Every Bitter Thing Sweet

by Roslyn Carrington

As Rory and Odile, childhood friends who were separated by a tragic event which changed their lives forever, lead separate lives, they realize that they are forever linked by the events of their past and when they finally confront each other, they find what they have searching for--forgiveness, redemption, solace, and strength. Original.

305 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2001

Reviews

[Kareenah E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... didn't know what to expect when I started to read this book, but I was genuinely surprised. Overall a good read, with a great story.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this story. Although I didn't realize there was another book before it, it was just an ok read for me.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was nothing wrong with tbe story, I just didn't get excited or interested in it.

[Jamelia Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the book every bitter thing sweet twice. I found this book to be very interesting. The name of the book is actually apart of a proverb. This tile caught my because this one of my moms favorite saying “ the full soul lathneth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet”. Every bitter thing sweet is about different generations of people struggling to make life better for them on the island of Trinidad. Rory and Odile are the main character, and the book is based around them and their friend and family. They haven’t seen each other for quiet a while .now their lives have taken two completely different parts. Rory is now delivering for a pharmaceutical company and Odile is working in a place called the Smiling Dragon. Smiling Dragon is a bar, casino and brothel as a barmaid dragon. Rory and odile hasn’t seen each other because of a incident that had happen a few years back. Rory has a lot to deal he is the breadwinner of his household; he takes care of his father. His father name is Saul, he feeds off Rory's possessions to buy alcohol and get drunk everyday. He uses the excuse he is sick and cannot work. After Rory’s mom left his life was a downhill. Have not seen one another since an awful incident that drove them apart several years ago they were forced to remember that incident. This book depicts what a average day is like in the country of Trinidad. Every Bitter Thing Sweet can be taken through different lens. But I looked at it through the feminist lens. This is so because odile is a young woman in Trinidad that because of one incident, it altered her life and she took a unexpected turn. She is smart but she didn’t pursue to go to college as what her family and society expect. She works in the smiling restaurant and because it’s a brothel as well everyone that see her and thing she is a prostitute because she works there. Even odile mother thought so as well. Both main character lived a troubled live in dysfunctional home, yet they are both alike in more ways than one ways. Its about their journey retracing their past.

[Lexy Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Carrington's characters are so beautifully written that you feel everything they go through as intensely as they do. Every Bitter Thing Sweet is a heart-warming conclusion to A Thirst For Rain, a novel that haunted me with its beauty and its unforgettable characters.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters were engaging but the plot was a bit predictable.

[Gillena Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Voyages of the soul were solitary journeys" muses Odile as she watches her lover Vincent in his dark brooding mood.

Seems though, that this is everyone's fugue in this novel. Each character, holding tight to and internalizing: fear, guilt and remorse.

And it is with a dance of the strings, Ms Carrington a master puppeteer in her writing craft, holds us; and strings us along; characters as well as readers.We are drawn into her fine story telling web; observing, watching, following, gasping: as Odile, Vincent, Miss Ling, Jacob, Myra, Saul, Rory, Zenobia; traverse the pages of her book.

In this sequel to 'A Thirst For Rain', for me, the most interestingly shaped character, was Rory. Ms Carrington had me at the edge of my seat when he was beaten up at Zenobia's Christmas party. My breath she controlled the most, here in this chapter. I was so surprised and happy she (the author) let Rory walk free.