The True History of Paradise

by Margaret Cezair-Thompson

When vibrant, bright, and fiercely independent Lana Landing takes her own life, her sister Jean follows her instincts to flee to America and escape the pending state of emergency of her Jamaican home in 1981. A first novel. Reprint.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Book Club, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Black Literature

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Margaret Cezair-Thompson is the author of a widely acclaimed previous novel, The True History of Paradise. Other publications include short fiction, essays, and articles in Callaloo, The Washington Post, Journal of Commonwealth Literature, Graham House Review, and Elle. Born in Jamaica, West Indies, she teaches literature and creative writing at Wellesley College."

Reviews

[Missy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review (2012):

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Jamaican history. It's a family saga. We go through Jamaica's independence (1962) followed closely by an undeclared civil war of unimaginable violence (70s, 80s). But throughout the story we hear voices of the family's ancestors and about several important events in Jamaican history; the English taking Jamaica over from the Spanish, the Maroons (first generation African slaves who ran away and formed their own independent villages deep in Jamaica's inland), the major earthquake 1692, which swallowed up an entire city... I really enjoyed this book; the different narrators didn't confuse me at all. The author travelled skillfully through time and made me understand the violent years of the 70s and 80s and the corruption of an incapable government. The characters might be a bit crazy, I cracked up several times, but the historical background is incredibly good.

Review (2017):

It’s the second time for me to read this book but this time it’s together with a book club that is spending a year reading Jamaican literature. When I started reading this book, I remembered the ancestors' stories the most, while Lana's story was vague in my memory. I'm surprised how many plants, flowers and trees are mentioned in this book and they are all incredibly beautiful. I also paid more attention to the references of books, songs and food. Each character was well-drawn and I enjoyed reading Jean's development from a shy girl to a mature woman who makes her own choices. The relationships between the characters are quite complex and the violence suffered in Jamaica during that time is reflected in the increased suffering of poor Lana.

[David Dacosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jean Landing is preparing to bid adieu to her island home of Jamaica, in spite of conflicted feelings. It’s 1981, and social unrest has gripped the streets of Kingston; madness precipitated by the warring factions of the country’s two political parties, The People’s National Party and The Jamaica Labour Party. Jean’s surroundings are now plagued with random killings and a general state of chaos. Migration appears to be the only option.

The story unfolds through a series of flash back sequences, illuminating the complex racial and colonial framework of both Jean’s family and Jamaica on a whole. Unlike many of the Jamaican themed novels I’ve read over the years, Cezair-Thompson refrains from diluting the island’s patois. I experienced a truly visceral response to much of the dialogue contained in this story; a familiarity that conjured thoughts of being in the company of family and friends in Jamaica. It’s clear that the importance of cultural accuracy superseded any commercial considerations.

True History is not without its flaws. The final quarter of the book begins to drag somewhat, and the constant mention of violence feels overdone and stale. Still, even with its imperfections, Cezair-Thompson has crafted a story that is head and shoulders above most who’ve tried their hand at documenting the realities of the Jamaican life. This may be as good as it gets when it comes to Jamaican literature.

[BookOfCinz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The True History of Paradise was BookOfCinz book club pick for September. A fellow Book Clubber recommended this book because she remembers how haunting it was for her reading. Having never heard of this book before I was eager to read it mainly because it was a debut novel, set in Jamaica and is under the historical fiction genre.

I thoroughly enjoyed The True History of Paradise for a debut novel this book was well written and took you on an intimate look into Jamaica during the 1980s with the political upheaval. The book's centering character is Jean, we meet her as she hears about the death of her sister Lana and the brutal beating of her best friend Faye. Jean decides (as other Jamaicans did at the time) that she is going to leave Jamaica because of the violence and unstableness of the economy and political climate. Jean, with the help of her childhood friend Paul intends to make her escape from the island on an illegal plane in a parish far away from Kingston.

The book goes from the present with Jean's narration and the past from the point of view of all of Jeans's ancestors starting with those who settled in Jamaica in the 18th century. I absolutely loved reading about Jamaica from historical perspective. Cezair-Thompson did an amazing job of giving the reader a great look into the history of Jamaica specifically how it was during Post Independence. As someone who wasn't born yet but heard about what took place, reading this book was an eye opener.

If you interested in reading a book with really strong female leads, that explores Jamaica's history in a creative and educational way- definitely pick this book up. For those of you who gave up on reading A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James reading this book is a really nice introduction to ABHOSK.

GO READ!

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book, which might be between a romance and a literary work which uses techniques for a complex effect. The different characters are good. There are love interests and dashed hopes. The narrative has parallel timelines, as the story of the main character, Jean Landing on a three-day journey to emigrate from Jamaica during its 1981 state-of-emergency, crisscrosses with the ghostly stories from several generations of her ancestors, a narrative technique which might be called magical realism.

Though the principal character is Jean Landing, her mother Monica, her older sister Lana, and her contemporary relatives and friends are important to the story. The story goes back to her upbringing and adult life. Her mother Monica, a business woman, is single-minded to make a success of her bakery monopoly and is not given to taking sides in the chaotic Jamaican politics between the JLP and PNP. She weeds out sentiment and appears hardhearted and shrewish in relationships, presumably on account of past disappointments. Jean's stepsister Lana has felt the lack of Monica's love, so is reared by kindlier family relations. The family tree in the front of the book as well as individually told chapters differentiate those family members' and ancestors' lives. Many of the women have love relationships and/or husbands though happiness, love, and compatibility seem elusive in any practical way. There are several important male characters in the story, who provide a 'consoling' role like Paul, a watchful one like Jean's father Roy, a treacherous one like the politico of the CIA Brian Scoley, some abusive ones who maim and murder, or a hopeful one like the British New Yorker Alan Weir. It is to the last Jean is heading for safety.

The story frequently meanders into the geological and social past of Jamaica. Jean's descendants are a cross section of Jamaica's diverse ethnicities, and the reminders of the past go at least back to Columbus entering Discovery Bay. Jamaica's topography is edenic (a 'paradise'), earthquakes forming a land of delightful rivers and falls and unconcerned with human consequences. Vegetation is lush, a hiding place from intruders, and vistas scenic and curving. To be enthralled by the latter is to lose sense of society's crisis. The story's author Margaret Cezair-Thompson takes the reader from the Arawaks to the Spanish, the British, and the post-colonial angst. Those years are personalized by inspiring, first-person narratives of Jean's female and male forebears: how and why they emigrated to Jamaica, what were the conditions upon arrival, how did they cope and develop, why did they stay.

This book one can read multiple times and still find interesting material.

[James F · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the surface this novel takes place during two or three days in 1981; it is the story of a woman, Jean Landing, who leaves Kingston (Jamaica) for the North Coast in order to fly to the United States and escape the political violence as the opposition party and the CIA try to topple the Manley government. However, most of the book is in the form of flashbacks, which narrate Jean's whole life (and Jamaica's history) from the time of Independence on, in a mostly chronological order (third person, but from the perspective of Jean's memory); and within these flashbacks are other shorter flashbacks (in first person) to her ancestors from the earliest days of British rule. (The book has a family tree at the beginning to keep all the characters straight.) I generally like this sort of complex structure, but in this case the book is rather slow at the beginning, and seems to present a lot of background material where nothing much happens; as it moves closer to the time of the frame story it picks up interest and also becomes more violent. Much of the novel's focus is on the relationship of Jean to her parents, especially her mother Monica, and her sister Lana. (It originated as a short story about these four characters, and then was expanded into the present novel about Jamaican history.) Perhaps because I was busy this week with other things, it took me ten days to read, and this may have contributed to my having a hard time getting involved with the action until the middle of the book. Once I got interested in the characters, it was a good well-written historical novel, although I would have liked a more detailed analysis of the political events. (I was surprised and a little embarrassed to realize how little I knew about Manley and his government, given how interested I was at that time in politics and especially in the Caribbean and Central America.) It was the author's first novel, and I may eventually pick up her second and better known novel about Errol Flynn (The Pirate's Daughter).

[AndHeReadsToo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during a 1981 state of emergency in Jamaica, The True History of Paradise examines the ugliness which belies the idyllic landscapes which comprise the island, through the lens of several generations of one racially blended family.

To Jean Landing, the state of emergency is the government’s latest futile attempt to combat the growing crime epidemic which has gripped the island. Fearful everyday, even in her own home, and convinced that the government is out of its depth in combatting the rising criminality (tacitly supported by both political parties), Jean has decided that it is time for her to leave Jamaica. She is convinced of her decision when her childhood friend and neighbour, Paul, arrives at her home with news that her sister, Lana, is dead.

Jean decides to leave immediately after Lana’s funeral. She has already made arrangements, with her friend Alan, an American, who has promised to help her once she leaves Jamaica. The job of safely getting her to the airstrip in the north of the island from where she will fly to Provinciales, where Alan awaits, falls to the dutiful Paul, who has looked out for the Landing sisters ever since they were children.

During their drive, they are periodically met with the jarring evidence of the nation’s current state of affairs. Their route is littered with road blocks, army operations and other evidence of the country’s state of unrest. Residents of previously peaceful villages, where the city’s violence seemed far away, now have installed burglar proof bars and are wary of any visitors. These sights confirm within Jean her decision to leave. Also, she reflects on her own life and the events that have led her to this point.

The narrative alternated between Paul and Jean’s journey from Kingston to the north coast of the island and histories of Jean’s mother Monica, sister, Lana and paternal grandfather, Mr. Ho Sing, who arrived from China as an indentured labourer. Particularly sad, is the relationship between Monica and Lana, which had always been fraught because of the circumstances of Lana’s birth. Also, seeming unrelated to the story, stories from some of Jean’s earliest ancestors on the island are interspersed throughout.

These family histories reflect the history of Jamaica, from some of the early European settlers, slaves from Africa and indentured labourers from India and China which all comprise Jean’s ancestry. As you would guess from the title, none of these stories are pleasant yet they are set with the backdrop of Jamaica’s idyllic scenery, which the author captures beautifully with her writing. Also, the contemporary (1981) story deals with a period of Jamaican history with which I am extremely fascinated. This is the Cold War era, when Jamaica found itself in the centre of hostilities between the US and the USSR because of the PNP government’s “experiment” (my word) with Democratic Socialism. The US, fearful of another communist state in its back yard sought to undermine the government by funding and facilitating the political violence which tore the country apart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I’m ready to call myself a Margaret Cezair-Thompson fan because I can’t wait to read more from her. I highly recommend it especially if you’re interested in Caribbean history or if you’re a fan of historical fiction.

[Tawallah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another wonderful debut novel, but I wanted more at the end. This novel is told in a non-linear pattern about the Landing family and by extension Jamaica. Jamaica is often portrayed as a paradise island. But there is the dark violent side that has often been portrayed. And whilst we think that it is a recent phenomenon, a true reading of history will defy that myth. In this book, Margaret Cezair-Thompson takes the reader on a journey to a violent time in Jamaica history. Our guide is Jean Landing, a pre-Independence child who attempts to navigate life in the fifties to the tumultuous 1970 and eighties. We meet Jean in the midst of a state of national emergency and the author drops us into the story in a way to mirror Jean's feelings. Slowly we learn what has transpired to reach this state and though it took a while to get into the story, once I was transported to Jamaica, I was captivated. And by the end, I wasn't ready to leave the book or Jean. There could easily be a sequel, I enjoyed the nuance of these characters, Monica, Lana.

Motherhood and by extension dysfunctional family drama is a prominent theme throughout this book. From complicated Monica who is unlikeable throughout the narrative, to calm Mary Darling ad others. It is only with the intertwining of past and future that what we fully comprehend the characters and by extension Jamaica. There are quite a few themes that reflect living in Jamaica that are smoothly integrated. Nothing seems forced and I even enjoyed the magical realism.

Overall, I am so enraptured by this author, I want to read anything else she has written. This does not feel like a debut novel at all.

[Rachel Neugart · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ ‘Familiar,’ she thinks, is a word that has lost its warmth in English, and there is no precise way to describe how this road has become like a vein they both share. No word to describe their knowledge of each other and of all that lies between them and the burning road.”

Jamaican history told through a family tree. Touched by the interweaving family and island dynamics - no story is ever as far removed from another as we think.

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I thought this was a new book from Cezair-Thompson, so it was a surprise to find out that it is in fact her first novel, repackaged with a new cover in what I presume is an attempt to capitalise on the success of her second, The Pirate's Daughter. I'm glad I didn't realise this earlier, as if I'd known, I'd have assumed her first effort would be weaker and less accomplished than her second, and probably wouldn't have bought it. In fact, I think this is a better book, although the two are similar in a few respects; both are set in Jamaica and both tell stories that span several generations of the same family, against a backdrop of political unrest and social change. The story held my interest easily enough - I particularly enjoyed the chapters narrated by Jean's ancestors, ranging from the 17th century to the late 1970s, and the novel works well both as a brief social history of Jamaica and a subtle exploration of the ways our families' past choices and misdemeanours shape our lives. I just wish I could say I felt more emotionally involved with the characters; as with this writer's other novel, I felt distanced from the people it portrayed and it was hard to be truly affected even when terrible things happened to them. Also, I found the ending unsatisfying and somewhat abrupt. I'm glad I read this book, but a number of things about it left me feeling frustrated.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed 'The Pirate's Daughter' very much, this earlier work struck a deeper chord for me. Margaret Cezair-Thompson's style of writing is one that appeals to me.

I found this a fascinating book that wove a multi-generational family drama with the changing culture and politics of Jamaica. Although it touches upon earlier historical periods the main narrative takes place in the 1960s-81.

It felt like a love-letter to the island that didn't diminish the terrible events of the period but placed them into context with the earlier history of the island.

I found Jean a very sympathetic character and longed to know more of her story. Perhaps Margaret Cezair-Thompson will return to write more on this theme.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone like me who has very little knowledge of the history of the West Indies this was a fascinating and illuminating novel. It tells the story of Jean Landing as she travels across Jamaica in 1981 with the intention of leaving because of the civil unrest which had resulted in violence and tragedy. The novel uses separate chapters to relate the events leading up to her decision to leave and the stories of her ancestors to give a history of the island. The stories of Jean, her family and the island of Jamaica is heart rendering, passionate, riveting and well worth reading about.

[Sorento62 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Great book for learning about the history of Jamaica while experiencing the book as a novel through the experiences of the main character. Be sure to refer to the family tree in the front of the book often, in order to keep the times, characters, and relationships straight. Much of the book is not in chronological order. (Apparently it can be hard to refer back to the family tree if reading the book on a Kindle.)

[Emanuela Myrtezaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a fascinating book that opened my eyes to people, the importance of ethnic, the language, and the traditions of Jamaica. It was very interesting to learn of the history of the West Indies. This book brings to life the turbulent past of Jamaica through the history of a varied and multi-ethnic family whose story reflects that of the island itself.🏞
.
The novel centres mainly around the women in one family tree, and how much history one family can have in a turbulent and beautiful paradise like Jamaica. There are numerous characters making it difficult to remember who everyone is but the best thing the author did for the reader was to add the family trees to the beginning of the book. The description of places, the people, and the history was fascinating. However it was also sad and painful to read about the quick change and accompanying violence during that time in such a beautiful place. 5⭐️

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time reading the book, with about 10 years in between. Since the first time I read it, I spent considerable time in Jamaica, and it made the book that much more enjoyable. And it made me a little homesick for the island too. That said, this is a great story of family, history, and culture that you really should read. It's fabulous.

[Darryl Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Jamaican novel happening in the 1980’s amid political turmoil and violence, some targeted and some totally senseless.
Jean Landing is a young woman working as a government translator, a party to sensitive information, making her a potential target. She is increasingly uneasy and considers fleeing her country. Most people outside of family and friends are untrustworthy.
The thriller aspect of the novel is only a backdrop for me. It’s an amazing story of Jean’s ancestors, current family, extended diverse family with African, white, Scottish, Indian, and Chinese lines. Jean has a sixth sense with her ancestors; she has actual knowledge of them, but seems to feel their presence and influence at times. Jean’s father died when she was eight, but during the emergency she sensed his warning.
But this isn’t a supernatural book either. The characters, Jean, Monica her fierce, sometimes hardhearted mother, her idealistic best friend Faye, will they or won’t they friend and rescuer Paul, two terrific grandmothers, Aunt Daphne who brought Kingstons artists and politicians to her home, Jean’s troubled but loving sister Lana; these character are brought to life.
There is plenty of struggle and tragedy for these characters. Not the easiest read but worth it. I’m a repeat reader.
Should be a classic.

[Christina Gagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating look at Jamaican history and culture as related through the stories of various people in the Landing/Darling-Stern family over several generations and against the backdrop of key historic events like emancipation in 1838 and Jamaican independence in 1962. The book gets off to a bit of a rocky start--the reader is hurled directly into the action too quickly, too soon--but the pace and the writing itself smooths out and most of the book is perfectly paced. Best of all, nearly all of the many characters are entirely believable, especially Jean, the main narrator/character. I didn't quite buy the Paul character but that's a minor complaint since he is clearly the most representational character (standing for the best and worst of Jamaica). The patois is very well done--it doesn't detract from the narrative, as dialect often does in books--it adds to the feeling that you are there. If you are at all interested in Jamaican history and culture, and you're looking for a smart read, you'll enjoy this book.

[Asha · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there was an unfinished shelf this book would have to go there. The book is not terrible, its average but so far it couldn't sustain my interest. As Jean leaves tormented 80's Jamaica , stories of her ancestors and her childhood emerge. Its mainly a story of a middle-upper class mixed Jamaican family. Its not the typical historical fiction, as you are not really learning much about the history of Jamaica as you are about a dysfunctional privilege family and their time in the hills and boarding school. In fact the only interesting character is the Chinese great grandfather ( Ho-Sing)who shares stories of migrating from poverty in China to becoming indentured servant in the Carribean.Although there is a few of us who can relate to having the miserable Mulatto "borderline -white" relative (Monica) the story is disconnected from the average Black Jamaican.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was left quite shaken after finishing this book. It was beautifully written with very believable characters full of tragedy and humour.
Margaret Cezair-Thompson paints such a vivid and accurate picture of Jamaica throughout the centuries that you could easily to believe she really was there during all the time periods the book covers. The way the history of the island is woven into the narrative makes you enjoy the story on a different level and makes for a truly unforgettable read.

[Sen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful.

[marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

mhm grief, regret, family bonds, and political mayhem. My favorite things.

[Parker Charles Kehret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret Cezair-Thompson is a lovely woman, she responded to an email i sent her after reading this regarding a pretty obscure and meaningless (story-wise) statement in the book.

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

i still lowkey hate historical fiction but this was quite well written! would expect nothing less from a wellesley prof though

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I didn't really feel that I was writing about someone leaving her homeland, but rather about someone torn between going and staying. It's also about a woman coming to terms with history - her family history and national history - and discovering her own voice and beliefs in the midst of swirling violence and family troubles."

Above are the words of the author, Margaret Cezair-Thompson, and as good a summary as any. The story mostly follows Jean Landing during the 70s in Jamaica, and explores Jean's complicated relationship with her mother and sister, as well as her relationship with her country. The 70s were a particularly turbulent time for Jamaica following its newfound independence in 1962. A decade later, Jamaica has a new Prime Minister and majority party, and the rivalry between the parties (Jamaica Labour Party and People's National Party) sparks violence across the country.

Through the use of egun iponri, Jean (and the reader) are privy to the past through Jean's deceased ancestors. The book moves back and forth in time in Jean's narrative, but then is also interspersed with ancestor flashbacks. The non-linear narrative and the many different characters (mostly family members) affected the overall rating for me. There is a family tree at the beginning of the book that can help with situating the reader, especially as to which side of Jean's family the ancestor relates to. But overall, there was a little too many people and their histories to keep track of. There's also a lot of children born of different mothers and second marriages, and I felt like I just couldn't keep up with the who's who beyond Jean's immediate circle of family and friends. I even found myself forgetting that Faye - Jean's best friend - was once an angry girl that couldn't walk, which is very important to Faye's coming of age later on.

This book does a good job of highlighting the complexity of Jamaican heritage. Like many Caribbean nations, this country is now populated by a people that were not indigenous to this island. The Arawaks (aka Tainos) were mostly decimated by the Spanish, and very few survived. Jamaicans today are mostly the descendants of slaves and immigrants - a blend of African, Indian, Asian, and European individuals who all call this island home.

This is a book of families and homelands. Of blood that's thicker than water, because as a reader will learn, even rivers do not stand the test of time.

"Know what I know: Time has shaped you from a hundred histories which will never be told; our voices are not welcome among the living."

"'Familiar,' she thinks, is a word that has lost its warmth in English, and there is no precise way to describe how this road has become like a vein they both share."

"She can't help this looking back as she moves forward, the need to see in its entirety what she's escaping."

[Skate Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel so lovely, set in a land so wonderful, a true paradise.

Cezair-Thompson's delicate storytelling made the place and the events that took place so vivid, even with just words to tell them. The development of the story from Jean's childhood to her becoming, and the transformation that took place in Jamaica was good and well-crafted.

I felt attached to Jamaica and sorry on how it turned out to be with this novel. I felt sorry and broken with the characters and their stories. And there were parts of the book that left my jaw hanging, it was as if I heard the gunshots myself.

I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to travel to another place without needing to walk and get up on your feet.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really like this book...but... It was an interesting story of Jamaica through the ages, told via diary-like entries (and very cleverly written by the author), but mainly via the life of Jean Landing - the youngest daughter of a strong-minded mother who is living through the uprisings of the early 80s. It was confusing at times to see where this was going (and I felt the book could have been about 70 pages shorter), but at the end I wanted more as the author seems to leave us hanging. I'd like to see a story from Paul's POV - a character I found extremely confusing - on the one hand a womaniser, on the other a protective and gentle saviour..?

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very similar to her latest book The Pirates Daughter - an overview of Jamaican Culture, multi-generational, with many of the same character types - the witholding mother, illegitimate or "outside" child, the kindly country grandmother - and a wide range of folks - mixed race, rastas, Scots, Syrians, Jews,intellectuals, ex-pats, farmers, obeah women, etc. It's like a purse chock full of so much stuff you're not sure why it's all there but you'd be hard pressed to figure out what to take out.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book-strong characters (although surprisingly not the main character, I felt like I knew more
about Lana than Jean) and an author that knows how to make shifting narrative actually work. I didn't realize when I checked it out that the story is told by several people.

Actually, some of the dead characters were so interesting that I wished for an entire novel about them, particularly Mary Darling's mother, the Scottish "Doctor Wife".

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not realized how bad the political situation had been after independence for Jamaica. This books gives a sympathetic portrait of a family, its history, and its connection to the island. The family tree at the front of the book is absolutely vital for keeping all the characters and their relationships straight, although there seems to be a typo on one, as the parents and child are born in the same year.

[Michael Tomlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well-crafted novel, with quality writing. It does well creating the distinctive world of Jamaica in the 1960s, both the tropical country and the idiomatic speech rhythms of the people. After a couple of hundred pages I started wondering where it was going. Would the heroine go through with her plan or not? At the end it just petered out and we don't know what she decided to do, which is a bit of cop-out.