!

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:25 am

Did a bit of Googling for Oonya Kempadoo and discovered that she was born in England in 1966 (when England last won the world cup

) of Guyanese Parents.
She now lives on Grenada.

Also found a couple of chapters of Tide Running here -
http://people.brunel.ac.uk/~acsrrrm/ent ... mpadoo.pdf

If anyone wants a sneek preview.

Cheers
Steve

Roland Siebenhorn · Post by **Roland Siebenhorn** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:13 am

It wasn't a goal!

David Watkins · Post by **David Watkins** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:10 am

Hi All,I've tried to order to order Tide Running to be told it is out of print and is in the process of a reprint which is due in September.As luck would have it,the reprint run is being done in Cornwall- a pal of mine works there so I shall see if I can "acquire"a copy!!!!

Cheers David

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:29 pm

It's a small world David

Gisela Grell · Post by **Gisela Grell** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:46 pm

Hi All,

I saw the book Tide Running at www,amazon.com as used book. I normally buy used books because I read a lot and it helps me to save a lot of money? Is this an opportunity?

Cheers

Tom Purnell · Post by **Tom Purnell** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 5:09 am

Good to see lots of interest in the Kempadoo book. http://www.abebooks.co.uk and http://www.abebooks.com are also good places to buy this book - as the link below shows seem to be quite a few available and at good prices.

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Searc ... =tide&x=48

Paul Williams · Post by **Paul Williams** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 7:25 am

For those in the UK you can find both books at Tesco.com and we have already bought Gregory Cool for our grandson and it is a superbly illustrated book with a story line which will appeal to even adults who love the Tobago we try to portray.
I have not yet got Tide Running but will do soon.
Regards
Paul