A Shift In The Light

by Patricia Glinton-Meicholas

A Shift in the Light is an expression of cultural nationalism, offering a chronology of a Bahamian family and a socio-political history spanning the last half century.

Genres: Fiction

347 pages

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Bahamian writer, editor, educator and cultural critic, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas was the first winner of the Bahamas Cacique Award for Writing and recipient of a Silver Jubilee of Independence Medal for Literature. For her poetry collection, Chasing Light, Glinton-Meicholas was a finalist in the 2012 International Proverse Prize Competition. By 2014 she had written 18 books and numerous essays on Bahamian history, art and culture.

Reviews

[Annamari Laaksonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Shift in the Light. It is a wonderful, well-narrated autobiographical ‘fiction’ of a sun-filled childhood with colourful anecdotes and interesting characters. It is a warm reflection on a happy childhood with a best friend (and cousin), sister and several family members, and then a reflection on growing into an adult in a more uncertain and unequal environment. While the childhood period is carefree and beautiful, there are darker underlying themes such as parents’ unhappy marriage, global events or the rampant racism felt and experienced by the different Bahamian characters in the novel.

The book starts in the 1950s in the changing Bahamas and concludes in 2000. It is a testimony to a carefree childhood but also a love letter to the Bahamian spirit and identity. It is a story about decolonisation, defining the Bahamian nature and defining the future of the country. Patricia Glinton-Meicholas grows up to defend the uniqueness of the Bahamians, who are not Africans nor Europeans but a little bit of both. It is a wonderfully written book, rich in language, symbolism and story – a narration of family ties and friendship, tradition and modernity, racism and national pride.

I read this book as part of our project Virtual Nomad that explores and celebrates food, writing, cinema and music from different countries. www.myvirtualnomad.com

[Swati · Rating 4 out of 5]

For February’s #readanewcountry challenge, I picked Patricia Glinton-Meicholas’s “A Shift in the Light” a semi-autobiographical novel set in the Bahamas from the 1950s to the turn of the millennium. It begins with the family coming together for a cousin’s funeral in present times, and slowly drifts into the past.

Glinton-Meicholas speaks of a childhood spent in the sun-drenched embrace of the rural island where she grows up, and of family and friendship. Her bond with her cousin, who is also a close friend, forms the emotional core of the novel. Together, they navigate a world filled with colorful characters, from eccentric relatives to the tightly-knit island community. She shares anecdotes, often humorous and deeply nostalgic, and clearly very close to her heart, which paint a picture of a carefree youth.

It’s not all idyllic though. Glinton-Meicholas doesn’t shy away from exploring the fractures within her family, particularly her parents’ troubled marriage, or the broader societal issues of racism and inequality. The Bahamas of her childhood is a place of beauty and joy, but it is also a society grappling with the legacies of colonialism and the challenges of forging a distinct national identity. Glinton-Meicholas also reflects on what it means to be Bahamian—neither wholly African nor European, but a unique blend of both.

The prose is rich with vivid descriptions, and the language is a blend of English and the local dialect. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, I felt the rhythm slowed down incredibly in some sections. At times, the narrative meanders, particularly in the middle sections, where some passages felt less engaging. While these moments do not detract significantly from the overall impact of the book, I’ll say they demand some patience from you.
So, did the book give me what I wanted? Yes, I got a lovely portrait of Bahamian life and its unique spirit. It felt deeply personal and, therefore, authentic. Read the book just for this cultural experience.

[Danilo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance autobiográfico. Bom. É uma leitura que vale.