Banana Shout

by Mark Conklin

Vietnam draft dodger Tavo Gripps is shanghaied, by a modern-day pirate, to a primitive Caribbean fishing village. He relies on hippie voodoo to survive among drug smugglers, the DEA, a displaced wild counterculture and a lost African tribe.

295 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[C.B. Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Banana Shout is a novel about Negril, Jamaica in the early 70's, when it first became a bit of a haven for hippies and outcasts. It's written by Mark Conklin who founded and owned the Banana Shout resort between Catcha Falling Star and Ricks Cafe on the cliffs. While the book is certainly fiction, it closely parallels much of the events of that time and gives an excellent taste of an era long gone amidst the commercialization and vast expansion of tourism in the area. It's a fun read that will certainly give you a case of island fever.

[Jerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heavy Yes, Groovy, No
While not completely awful, BANANA SHOUT seems limited. The author began his personal Jamaican experience in 1973, but the book reads like his first-hand experience comes from T.V. sitcoms of an era or place, not from actual living experience! His presentation of the time is summed up by the words "heavy," "man," "groovy," "bumbo," and "spliff".(The STAR WARS references, 5 years before the movie was released, annoyed me.)It seems Conklin is relying on hazy memory to recreate his story rather than a diary or journal, and the situations the hero finds himself in are not that interesting. The 'Quadrille dance", a chance to offer the reader a look at authentic, Jamaican hidden ritual is reduced to "..better than Woodstock! Far out!" I guess I want characters with more color and I want them in more interesting situations. Too many people lay around stoned and I am finding this unsatisfying. I'm only on page 200 but I'll keep plodding on.When I'm finished, I'll probably re-read DON'T STOP THE CARNIVAL for a dose of sunshine.