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Six Stories and An Essay
Andrea Levy, author of the Man Booker shortlisted novel THE LONG SONG and the prize-winning, million-copy bestseller SMALL ISLAND, draws together a remarkable collection of short stories from across her writing career, which began twenty years ago with the publication of her first novel, the semi-autobiographical EVERY LIGHT IN THE HOUSE BURNIN'.
"None of my books is just about race," Levy has said. "They're about people and history." Her novels have triumphantly given voice to the people and stories that might have slipped through the cracks in history. From Jamaican slave society in the nineteenth century, through post-war immigration into Britain, to the children of migrants growing up in '60s London, her books are acclaimed for skilful storytelling and vivid characters. And her unique voice, unflinching but filled with humour, compassion and wisdom, has made her one of the most significant and exciting contemporary authors.
This collection opens with an essay about how writing has helped Andrea Levy to explore and understand her heritage. She explains the context of each piece within the chronology of her career and finishes with a new story, written to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. As with her novels, these stories are at once moving and honest, deft and humane, filled with insight, anger at injustice and her trademark lightness of touch.
"None of my books is just about race," Levy has said. "They're about people and history." Her novels have triumphantly given voice to the people and stories that might have slipped through the cracks in history. From Jamaican slave society in the nineteenth century, through post-war immigration into Britain, to the children of migrants growing up in '60s London, her books are acclaimed for skilful storytelling and vivid characters. And her unique voice, unflinching but filled with humour, compassion and wisdom, has made her one of the most significant and exciting contemporary authors.
This collection opens with an essay about how writing has helped Andrea Levy to explore and understand her heritage. She explains the context of each piece within the chronology of her career and finishes with a new story, written to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. As with her novels, these stories are at once moving and honest, deft and humane, filled with insight, anger at injustice and her trademark lightness of touch.
127 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2014
12 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Levy
30 books648 followersAndrea Levy was an English novelist, born in London to Jamaican parents. Her novels chronicled the experiences of the post-World War II generation of Jamaican immigrants in Britain. She was one of the first black British authors to achieve both critical and commercial success. Her novel Small Island won several major literary prizes: the Orange Prize for women's fiction, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year award.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 10, 2017
A few years back I wrote an extremely silly review of this book. I won it as a giveaway copy and, at the time, I had no idea how talented this author is. I’d never even heard of her; her books were well beyond the realms of what I’d normally read.
In my naivety, I read a bunch of short stories that I described as “too short and too forgettable.” Since then I’ve read two of Levy’s full works, simply because they were on my reading lists for university. Afterwards I had to go back and readdress my review of this collection. So here I am, pointing how much literary awareness can grow in just a few short years. I’ve still got much to learn. The more you read, the more you realise that there is so much more you need to read. I’ve got a lifetime of study ahead of me. Next year I’ll being doing a Master’s degree in English literary studies, and only time will tell where I go after that. The point is, I’ll never stop reading and learning my subject.
The six short stories in here are all excellent in their own way; however, I’m going to discuss the essay because, for me, it is the most important piece of writing in here. Levy relays how her own personal biographies, and the history of her family- namely how her mother’s experiences, affected her work. Her mother was the inspiration for Hortense, the Caribbean teacher unable to teach in the UK because her qualification was invalid across the seas in Small Island. So she, the educated woman, was forced to do manual work for whites she was more intelligent than. Such was the injustice of the times. Levy, here, writes from a position of experience; she writes about what she knows, and she does it very well.
Her main aim is to put the idiosyncratic history of the black British individual, those from Caribbean decent, directly into British history; she wants to give them a narrative, and give them a voice in which to tell their tale. British history is not just white history, and this is why writers like Levy are so important. They tell the experience of those that are often forgotten about when academics talk about a country’s culture. We live in a multi-cultural age, so to forget about those that don’t form the majority is a crime born of ignorance.
Levy’s personal history was one of uncertainty, as she narrates here. It wasn’t even until adulthood that she identified herself as a black woman. She grew up in a white culture; her friends were white, and she received the white man’s education. All in all, at this point, she knew nothing of her own roots or what that meant to her identity. It wasn’t until she attended a class on racism, where the blacks and the whites were to spit off into different groups, that she realised she was characterised as black. Initially, she joined the white group to the dismay of everyone else. She thought nothing of it; it was an unconscious decision.
After this she learnt who she was: a black British woman of Caribbean decent. And through exploring such themes, as identity and the legacy of Empire, her works touched on her own experience. She has a voice, and she uses it. Right now I’m reading though The Long Song, a book I will, no doubt, end up writing on for my assignment at the end of the semester. Any excuse to sink my teeth into some more postcolonial theory!
-I won this copy in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review (back in 2014.)
In my naivety, I read a bunch of short stories that I described as “too short and too forgettable.” Since then I’ve read two of Levy’s full works, simply because they were on my reading lists for university. Afterwards I had to go back and readdress my review of this collection. So here I am, pointing how much literary awareness can grow in just a few short years. I’ve still got much to learn. The more you read, the more you realise that there is so much more you need to read. I’ve got a lifetime of study ahead of me. Next year I’ll being doing a Master’s degree in English literary studies, and only time will tell where I go after that. The point is, I’ll never stop reading and learning my subject.
The six short stories in here are all excellent in their own way; however, I’m going to discuss the essay because, for me, it is the most important piece of writing in here. Levy relays how her own personal biographies, and the history of her family- namely how her mother’s experiences, affected her work. Her mother was the inspiration for Hortense, the Caribbean teacher unable to teach in the UK because her qualification was invalid across the seas in Small Island. So she, the educated woman, was forced to do manual work for whites she was more intelligent than. Such was the injustice of the times. Levy, here, writes from a position of experience; she writes about what she knows, and she does it very well.
Her main aim is to put the idiosyncratic history of the black British individual, those from Caribbean decent, directly into British history; she wants to give them a narrative, and give them a voice in which to tell their tale. British history is not just white history, and this is why writers like Levy are so important. They tell the experience of those that are often forgotten about when academics talk about a country’s culture. We live in a multi-cultural age, so to forget about those that don’t form the majority is a crime born of ignorance.
Levy’s personal history was one of uncertainty, as she narrates here. It wasn’t even until adulthood that she identified herself as a black woman. She grew up in a white culture; her friends were white, and she received the white man’s education. All in all, at this point, she knew nothing of her own roots or what that meant to her identity. It wasn’t until she attended a class on racism, where the blacks and the whites were to spit off into different groups, that she realised she was characterised as black. Initially, she joined the white group to the dismay of everyone else. She thought nothing of it; it was an unconscious decision.
After this she learnt who she was: a black British woman of Caribbean decent. And through exploring such themes, as identity and the legacy of Empire, her works touched on her own experience. She has a voice, and she uses it. Right now I’m reading though The Long Song, a book I will, no doubt, end up writing on for my assignment at the end of the semester. Any excuse to sink my teeth into some more postcolonial theory!
-I won this copy in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review (back in 2014.)
October 3, 2020
Where to start...
This is my first encounter with Andrea Levy's amazing writing style.
Her story telling is absolutely perfect. She takes you from one point to another so smoothly.
I loved how she introduced each story with some sort of an anecdote about the reason behind writing the stories.
The essay is biographical and I didn't want it to end.
This is my first encounter with Andrea Levy's amazing writing style.
Her story telling is absolutely perfect. She takes you from one point to another so smoothly.
I loved how she introduced each story with some sort of an anecdote about the reason behind writing the stories.
The essay is biographical and I didn't want it to end.
August 17, 2021
¡Chulada de cuentos!
No puedo creer que con éste cumpla mi reto del año… en agosto.
No puedo creer que con éste cumpla mi reto del año… en agosto.
January 5, 2018
An outstanding little volume. Andrea Levy's short stories are every bit as powerful as her novels, and every one of them provoked a visceral response. I liked the structure of this book - the way every piece was prefaced by a short introduction, that the writing was interspersed with gorgeous photographs. I enjoyed reading Levy's short stories and learning about the context from which they emerged. There was also something wonderful about the personal essay that accompanied them, which captured this fundamental truth: there are a great many stories that make up what it means to be Black and British.
March 27, 2022
Very fine writing. I just didn't entirely connect.
October 6, 2015
My first Andrea Levy book. Has six stories and an essay - but that was obvious, wasn't it? :) I liked five of the stories and the essay very much. One of the stories was okay. My favourite was 'Loose Change'. 'Uriah's War' was also wonderful because it talks about the West Indians' contribution to the First World War. Andrea Levy's prose has a simple style, but deceptively so, because with that style she touches on a host of important issues.
I picked the book because it had a big font size with lots of spacing and it was around 120-odd pages long and the author's picture was charming and I loved it in the end for what it said. Can't wait to read more of Andrea Levy now. Maybe her novel 'Small Island' is next.
I picked the book because it had a big font size with lots of spacing and it was around 120-odd pages long and the author's picture was charming and I loved it in the end for what it said. Can't wait to read more of Andrea Levy now. Maybe her novel 'Small Island' is next.
June 12, 2019
Brilliant. I always feel a visceral reaction to Andrea Levy's work because her life was so similar to my mother's. I always feel like her stories tell the stories of my mother and my grandmother as they went back and forth between Jamaican and London. I take her work personal.
The essay in this collection let me know off the bat I was going to love this book. The language and style of writing is so simple yet so effective. She writes about race and class in a way that really makes you think. We know these characters. None of the scenarios are embellished or unrealistic.
My favourite story was That Polite Way That English People Have. Reading about this Jamaican woman who thinks she is high class and white adjacent, holding herself above the rest of her people on her way to live the high life in England. That attitude unfortunately hasn't changed enough over the years.
The most powerful story for me was Uriah's war, the story of West Indians who volunteered to fight in WW1 only to still be treated like slaves after the war. I felt this one in my chest.
Another winner from Andrea Levy.
The essay in this collection let me know off the bat I was going to love this book. The language and style of writing is so simple yet so effective. She writes about race and class in a way that really makes you think. We know these characters. None of the scenarios are embellished or unrealistic.
My favourite story was That Polite Way That English People Have. Reading about this Jamaican woman who thinks she is high class and white adjacent, holding herself above the rest of her people on her way to live the high life in England. That attitude unfortunately hasn't changed enough over the years.
The most powerful story for me was Uriah's war, the story of West Indians who volunteered to fight in WW1 only to still be treated like slaves after the war. I felt this one in my chest.
Another winner from Andrea Levy.
March 7, 2018
This makes a very good companion book to Andrea Levy's novel Small Island, covering similar ground - the experiences of Jamaican couples emigrating to late 1940s post war Britain and attempting to establish a decent life for themselves, seeking work and raising families.
There is also one story that goes back further, to WW1 and that was pretty shocking.
There is also one story that goes back further, to WW1 and that was pretty shocking.
October 6, 2019
The first story was hilarious but they get increasingly serious with no warning.
May 20, 2021
4.25/5
December 16, 2022
Usually with a short story collection you get some stories that are better than others. This collection there is a high standard running throughout. You certainly get from the author what it means to her to be Black and British. It was good to read from the author how these stories came about, and even one rejected by a women's magazine. (what do they know?)
This is the type of book where you would like to read more short stories from Andrea Levy but sadly that's not possible.
This is the type of book where you would like to read more short stories from Andrea Levy but sadly that's not possible.
June 1, 2023
I am eternally grateful to Andrea Levy, not only for the privilege of reading her beautiful writings, but also for her intentional and unmatched ability to expose the deep-rooted affect of structural racism and white privilege, for validating those of us who are victimised by it yet fall short of naming it, she grounds us and guards our sanity.
June 26, 2025
Loved this and it reminded me that Small Island was great too so am going to read some more Andrea Levy books as soon as possible.
September 24, 2022
A wonderful collection of stories from Islington’s greatest writer. The stories explore the immigrant experiences of the last century.
August 30, 2015
Ειλικρινά αν με ρωτήσεις για ποιον λόγο αγόρασα αυτό το βιβλίο δε θα ξέρω τι να σου απαντήσω. Αρχικά, μου κίνησε το ενδιαφέρον το εξώφυλλο και τα χρώματά του που ήταν κάπως μουντά, κάπως ξεθωριασμένα από τον χρόνο. Η υπόθεση δε μου έλεγε και πολλά, αλλά ήθελα εδώ και καιρό να διαβάσω ένα τέτοιο βιβλίο. Ένα βιβλίο με μικρές ιστορίες. Με ιστορίες ανθρώπων που δε θα μαθαίναμε ποτέ, όπως αναφέρει και μέσα.
Στην αρχή διαβάζεις ένα κείμενο για εκείνη και την οικογένειά της, που είναι και το πιο ενδιαφέρον και συγκινητικό κομμάτι του βιβλίου. Μιλά για τον ρατσισμό που δέχονταν οι γονείς της. Μιλά για την ιστορία του τόπου της που εμείς γνωρίζουμε πολύ λίγα. Όταν το διάβαζα νόμιζα ότι άκουγα την ίδια να μιλά δυνατά και να λέει την κατάσταση των γονιών της. Ήταν σαν να έβγαζε λόγο. Όσα διάβαζα με πά��ωναν. Για ‘μένα αυτό ήταν πολύ σημαντικό μιας και μου πέρασε πολλά πράγματα και με έκανε να θέλω να διαβάσω περισσότερα βιβλία της.
«Because being black in a majority white country come a myriad of compications and contradictions.»
Παρά την καλή εντύπωση που μου έκανε η αρχή του βιβλίου, όταν ξεκίνησαν οι έξι ιστορίες που είχε γράψει η Levy, ήταν αρκετά βαρετό. Θεωρώ ότι οι ιστορίες ήταν πάρα πολύ μικρές για να σε κάνουν να τις αγαπήσεις και να τις θυμάσαι για πολύ. Παρόλα αυτά, πριν από κάθε ιστορία η Levy έγραφε ένα κείμενο με τους λόγους που την έκαναν να γράψει την ιστορία. Πότε την έγραψε και τι της έδωσε. Αυτοί οι πρόλογοι ήταν πραγματικά πολύ όμορφοι ίσως επειδή σκέφτεσαι ότι ήταν πραγματικότητα.
Το πιο σημαντικό νομίζω ήταν αυτό που κέρδισε η ίδια η συγγραφέας. Όσα την έκανε να καταλάβει, να συνειδητοποιήσει και να αποδεχθεί γράφοντάς το. Αυτό νομίζω είναι και το νόημα. Να μην γράφεις απλά για να το κάνεις, αλλά να κερδίζεις και ο ίδιος από αυτό.
Στην αρχή διαβάζεις ένα κείμενο για εκείνη και την οικογένειά της, που είναι και το πιο ενδιαφέρον και συγκινητικό κομμάτι του βιβλίου. Μιλά για τον ρατσισμό που δέχονταν οι γονείς της. Μιλά για την ιστορία του τόπου της που εμείς γνωρίζουμε πολύ λίγα. Όταν το διάβαζα νόμιζα ότι άκουγα την ίδια να μιλά δυνατά και να λέει την κατάσταση των γονιών της. Ήταν σαν να έβγαζε λόγο. Όσα διάβαζα με πά��ωναν. Για ‘μένα αυτό ήταν πολύ σημαντικό μιας και μου πέρασε πολλά πράγματα και με έκανε να θέλω να διαβάσω περισσότερα βιβλία της.
«Because being black in a majority white country come a myriad of compications and contradictions.»
Παρά την καλή εντύπωση που μου έκανε η αρχή του βιβλίου, όταν ξεκίνησαν οι έξι ιστορίες που είχε γράψει η Levy, ήταν αρκετά βαρετό. Θεωρώ ότι οι ιστορίες ήταν πάρα πολύ μικρές για να σε κάνουν να τις αγαπήσεις και να τις θυμάσαι για πολύ. Παρόλα αυτά, πριν από κάθε ιστορία η Levy έγραφε ένα κείμενο με τους λόγους που την έκαναν να γράψει την ιστορία. Πότε την έγραψε και τι της έδωσε. Αυτοί οι πρόλογοι ήταν πραγματικά πολύ όμορφοι ίσως επειδή σκέφτεσαι ότι ήταν πραγματικότητα.
Το πιο σημαντικό νομίζω ήταν αυτό που κέρδισε η ίδια η συγγραφέας. Όσα την έκανε να καταλάβει, να συνειδητοποιήσει και να αποδεχθεί γράφοντάς το. Αυτό νομίζω είναι και το νόημα. Να μην γράφεις απλά για να το κάνεις, αλλά να κερδίζεις και ο ίδιος από αυτό.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2015
Andrea Levy is one of my all time favourite authors. Her stories of the Black British diaspora are charming, relatable and of course create some laugh out loud moments. I truly loved this book of short stories, it was only too evident that these stories ordinarily wouldn’t be published because of the themes some of these covered. I didn’t want any of the stories to end, the perfect sentiment f a great short story and they demonstrated Levy’s true talents of story telling.
My favourite short stories were ‘The Diary’ which was comical and left me with questions on how Andrea Levy really made her break, wondering how much was fact and fiction. The other short story was ‘Deborah’ which reminded me of growing up in South London in a multicultural working class area with a group of kids that all had a story to tell.
I bought Uriah’s War at the same time and I was a tad miffed to find that this short story was also in this collection, which means I have two versions of this on my kindle and money down the drown. Nonetheless, Uriah’s War is another engaging story about the lives of Black Soldiers lives that fought in the second world war for the British.
If you’ve not yet read any material from Andrea Levy, then please pick up a book from her you won’t have any regrets.
My favourite short stories were ‘The Diary’ which was comical and left me with questions on how Andrea Levy really made her break, wondering how much was fact and fiction. The other short story was ‘Deborah’ which reminded me of growing up in South London in a multicultural working class area with a group of kids that all had a story to tell.
I bought Uriah’s War at the same time and I was a tad miffed to find that this short story was also in this collection, which means I have two versions of this on my kindle and money down the drown. Nonetheless, Uriah’s War is another engaging story about the lives of Black Soldiers lives that fought in the second world war for the British.
If you’ve not yet read any material from Andrea Levy, then please pick up a book from her you won’t have any regrets.
February 19, 2015
I adore the way she writes, it is very revealing of her situation and I think it raises some very good political points and how we should evaluate how we view our history and what we ignore about it. These stories are very informative on what it was like and tackles racism in a very matter-of-fact way showing that even those facing it may not realise and how that in itself is an issue we as a society need to face.
May 14, 2023
These short stories were skillfully written and unlike many short story collections were well rounded and complete. I came to these very late in my following of Andrea Levy's work as I'm not a lover of short story writing . I have never felt the subject is dealt with sufficient depth with the characters lacking both substance or interest
However Andrea has skillfully managed to make each story unique with greater depth of characters than I would have thought possible within the word count.
The essay gives insight into the experiences of family coming to Britain from the Caribbean which made me feel ashamed to be British. I'm old enough to remember those appalling notices in windows 'no Irish, no dogs, no blacks' and am still ashamed today about that mentality and that it is still present in our thoughts and treatment of those seeking safety and shelter today.
I only have one of her books left to read now, Every Light in the House Burnin' and am delaying reading it so I still have one to look forward to.
Her early death leaves a huge abyss in the world of literature but hopefully her work will remain on the curriculum of schools and universities to remind us all of how much further we need to develop our society.
However Andrea has skillfully managed to make each story unique with greater depth of characters than I would have thought possible within the word count.
The essay gives insight into the experiences of family coming to Britain from the Caribbean which made me feel ashamed to be British. I'm old enough to remember those appalling notices in windows 'no Irish, no dogs, no blacks' and am still ashamed today about that mentality and that it is still present in our thoughts and treatment of those seeking safety and shelter today.
I only have one of her books left to read now, Every Light in the House Burnin' and am delaying reading it so I still have one to look forward to.
Her early death leaves a huge abyss in the world of literature but hopefully her work will remain on the curriculum of schools and universities to remind us all of how much further we need to develop our society.
May 16, 2022
Andrea Levy left us with a sparkling collection of poignant short stories that give insight into the lives of working class Black British people and white British folk too during the 20th century. She drew from her own experiences and her mother’s experiences in England. All of the stories are good spiked with Levy’s signature humor.
But Uriah’s War is exceptional. It’s an homage to the gallantry and patriotism of West Indian soldiers who fought in the First World War. It details in no uncertain terms the racism these men faced though they willingly sacrificed their lives for an unloving Mother Country. Well done!
The leading essay is good but left something to be desired. It’s short but lacks potency.
One thing I appreciate is that these stories take us on a journey of how Levy developed as a writer and storyteller. Only God knows what other stories Levy had left. She is missed. She is terribly missed. But her work lives on. We are better that she passed our way and granted us the gift of her art.
But Uriah’s War is exceptional. It’s an homage to the gallantry and patriotism of West Indian soldiers who fought in the First World War. It details in no uncertain terms the racism these men faced though they willingly sacrificed their lives for an unloving Mother Country. Well done!
The leading essay is good but left something to be desired. It’s short but lacks potency.
One thing I appreciate is that these stories take us on a journey of how Levy developed as a writer and storyteller. Only God knows what other stories Levy had left. She is missed. She is terribly missed. But her work lives on. We are better that she passed our way and granted us the gift of her art.
June 5, 2017
Picked this up for free at my local chicken shop with zero expectations (having forgotten that I had read and enjoyed Small Island some time ago). Read it by the beach in one fascinated and delighted fell swoop. For some reason, until I read the essay, I simply had not grasped what slavery and the Caribbean was all about, so, for that reason alone, I am very glad I found this book. But it is her beautifully honest and deceptively simple writing, her warmth, her wonderfully flawed narrators, that I so enjoyed. How lucky is Britain to have unlocked this writing voice. ' Deborah'and 'Loose Change' were both exceptionally powerful stories.
October 16, 2022
Six Stories and an Essay is a wonderful introduction to Andrea Levy's writing - I'll definitely be looking to read more of her work in the near future. This collection started with a short essay on Levy's experience as a woman of Jamaican heritage growing up in London, followed by short stories that covered several topics such as race relations, homelessness, and remembrance. The stories 'Deborah' and 'Loose Change' were my favourites for how honest and vivid they were in depicting real life decision making. I would fully recommend this book to readers aged 15+ with warnings of racist language and mild references to nudity.
January 28, 2019
It reads well and every story seem to have a personal and deeper meaning. The premises seem to be of a slightly different nature, it is mostly of black people who do not see other black people on the same level as they, coming from the experiences of the author herself. I liked that there’s an introduction to every short story, as it gives each story more meaning. However, not all of them ended with a bang as how I prefer my short stories to. In any case, this is an easy collection that can offer one some fresh perspectives. What about? That is up to the reader.
June 9, 2025
4,5/5
Realmente no era yo el problema :)
“Back to my Own Country” 3,75/5—> Me ha gustado como Andrea contaba su experiencia como inmigrante en Inglaterra, siento que hubiera conectado más con la lectura si yo fuera inmigrante (pero tengo entendido que gente que lo es se siente identificada y eso me parece perfecto ya que el essay hace su trabajo)
“That Polite Way English People Have” 5/5 —> Petal es una petarda, Blossom cariño eres perfecta <3
“Uriah’s War” 4,5/5 —> EL LAGRIMON QUE HE SOLTADO CON EL EPÍLOGO DIOS MÍO
Realmente no era yo el problema :)
“Back to my Own Country” 3,75/5—> Me ha gustado como Andrea contaba su experiencia como inmigrante en Inglaterra, siento que hubiera conectado más con la lectura si yo fuera inmigrante (pero tengo entendido que gente que lo es se siente identificada y eso me parece perfecto ya que el essay hace su trabajo)
“That Polite Way English People Have” 5/5 —> Petal es una petarda, Blossom cariño eres perfecta <3
“Uriah’s War” 4,5/5 —> EL LAGRIMON QUE HE SOLTADO CON EL EPÍLOGO DIOS MÍO
October 25, 2019
I loved the varied tales in this book. Sometimes it is hard to give a full story, that is captivating using a handful of words. However, Andrea does this with these stories.
A great, easy read. Very entertaining, however, thought-provoking. Most of the short stories highlight how we - the Caribbean migrant - react/adjust to circumstances and injustice and some of the stories are a bit more light-hearted.
The epilogue was very poignant and reflects exactly what most people expect in the world we live in.
A great, easy read. Very entertaining, however, thought-provoking. Most of the short stories highlight how we - the Caribbean migrant - react/adjust to circumstances and injustice and some of the stories are a bit more light-hearted.
The epilogue was very poignant and reflects exactly what most people expect in the world we live in.
December 24, 2022
A new favourite, these stories will stay with me for a long time. Smooth yet sharp, the stories Levy crafts in this volume are short in size but not on tools that activate your critical thinking. Every story has a certain, mostly unnoticeable element that will markings way to you so subtly that you will have to reread that passage to really grasp what happened.
The essay that opens the collection is very necessary to understand today’s society, and I highly recommend everyone to read this book.
The essay that opens the collection is very necessary to understand today’s society, and I highly recommend everyone to read this book.
February 17, 2018
A superb insight into the Afro Caribbean immigrant experience. The essay sets the tone for the stories and showcase the writer's talent. A slim volume packed with impact.
For the complete review, please click on the link below:
https://onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2...
For the complete review, please click on the link below:
https://onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2...
March 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The author of the story has a wicked sense of humor that brought out a number belly laughs as I read each of her stories. The dialogue of each of the characters felt snappy and true. And each ending, while cynical or melancholy, felt true to the environments and emotions she was trying to portray in each story.
July 8, 2022
I loved the essay in the front of this collection, which makes me want to read more essays by this author. Levy's short stories were alright in terms of slice of life tales, in my opinion, but I don't think they'll stick with me. Hence, the rating for the essay bolstered my rating for the entire collection.
September 28, 2025
These stories are based on Andrea Levy's experiences and observations as the daughter of Jamaican immigrants to Britain post WWII and each story includes a brief introduction which gives insight into the story's inspiration. This book had been sitting around for some time and I'm so glad I picked it up and read it.
August 27, 2018
Loved it from start to finish. Such a top quality author writing about subjects which interest me immensely - empire, race and colonial history. Her opening essay about her Windrush parents and her Highbury upbringing are particularly inspiring.
A short but great read!
A short but great read!
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