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Born under the Wrong Sun
Immerse yourself in the vibrant landscapes of the Caribbean and the lives of Jessie from Oxford, Marceau, a French drummer and a Haitian blues singer, Mari-jo. The story begins in 2012. Mari-jo and Mackenzie want a child, but someone has put a spell on them, and they are told that they must leave the island if they want a family. Mari-jo leaves for Guadeloupe and waits for Mackenzie to join her. This is where their story merges with the lives of Jessie and Marceau, a French drummer. Jessie and Marceau are in love, his band is going places, so why on the eve of a big contract, does he disappear? The band despatch Jessie to Marceau’s native island of Guadeloupe to look for him, but he cannot be found. Soon Jessie discovers that the elusive Marceau she is chasing is not the man she knew. Who is Marceau really and what is the Haitian singer to him? An extraordinary journey filled with love, courage and mystery. This is a novel that will linger long after you have turned the last page.
378 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 31, 2023
Talented musician Marceau disappears from Oxford without explanation as his band is set to sign a big contract. His girlfriend Jessie and her friend Laura travel to the French island of Guadeloupe to discover what has happened to him.
Intertwined with this narrative is another concerning a Haitian couple, Mari-Jo and Mackenzie, who are desperate to escape their poor existence and build a new life in better surroundings.
This is an immersive storyline, blending the stories of all the main characters as we are taken back in time to understand how they are all connected.
It is a story of resilience, determination, and at times desperation, as all the characters fight for a better future. It is emotionally charged and not always an easy read, but the subject matter is sensitively handled by Michèle Callard.
The story was engaging throughout and I found it a compelling read.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Booksirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Intertwined with this narrative is another concerning a Haitian couple, Mari-Jo and Mackenzie, who are desperate to escape their poor existence and build a new life in better surroundings.
This is an immersive storyline, blending the stories of all the main characters as we are taken back in time to understand how they are all connected.
It is a story of resilience, determination, and at times desperation, as all the characters fight for a better future. It is emotionally charged and not always an easy read, but the subject matter is sensitively handled by Michèle Callard.
The story was engaging throughout and I found it a compelling read.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Booksirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2023
Born Under the Wrong Sunby Michele Callard is a beautifully written story filled with compelling characters, an intriguing plot, and extensive travel across England, Guadeloupe, Haiti, and India. The settings are diverse, the characters multi-ethnic, and the descriptions of places are meticulously crafted and seamlessly integrated into the narrative.
The story begins in Oxford, England, where talented musician Marceau mysteriously disappears just as his band is about to sign a career altering contract. His girlfriend, Jessie, accompanied by her friend Laura, embarks on a journey to the French island of Guadeloupe to uncover the truth about Marceau's disappearance. There she comes to believe that he is not the man she thought she knew. Nothing is what it seems to be and after many wrong turns, Jessie finds a truth that had eluded her all her life.
During her quest, Jessie encounters Mari-jo, a Haitian blues singer fleeing from a Voudou spell. Through Mari-jo, the reader delves into the tragic tale of Mari-Jo and Mackenzie as they escape Haiti's desperate conditions, seeking a better life in the face of challenges. The narrative skillfully weaves these storylines together, accelerating the pace and culminating in a love story set against a well-researched backdrop.
Callard’s writing brings the colours, sights, smells, and sounds of England, India and the Caribbean alive. Every character is unique, and their personal growth is central to the plot; and although the story tells of clouds and sorrow, there is much of sunshine and warmth, especially human warmth. Despite the challenges depicted, the book exudes hope, making it a compelling read. Born Under the Wrong Sun is an emotionally charged tale of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a better future.
I highly recommend it for its exquisite writing, captivating storyline, and the fulfilling journeys of its characters.
The story begins in Oxford, England, where talented musician Marceau mysteriously disappears just as his band is about to sign a career altering contract. His girlfriend, Jessie, accompanied by her friend Laura, embarks on a journey to the French island of Guadeloupe to uncover the truth about Marceau's disappearance. There she comes to believe that he is not the man she thought she knew. Nothing is what it seems to be and after many wrong turns, Jessie finds a truth that had eluded her all her life.
During her quest, Jessie encounters Mari-jo, a Haitian blues singer fleeing from a Voudou spell. Through Mari-jo, the reader delves into the tragic tale of Mari-Jo and Mackenzie as they escape Haiti's desperate conditions, seeking a better life in the face of challenges. The narrative skillfully weaves these storylines together, accelerating the pace and culminating in a love story set against a well-researched backdrop.
Callard’s writing brings the colours, sights, smells, and sounds of England, India and the Caribbean alive. Every character is unique, and their personal growth is central to the plot; and although the story tells of clouds and sorrow, there is much of sunshine and warmth, especially human warmth. Despite the challenges depicted, the book exudes hope, making it a compelling read. Born Under the Wrong Sun is an emotionally charged tale of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a better future.
I highly recommend it for its exquisite writing, captivating storyline, and the fulfilling journeys of its characters.
July 23, 2023
The great joy of reading, for me anyway, is that you can gain an insight into people and their way of life which you yourself can’t possibly experience. First-hand accounts are usually the way to give that insight but Michèle Callard carries out thorough research on her subject matter and can leave you with the feeling that she must have witnessed these scenes herself.
The love stories running through her latest novel are multi-ethnic and intercontinental but they are also entwined with stories of the horrors of living in the failed state of Haiti. She gives an insight into the nightmare of scraping a living in that awful country. People live in tents or in shacks with plastic sheeting to keep out the rain. They live in constant fear of violence and kidnapping. There are few toilet facilities or utilities, and they suffer the frustration of hearing about vast amounts of international aid which never bring any benefits. You get the feeling that Haiti will never recover from the natural disasters that it is increasingly subject to. Selling your body in either prostitution or to a people smuggler are two of the few options available to ordinary people. Michèle Callard contrasts the horrors of Haiti with the luxury and joy of organising a music festival in the very affluent city of Oxford.
Graham Greene’s great novel The Comedians is also set in Haiti but it only concerns itself with ex-pats and the Tontons Macoutes whereas Callard’s novel recognises that poverty-stricken people in hopelessly-run countries are also normal, intelligent human beings with aspirations for a better life. These people are hard-working and only want to be given a chance in life.
I can thoroughly recommend this book and after reading it I certainly felt that I’d learnt some important things about the world in which an awful lot of humanity lives.
The love stories running through her latest novel are multi-ethnic and intercontinental but they are also entwined with stories of the horrors of living in the failed state of Haiti. She gives an insight into the nightmare of scraping a living in that awful country. People live in tents or in shacks with plastic sheeting to keep out the rain. They live in constant fear of violence and kidnapping. There are few toilet facilities or utilities, and they suffer the frustration of hearing about vast amounts of international aid which never bring any benefits. You get the feeling that Haiti will never recover from the natural disasters that it is increasingly subject to. Selling your body in either prostitution or to a people smuggler are two of the few options available to ordinary people. Michèle Callard contrasts the horrors of Haiti with the luxury and joy of organising a music festival in the very affluent city of Oxford.
Graham Greene’s great novel The Comedians is also set in Haiti but it only concerns itself with ex-pats and the Tontons Macoutes whereas Callard’s novel recognises that poverty-stricken people in hopelessly-run countries are also normal, intelligent human beings with aspirations for a better life. These people are hard-working and only want to be given a chance in life.
I can thoroughly recommend this book and after reading it I certainly felt that I’d learnt some important things about the world in which an awful lot of humanity lives.
July 29, 2023
This book is amazing. Within the framework of a lively, compelling and extremely well researched story, it is heart-warming, tragic, exciting and poetic all that the same time. The sights, smells and sounds of the Caribbean are almost palpable; the varied cast of characters come alive on the fast-turning pages. The description of refugees on a clandestine boat was particularly vivid, and very pertinent to today’s world although the story takes place a decade ago. I was moved, I was entertained, and I was educated. I love it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews