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Golden Child
WINNER OF THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2019
LONGLISTED FOR THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FIRST BOOK AWARD
It's dark now; the bats are out. Insects knock against the light on the patio and the dog sits at the gate. A boy has not returned home and a family anxiously awaits. A father steps out into the night to search for his son.
As the hours turn into days, this man will learn many things. He will learn about being a father to twin boys who are in no way alike. He will learn how dangerous hopes and dreams can be. He will learn truths about Trinidad, about his family, and himself. He will question received wisdom and question his judgement. He will learn about sacrifice and the nature of love - and he will be forced to act.
Claire Adam's electrifying first novel reckons with the secrets of the human heart. It tells a story about wanting more for our children; it casts its spell with uncommon wisdom and grace.
LONGLISTED FOR THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FIRST BOOK AWARD
It's dark now; the bats are out. Insects knock against the light on the patio and the dog sits at the gate. A boy has not returned home and a family anxiously awaits. A father steps out into the night to search for his son.
As the hours turn into days, this man will learn many things. He will learn about being a father to twin boys who are in no way alike. He will learn how dangerous hopes and dreams can be. He will learn truths about Trinidad, about his family, and himself. He will question received wisdom and question his judgement. He will learn about sacrifice and the nature of love - and he will be forced to act.
Claire Adam's electrifying first novel reckons with the secrets of the human heart. It tells a story about wanting more for our children; it casts its spell with uncommon wisdom and grace.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2019
693 people are currently reading
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About the author
Claire Adam
4 books457 followersClaire Adam was born and raised in Trinidad. She lives in London.
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December 8, 2018It is my great pleasure to present Claire Adam’s debut novel Golden Child, the second book on the SJP for Hogarth list, coming January 2019. Golden Child is a perfect example of the kind of book I have always loved best: it’s a story that brings otherwise faraway places into focus and allows us to see the world in a new way, illuminating with resounding empathy and humanity all the losses, loves, and profound truths of others’ lives. In Claire’s spare and elegant prose, the remote country of Trinidad is brought to life with a simmering lyricism and quiet and secretive agony, and the characters she’s crafted feel real, immediate, and thrillingly truthful. Golden Child is an important, unforgettable story, and I am honored to be able to share it with you.
January 21, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
This is the second book I’ve read this year with parents treating their children differently believing that one over the other has a better chance at a successful life, believing that one is better than the other. An awful thing really, especially when a choice results in dire consequences, a choice that I could not imagine in a million years making, a choice that in my view never had to be made, a moral dilemma which I found difficult to even see as a dilemma. Clyde, seems to be barely getting by in a job at a petroleum plant, living with his wife Joy and their twin teenage sons Peter and Paul in an old house in Trinidad. Recognizing the importance of an education and a way out for his son Peter, who is singled out at school as not just smart but gifted, Clyde focuses on what it would take for Peter to go to college and through the generosity of an Uncle , this could be possible. Paul who had the cord around his neck at birth has been deemed “retarded” and “crazy” is considered so by his parents. I couldn’t help but think that Paul hasn’t done well because it wasn’t expected that he would. Paul for me was the most clearly defined character and it was a shame that his family did not see him for who he really was.
It’s hard to tell more about what happens without giving the story away. I can only say that I was heartbroken and disturbed. Perhaps, this is meant to give us an understanding of life on this island, Trinidad and while the author does a good job of taking us through Clyde’s thoughts and his perspective, I just could not begin to understand his decision, let alone accept it. This was a difficult read on an emotional level so I’m glad that I read it with Diane and Esil.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Sip for Hogarth/Crown through NetGalley.
This is the second book I’ve read this year with parents treating their children differently believing that one over the other has a better chance at a successful life, believing that one is better than the other. An awful thing really, especially when a choice results in dire consequences, a choice that I could not imagine in a million years making, a choice that in my view never had to be made, a moral dilemma which I found difficult to even see as a dilemma. Clyde, seems to be barely getting by in a job at a petroleum plant, living with his wife Joy and their twin teenage sons Peter and Paul in an old house in Trinidad. Recognizing the importance of an education and a way out for his son Peter, who is singled out at school as not just smart but gifted, Clyde focuses on what it would take for Peter to go to college and through the generosity of an Uncle , this could be possible. Paul who had the cord around his neck at birth has been deemed “retarded” and “crazy” is considered so by his parents. I couldn’t help but think that Paul hasn’t done well because it wasn’t expected that he would. Paul for me was the most clearly defined character and it was a shame that his family did not see him for who he really was.
It’s hard to tell more about what happens without giving the story away. I can only say that I was heartbroken and disturbed. Perhaps, this is meant to give us an understanding of life on this island, Trinidad and while the author does a good job of taking us through Clyde’s thoughts and his perspective, I just could not begin to understand his decision, let alone accept it. This was a difficult read on an emotional level so I’m glad that I read it with Diane and Esil.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Sip for Hogarth/Crown through NetGalley.
January 6, 2019
Ok, I’m not proud. I will admit to requesting this book on netgalley because of the celebrity tie-in. This Is the second book chosen by Sarah Jessica Parker under her new job as a publisher for Hogarth and I was just flat out curious to see what I thought of her book picking skills.
The story takes place in 1980s Trinidad. Adam gets the mood exactly right - the sense of lawlessness, the lack of societal safeguards. Guard dogs patrol everyone’s yards. A teenage boy walks off after school and doesn’t return. His father alternates between being worried and furious. Anyone who has raised teenagers understands his emotions exactly.
The book then takes us back in time. Paul is one of two twins. While being born, the cord wrapped around his neck depriving him of oxygen and leading to him having learning disabilities. His brother, Peter, on the other hand, is a genius. We learn all about the struggles the family endures trying to give each son equal opportunities despite their different abilities.
It’s not until the ⅔ point that Clyde is faced with his big decision. And it’s so obvious what is going to transpire that there was no sense of suspense. The last third of the book is heartbreaking but predictable.
So, great sense of place, but beyond that, I was less than impressed.
My thanks to netgalley and SJP for an advance copy of this book.
July 5, 2020
The premise of a favored child isn’t a new one but this story is unique and set in Trinidad. Twin boys are born, Peter and Paul. Peter is the family’s golden child, the brilliant one with a bright future. All of the family’s hopes and dreams for the future are pinned on him. But Paul is different and difficult, and branded “retarded” (although he is not) from oxygen deprivation during a difficult birth. It’s 1980’s Trinidad and lawlessness prevails. The family is of modest means and every day is a struggle to survive. Dangers lurk everywhere.
One of the strengths of the story is the strong sense of time and place. I admit I knew little of Trinidad until I read this book. The hopelessness and struggles of the family are beautifully conveyed. Every culture and family has certain belief systems, and while they may be difficult for us to understand I felt empathy for this family.
This a difficult book to talk about without spoilers but there is a pivotal moment in the book that is difficult to fathom and which broke my heart. The painful choices of a family living in poverty and under constant threat is easy to judge if we have not walked in their shoes. It’s not a book that is enjoyed in the traditional sense but it is one that grew on me and one I pondered after finishing.
• Many thanks to the publisher for a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2019
A powerfully emotional reading experience I’ll forever treasure.
I was asked to organize a buddy read for this book by Goodreads, and around the same time, I was given the opportunity to join a blog tour. I was all in! Why? Because the first SJP for Hogarth book I read, A Place for Us, is one of the best, most emotional, books I’ve ever read, and I would not miss her next choice. I was not disappointed. I also want to thank all my Goodreads friends, my local friends, and my blogger friends, who joined me for this special read. I read this book with friends in different time zones and countries, and I’m sincerely thankful for the opportunity.
Golden Child takes place on the island of Trinidad. The Deyalsingh family lives in a rural, remote area of the island, in a brick house on stilts right by the bush. They live a quiet life, one surrounded by family. There’s a mother, father, and two sons, twins, Paul and Peter. Immediately we learn that one is intelligent and successful, while the other is limited cognitively and is “different” in some ways.
One day Paul goes for a walk in the bush and doesn’t return. Clyde, the father, searches for him to no avail, but thtough his journey, he tells the story of how he has had his hands full with Paul. How he has never understood him, never truly bonded with him. No spoilers here, but Clyde is faced with a desperate decision, one that not only broke my heart, it pulverized it.
There is an emotional tone throughout the story. I wanted to jump in and talk to Clyde, tell him how to understand Paul better, talk to Paul and tell him he is worthy no matter what people think of him. I felt unsettled and on edge through the book as Clyde searches for Paul, as we wait to find out his fate, as we hope for answers.
Golden Child is a story of family betrayal, aspiration and yearning for better, and the limits we place on our love. I’ve always been a BIG love kind of person, and it was hard to watch those limits being enforced and observing the ramifications of that in this family.
Overall, this was deeply affecting book that kept me thinking and honestly aching after the last page. I enjoyed the discussions I had with each of my friends. I learned more about them and about the book through the discussion. This type of book begs to be discussed with friends. It’s too emotional to keep to yourself.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
A special thank you to Goodreads, Crown/SJP for Hogarth, and Claire Adam for the outstanding buddy read experience, as well as to Berit, Beth, Linda, DeAnn, Jeannie, and all my local friends for reading and discussing with me. ♥️
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
I was asked to organize a buddy read for this book by Goodreads, and around the same time, I was given the opportunity to join a blog tour. I was all in! Why? Because the first SJP for Hogarth book I read, A Place for Us, is one of the best, most emotional, books I’ve ever read, and I would not miss her next choice. I was not disappointed. I also want to thank all my Goodreads friends, my local friends, and my blogger friends, who joined me for this special read. I read this book with friends in different time zones and countries, and I’m sincerely thankful for the opportunity.
Golden Child takes place on the island of Trinidad. The Deyalsingh family lives in a rural, remote area of the island, in a brick house on stilts right by the bush. They live a quiet life, one surrounded by family. There’s a mother, father, and two sons, twins, Paul and Peter. Immediately we learn that one is intelligent and successful, while the other is limited cognitively and is “different” in some ways.
One day Paul goes for a walk in the bush and doesn’t return. Clyde, the father, searches for him to no avail, but thtough his journey, he tells the story of how he has had his hands full with Paul. How he has never understood him, never truly bonded with him. No spoilers here, but Clyde is faced with a desperate decision, one that not only broke my heart, it pulverized it.
There is an emotional tone throughout the story. I wanted to jump in and talk to Clyde, tell him how to understand Paul better, talk to Paul and tell him he is worthy no matter what people think of him. I felt unsettled and on edge through the book as Clyde searches for Paul, as we wait to find out his fate, as we hope for answers.
Golden Child is a story of family betrayal, aspiration and yearning for better, and the limits we place on our love. I’ve always been a BIG love kind of person, and it was hard to watch those limits being enforced and observing the ramifications of that in this family.
Overall, this was deeply affecting book that kept me thinking and honestly aching after the last page. I enjoyed the discussions I had with each of my friends. I learned more about them and about the book through the discussion. This type of book begs to be discussed with friends. It’s too emotional to keep to yourself.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
A special thank you to Goodreads, Crown/SJP for Hogarth, and Claire Adam for the outstanding buddy read experience, as well as to Berit, Beth, Linda, DeAnn, Jeannie, and all my local friends for reading and discussing with me. ♥️
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
January 20, 2019
It’s hard to write about Golden Child without giving too much away. I thought it was a superb little book, but, boy, does it dredge up a lot of strong emotions. Set in Trinidad, the story focuses on Clyde and Joy, and their twin sons Peter and Paul. Peter is exceptionally academically talented. Paul was born with his umbilical cord around his neck which leads his family to refer to him as "retarded". The ensuing family dynamics and unfolding events are heartbreaking and not for the feint of heart or for those who like tidy moral endings. But I was very impressed with how Adam tells this story. She brought me right into the characters' heads and into their world on the island of Trinidad. This is a book with a strong sense of character and place, that left me with strong emotions. This was also a great book to read as a buddy read with Diane and Angela. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
January 22, 2019
Myths of family, something a family!y strongly believes which allows them to act and to make the decisions they feel are right. The Deyalsinghs of Trinidad, both Joy and Clyde the descendants of Indian immigrants, have two sons, teins Peter and Paul. Though they love both Paul is considered slow due to deprivation of oxygen at birth. Peter is the gollden child, the smart one, headed for success. When the book opens a teenage Paul is not to be found.
Claire Adams, our author, was born in Trinidad so it is not surprising that her descriptions of the area, the food, the political climate and family dynamics are so ably portrayed. In this book a very important decision has to be made, one no parent would have to make, but what leads up to this decision is the Crux of the novel. We gain a keen insight into not only the characters, but also the way this family lives and how their relationships are formed.
One knows they have been strongly pulled into a book when one finishes the book, and it leaves them both sad and angry. It also refuses to leave my mind, as I as a parent so strongly disagree with some of the actions within and the decision made. Enough said, read it for yourself and see how you feel and what you think about what you read.
A mid-month read with my reading buddies Angela and Esil. As usual enjoyed our discussion.
ARC from Edelweiss
Claire Adams, our author, was born in Trinidad so it is not surprising that her descriptions of the area, the food, the political climate and family dynamics are so ably portrayed. In this book a very important decision has to be made, one no parent would have to make, but what leads up to this decision is the Crux of the novel. We gain a keen insight into not only the characters, but also the way this family lives and how their relationships are formed.
One knows they have been strongly pulled into a book when one finishes the book, and it leaves them both sad and angry. It also refuses to leave my mind, as I as a parent so strongly disagree with some of the actions within and the decision made. Enough said, read it for yourself and see how you feel and what you think about what you read.
A mid-month read with my reading buddies Angela and Esil. As usual enjoyed our discussion.
ARC from Edelweiss
March 3, 2019
A beautiful and unsettling tale alive with culture!
Claire Adam’s debut is a story that will transport you to 1980s Trinidad with its descriptive writing. I found the tropical setting of Trinidad to be unique and fascinating. The juxtaposition of the beauty and corruption was simultaneously disconcerting and alluring. A Book that I believe will stay with me for a long time, a book that asks many questions and begs to be discussed. I was so grateful that I had both my mom and my good friend Jennifer to talk about this book with after I finished. There are some heartbreaking decisions made in this book, but I believe the difference in culture and time had something to do with some tough choices. I strongly encourage you to fine one of your best reading buddies and read this mesmerizing book!
1980s Trinidad a family of modest means just trying to survive. Clyde the father works long hours at a petroleum company doing his absolute best to support his family. Joy the mother stays home and takes care of her family, twin boys Peter and Paul. Peter is the golden child not just smart but a genius. Paul was born with the cord around his neck depriving him of oxygen and ultimately leading to a learning disability. Joy did what she could to make sure the boys were treated equally, something that Clyde struggled with. Cultural differences and an ill-equipped school system lead to Paul being treated poorly, something that was hard to read. The family is ultimately face with a heart wrenching decision with no good answers. The other people surrounding the family as well as Trinidad itself really lend a lot of conflict to this story. The extended family does not always have the best of intentions and they are connected to some pretty shady people. The corruption and crime of Trinidad also is a huge factor in this story.
I was completely swept away by this compelling story. The characters were so well drawn and colorful. The storyline was very thought-provoking and evoked many emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spend with this family on this island, even though at times it was extremely uncomfortable and distressful. A powerful story I won’t soon forget, I absolutely recommend!
🎧🎧🎧 this was one stunning audiobook that absolutely further immersed me in the story! Obi Abili brought so much island flavor to the narration with his melodic island accent. Seriously I could listen to him talk all day long!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning
So shall it be in the end
Let's get together and feel all right
Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (one love)
There is one question I'd really like to ask (one heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me
One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning
So shall it be in the end
One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Let's get…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eL...
*** A huge thank you too SJP for Hogarth for my copy of this book ***
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Claire Adam’s debut is a story that will transport you to 1980s Trinidad with its descriptive writing. I found the tropical setting of Trinidad to be unique and fascinating. The juxtaposition of the beauty and corruption was simultaneously disconcerting and alluring. A Book that I believe will stay with me for a long time, a book that asks many questions and begs to be discussed. I was so grateful that I had both my mom and my good friend Jennifer to talk about this book with after I finished. There are some heartbreaking decisions made in this book, but I believe the difference in culture and time had something to do with some tough choices. I strongly encourage you to fine one of your best reading buddies and read this mesmerizing book!
1980s Trinidad a family of modest means just trying to survive. Clyde the father works long hours at a petroleum company doing his absolute best to support his family. Joy the mother stays home and takes care of her family, twin boys Peter and Paul. Peter is the golden child not just smart but a genius. Paul was born with the cord around his neck depriving him of oxygen and ultimately leading to a learning disability. Joy did what she could to make sure the boys were treated equally, something that Clyde struggled with. Cultural differences and an ill-equipped school system lead to Paul being treated poorly, something that was hard to read. The family is ultimately face with a heart wrenching decision with no good answers. The other people surrounding the family as well as Trinidad itself really lend a lot of conflict to this story. The extended family does not always have the best of intentions and they are connected to some pretty shady people. The corruption and crime of Trinidad also is a huge factor in this story.
I was completely swept away by this compelling story. The characters were so well drawn and colorful. The storyline was very thought-provoking and evoked many emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spend with this family on this island, even though at times it was extremely uncomfortable and distressful. A powerful story I won’t soon forget, I absolutely recommend!
🎧🎧🎧 this was one stunning audiobook that absolutely further immersed me in the story! Obi Abili brought so much island flavor to the narration with his melodic island accent. Seriously I could listen to him talk all day long!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning
So shall it be in the end
Let's get together and feel all right
Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (one love)
There is one question I'd really like to ask (one heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me
One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning
So shall it be in the end
One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Let's get…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eL...
*** A huge thank you too SJP for Hogarth for my copy of this book ***
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January 13, 2019
I really wanted this to be very good, after having read the first SJP for Hogarth pick and loving it.. but this was sorely lacking for me.
This novel was set in Trinidad and it did give a real sense of place and life there, and I was quite enjoying it at first... the story of twin boys born with one twin having difficulty from the start, and ending up labeled as retarded.
This is the story of their life growing up in this place and the family dynamics that surrounded them, how one twin was favored, and an impossible decision that had to be made.
Thank you to Netgalley and SJP for Hogarth for the advanced copy.
This novel was set in Trinidad and it did give a real sense of place and life there, and I was quite enjoying it at first... the story of twin boys born with one twin having difficulty from the start, and ending up labeled as retarded.
This is the story of their life growing up in this place and the family dynamics that surrounded them, how one twin was favored, and an impossible decision that had to be made.
Thank you to Netgalley and SJP for Hogarth for the advanced copy.
January 22, 2019
This was ultimately a disappointment.
A fairly short book, I slogged through this. I thought about putting it down, but I was already 2/3rds of the way through and thought, "Well, I may as well finish the damn thing."
We follow the Deyalsingh family, made up of parents Clyde and Joy and twin sons Peter and Paul. Peter excels at everything, and Paul is repeatedly referred to as "sightly r*******." Set in Trinidad in the '80s, the plot revolves around Paul's disappearance.
I will say this book uses setting extremely well. Its greatest strength is in its sense of place. Trinidad feels like a character itself, and I would argue it's the most developed character, at that.
At its core, this is a story about masculinity. About the performance of masculinity, how we treat those who deviate from the norm, how it interacts with familial relationships. And honestly, I found it tedious. And there is a dearth of compelling female characters. Joy is really the only prominent one, and at times she feels like little more than a plot device to explain why Paul and Peter go to the same school. If more of the book had been from Paul's perspective, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
However, the majority of the story is told from Clyde's perspective. That's where I would pin most of the issues I have with this particular book. Clyde doesn't have much of a character arc. He doesn't understand Paul's behavior, prioritizes Peter's future, and because of the timeline and the format of the narrative, he never really confronts the consequences of his behavior. Even during the climax of the novel, he doesn't deviate from this pattern. And because the book ends so suddenly after that climax, we don't see him deal with any of the emotional fallout.
I have read many books about stern, stubborn, stereotypically masculine male figures. I didn't enjoy reading another one. I wanted to like this, but I just didn't.
A fairly short book, I slogged through this. I thought about putting it down, but I was already 2/3rds of the way through and thought, "Well, I may as well finish the damn thing."
We follow the Deyalsingh family, made up of parents Clyde and Joy and twin sons Peter and Paul. Peter excels at everything, and Paul is repeatedly referred to as "sightly r*******." Set in Trinidad in the '80s, the plot revolves around Paul's disappearance.
I will say this book uses setting extremely well. Its greatest strength is in its sense of place. Trinidad feels like a character itself, and I would argue it's the most developed character, at that.
At its core, this is a story about masculinity. About the performance of masculinity, how we treat those who deviate from the norm, how it interacts with familial relationships. And honestly, I found it tedious. And there is a dearth of compelling female characters. Joy is really the only prominent one, and at times she feels like little more than a plot device to explain why Paul and Peter go to the same school. If more of the book had been from Paul's perspective, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
However, the majority of the story is told from Clyde's perspective. That's where I would pin most of the issues I have with this particular book. Clyde doesn't have much of a character arc. He doesn't understand Paul's behavior, prioritizes Peter's future, and because of the timeline and the format of the narrative, he never really confronts the consequences of his behavior. Even during the climax of the novel, he doesn't deviate from this pattern. And because the book ends so suddenly after that climax, we don't see him deal with any of the emotional fallout.
I have read many books about stern, stubborn, stereotypically masculine male figures. I didn't enjoy reading another one. I wanted to like this, but I just didn't.
February 25, 2019
Updated- February 25th
Re-Read Golden Child as the second book for BookOfCinz book club and it was a success.
I received an advanced reader copy of Claire Adam’s “Golden Child” from the amazing people over at Hogarth’s Publishing. “Golden Child” will be on sale in January 2019 and I definitely recommend you grabbing a copy of this amazing novel.
Set in Trinidad and Tobago in what I am assuming is the 1980s we meet the Deyalsingh family- father Clyde, mother Joy and their twin sons Paul and Peter. The family lives in the rural part of Trinidad and Tobago in a home that’s been in the family for generations. The father Clyde is a humble yet proud man who is trying his very best to provide for his family even in difficult circumstances. Things got a bit difficult after the birth of their twin. While Peter was delivered without complications, Paul suffered lack of oxygen along with other complications, while he survived his difficult birth will be a foreshadowing of his life. Peter is deemed a genius by his family and teachers while Paul is labelled as “not normal”.
One evening Paul goes walking into the bush but does not come home. Joy and Peter are worried about what might happen to him. Clyde goes in search of his missing son who he had a terrible fight with some days before. While searching for his son Clyde thinks of all the possible reasons for his disappearance but nothing comes close to why he is actually missing.
I finished this book two days ago and I am still being haunted by what took place. This book pulls you in from the very first chapter. Adam pulls the strings so tight in this book, the tension and build-up is palatable, some moments I actually had to remind myself to breathe. What I loved most was how imperfect and authentic the characters were, especially Clyde who is forced to make a decision no parent should make.
Claire Adam’s writing is enthralling and beautiful. As a Jamaican living in Trinidad and Tobago for the last four years, I can say, with my limited knowledge that Adam perfectly captures the culture and social nuisances of this country.
Golden Child is a deeply moving story about family, love, betrayal and resilience. I cannot wait for everyone to read this because I know this will be a major hit for 2019. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS
Re-Read Golden Child as the second book for BookOfCinz book club and it was a success.
I received an advanced reader copy of Claire Adam’s “Golden Child” from the amazing people over at Hogarth’s Publishing. “Golden Child” will be on sale in January 2019 and I definitely recommend you grabbing a copy of this amazing novel.
Set in Trinidad and Tobago in what I am assuming is the 1980s we meet the Deyalsingh family- father Clyde, mother Joy and their twin sons Paul and Peter. The family lives in the rural part of Trinidad and Tobago in a home that’s been in the family for generations. The father Clyde is a humble yet proud man who is trying his very best to provide for his family even in difficult circumstances. Things got a bit difficult after the birth of their twin. While Peter was delivered without complications, Paul suffered lack of oxygen along with other complications, while he survived his difficult birth will be a foreshadowing of his life. Peter is deemed a genius by his family and teachers while Paul is labelled as “not normal”.
One evening Paul goes walking into the bush but does not come home. Joy and Peter are worried about what might happen to him. Clyde goes in search of his missing son who he had a terrible fight with some days before. While searching for his son Clyde thinks of all the possible reasons for his disappearance but nothing comes close to why he is actually missing.
I finished this book two days ago and I am still being haunted by what took place. This book pulls you in from the very first chapter. Adam pulls the strings so tight in this book, the tension and build-up is palatable, some moments I actually had to remind myself to breathe. What I loved most was how imperfect and authentic the characters were, especially Clyde who is forced to make a decision no parent should make.
Claire Adam’s writing is enthralling and beautiful. As a Jamaican living in Trinidad and Tobago for the last four years, I can say, with my limited knowledge that Adam perfectly captures the culture and social nuisances of this country.
Golden Child is a deeply moving story about family, love, betrayal and resilience. I cannot wait for everyone to read this because I know this will be a major hit for 2019. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS
February 26, 2019
Many thanks to Hogarth Books for my free copy of GOLDEN CHILD
This is a profound, beautifully rendered debut novel set in 1980’s rural Trinidad with unforgettable characters.
We follow twin brothers, Paul and Peter, who are nothing alike. Paul, through a difficult birth was born with a learning disability and Peter is intellectually gifted. Their parents, Joy and Clyde, have determined very early on the fate of their two children. We follow the brothers through childhood, but at thirteen years old, one brother goes missing under appalling circumstances. At this point, we see the aftermath of this deeply disturbing event.
A good portion of the narrative is from Clyde’s perspective, some from Peter, and their teacher Father Kavanagh. The style in which the voices seamlessly switch back and forth is brilliant. The language is elegant and lyrical with colorful, visceral imagery of Trinidad. Adam sets the mood of time and place so perfectly, we are literarily transported to where these characters are. The intense look into how self-fulfilling prophecies can cause a rift in family dynamics was interesting, however there is some incredibly difficult content to process - it is hard to fathom the betrayal and the decisions that are forced to be made. And although it is a bit predictable, it did not lessen my emotional heartbreak.
Thank you Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP for Hogarth) for bringing this book into my life. I will most definitely read whatever Adam comes out with next!
This is a profound, beautifully rendered debut novel set in 1980’s rural Trinidad with unforgettable characters.
We follow twin brothers, Paul and Peter, who are nothing alike. Paul, through a difficult birth was born with a learning disability and Peter is intellectually gifted. Their parents, Joy and Clyde, have determined very early on the fate of their two children. We follow the brothers through childhood, but at thirteen years old, one brother goes missing under appalling circumstances. At this point, we see the aftermath of this deeply disturbing event.
A good portion of the narrative is from Clyde’s perspective, some from Peter, and their teacher Father Kavanagh. The style in which the voices seamlessly switch back and forth is brilliant. The language is elegant and lyrical with colorful, visceral imagery of Trinidad. Adam sets the mood of time and place so perfectly, we are literarily transported to where these characters are. The intense look into how self-fulfilling prophecies can cause a rift in family dynamics was interesting, however there is some incredibly difficult content to process - it is hard to fathom the betrayal and the decisions that are forced to be made. And although it is a bit predictable, it did not lessen my emotional heartbreak.
Thank you Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP for Hogarth) for bringing this book into my life. I will most definitely read whatever Adam comes out with next!
January 24, 2019
3.5 Stars
Set in 1980’s Trinidad, this gives the reader a somewhat raw but complete sense of time and place and the ins and outs of the life of this family. Twin boys, who are thirteen as this story takes place, Paul was oxygen deprived during birth that affects his learning, and the other twin, Paul, who excels in school and considered to be intellectually gifted. As such, Paul tends to get more “positive” attention from those around him.
Their home sits surrounded by bush, set up from the ground on stilts, and their life has been good, but not easy. The father, Clyde, works long hours, the boys travel far to attend their school in Port of Spain, while Joy, the wife / mother, takes care of their home, and them. There are dangers outside that they are aware of, but they are careful to lock their doors and take precautions when outside.
And then one day, Paul doesn’t come home as the afternoon fades into evening, so Clyde goes looking for him, internally focused on how much trouble this son has caused him already, all the worrying he puts them through. He eventually gives up, calls off his search for the evening and returns home focusing on the retribution coming Paul’s way when he finds him.
While I didn’t love this, I felt this debut novel showed a lot of promise. The lovely descriptive writing of the place was the highlight for me, but the story – which should have been incredibly moving – seemed to be told in such a matter-of-fact way that the “telling” seemed somewhat devoid of emotion.
Golden Child is the latest SJP for Hogarth selection.
Pub Date: 29 Jan 2019
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crown Publishing / SJP for Hogarth
Set in 1980’s Trinidad, this gives the reader a somewhat raw but complete sense of time and place and the ins and outs of the life of this family. Twin boys, who are thirteen as this story takes place, Paul was oxygen deprived during birth that affects his learning, and the other twin, Paul, who excels in school and considered to be intellectually gifted. As such, Paul tends to get more “positive” attention from those around him.
Their home sits surrounded by bush, set up from the ground on stilts, and their life has been good, but not easy. The father, Clyde, works long hours, the boys travel far to attend their school in Port of Spain, while Joy, the wife / mother, takes care of their home, and them. There are dangers outside that they are aware of, but they are careful to lock their doors and take precautions when outside.
And then one day, Paul doesn’t come home as the afternoon fades into evening, so Clyde goes looking for him, internally focused on how much trouble this son has caused him already, all the worrying he puts them through. He eventually gives up, calls off his search for the evening and returns home focusing on the retribution coming Paul’s way when he finds him.
While I didn’t love this, I felt this debut novel showed a lot of promise. The lovely descriptive writing of the place was the highlight for me, but the story – which should have been incredibly moving – seemed to be told in such a matter-of-fact way that the “telling” seemed somewhat devoid of emotion.
Golden Child is the latest SJP for Hogarth selection.
Pub Date: 29 Jan 2019
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Crown Publishing / SJP for Hogarth
March 10, 2019
3.5 This was so heartbreaking! I finished over a week ago and I can't stop thinking about it. The writing was beautiful, I felt like I was in Trinidad, not a place I would want to visit now that I have read this story. It is not a safe place to be. This is the story of twin brothers and how they were treated differently as they grew up. I was very upset at one of the decisions made by one of the characters and I still can't understand why they did it. I was shocked by it! I wish the story had more about the 2 boys and their relationship with each other. I felt like I needed to know more about them. I highly recommend this for book clubs, there is a lot to discuss.
Thanks to DeAnn and Jennifer for my copy of this book, we had a great discussion!
Thanks to DeAnn and Jennifer for my copy of this book, we had a great discussion!
February 26, 2019
4 heartbreaking stars to this emotional tale
This book packs a powerful, thought-provoking punch. Set on the island of Trinidad, off the coast of Venezuela, this story centers around a family with twins – Paul and Peter. Even though they are twins, the boys are very different. Paul had some complications at birth and Peter excels at school. Recognizing that education is key, an uncle offers to pay for their private school education.
Claire Adam brought the island to life with her writing and I was able to picture myself there. She is also able to put us right into the character’s heads to show us more of their life and motivations. I enjoyed the chapters narrated by Paul, I felt like I got a glimpse into his life and how he looks at the world and it felt like his family (especially parents) didn’t really understand him. A priest works with Paul at school and shares that he is making real academic progress.
There is a criminal element in Trinidad with houses locked up tight, roaming bandits, and dogs guarding homes. There are break-ins and it is difficult to feel safe. Ultimately, the family faces a difficult choice when Paul goes missing.
I did enjoy this book, but it stirred up a lot of emotions for me. There are themes regarding money and greed and how it can really create problems in families. There’s also the difficult theme of how we treat our children, do we favor the ones that are gifted at the expense of the ones that need more time and attention? When do you take a stand and when do you make exceptions?
Vocabulary tip: steups -- Native to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies. Imitative of the act of sucking one's teeth - "kissing teeth" - as a gesture of annoyance or disapproval.
I truly enjoyed reading and discussing this with Jennifer TarHeelReader and Jeannie. Thank you to Penguin Random House and Claire Adam for an early copy of the book to read.
This book packs a powerful, thought-provoking punch. Set on the island of Trinidad, off the coast of Venezuela, this story centers around a family with twins – Paul and Peter. Even though they are twins, the boys are very different. Paul had some complications at birth and Peter excels at school. Recognizing that education is key, an uncle offers to pay for their private school education.
Claire Adam brought the island to life with her writing and I was able to picture myself there. She is also able to put us right into the character’s heads to show us more of their life and motivations. I enjoyed the chapters narrated by Paul, I felt like I got a glimpse into his life and how he looks at the world and it felt like his family (especially parents) didn’t really understand him. A priest works with Paul at school and shares that he is making real academic progress.
There is a criminal element in Trinidad with houses locked up tight, roaming bandits, and dogs guarding homes. There are break-ins and it is difficult to feel safe. Ultimately, the family faces a difficult choice when Paul goes missing.
I did enjoy this book, but it stirred up a lot of emotions for me. There are themes regarding money and greed and how it can really create problems in families. There’s also the difficult theme of how we treat our children, do we favor the ones that are gifted at the expense of the ones that need more time and attention? When do you take a stand and when do you make exceptions?
Vocabulary tip: steups -- Native to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies. Imitative of the act of sucking one's teeth - "kissing teeth" - as a gesture of annoyance or disapproval.
I truly enjoyed reading and discussing this with Jennifer TarHeelReader and Jeannie. Thank you to Penguin Random House and Claire Adam for an early copy of the book to read.
January 15, 2019
THIS BOOKS IS SO DISAPPOINTING.
I wanted to love it -- I really did -- but it just falls flat from the very beginning. The premise is so auspicious: twins born to poor parents in rural Trinidad; one perfectly healthy, the other deprived of oxygen at birth and developmentally delayed for the rest of his life. Their trajectory is fairly predictable: Peter excels at everything, Paul disappoints. But it culminates in (what could've been) a really suspenseful And while this storyline has so much potential, Claire Adam just doesn't deliver. The story is slow, lackluster, and lacking in any kind of of meaningful character development. While the end -- if you get there -- is devastating, it lacks the emotional gravitas it could have if the story that preceded it were more thoroughly developed.
I think what I appreciate about this book is the central question it implores the reader to ask about love -- specifically about the way we love our family despite their imperfections. Three stars for the book's premise (and promise). I just wish it had made me feel more!
I wanted to love it -- I really did -- but it just falls flat from the very beginning. The premise is so auspicious: twins born to poor parents in rural Trinidad; one perfectly healthy, the other deprived of oxygen at birth and developmentally delayed for the rest of his life. Their trajectory is fairly predictable: Peter excels at everything, Paul disappoints. But it culminates in (what could've been) a really suspenseful And while this storyline has so much potential, Claire Adam just doesn't deliver. The story is slow, lackluster, and lacking in any kind of of meaningful character development. While the end -- if you get there -- is devastating, it lacks the emotional gravitas it could have if the story that preceded it were more thoroughly developed.
I think what I appreciate about this book is the central question it implores the reader to ask about love -- specifically about the way we love our family despite their imperfections. Three stars for the book's premise (and promise). I just wish it had made me feel more!
Read
December 30, 2018Why I love it
by Siobhan Jones
Stories about twins don’t often interest me because I am one. I know well the way people pit you against one another, the scaries of becoming the lesser half. But Golden Child, a book about two 13-year-old brothers, captured my interest immediately. Maybe it was the unusual setting, rural Trinidad, or the style—sparse, muscular prose. My point is, I knew from page one this book was special and that I wasn’t reading some humdrum sibling rivalry tale.
Picture a family: an uneducated father struggling to make ends meet, a mother who anchors the home. Two twin brothers—Peter, incredibly gifted, and Paul, who’s inexplicably different, troubled. The fate of the family lies in Peter’s ability to secure a scholarship abroad and lift them out of poverty. But when Paul goes missing, an impossible choice must be made, altering the twins’ shared future forever.
This is a heavy, fairly literary read that also happens to be completely absorbing. The plot is straightforward enough; the book’s energy comes from the almost cosmic twists of fate that befall the family, and the sense of lawlessness that prevails in their neighborhood. There are Old Testament levels of intensity to this story. I hope you, like me, find it worth it.
Read more at: https://bookofthemonth.com/golden-chi...
by Siobhan Jones
Stories about twins don’t often interest me because I am one. I know well the way people pit you against one another, the scaries of becoming the lesser half. But Golden Child, a book about two 13-year-old brothers, captured my interest immediately. Maybe it was the unusual setting, rural Trinidad, or the style—sparse, muscular prose. My point is, I knew from page one this book was special and that I wasn’t reading some humdrum sibling rivalry tale.
Picture a family: an uneducated father struggling to make ends meet, a mother who anchors the home. Two twin brothers—Peter, incredibly gifted, and Paul, who’s inexplicably different, troubled. The fate of the family lies in Peter’s ability to secure a scholarship abroad and lift them out of poverty. But when Paul goes missing, an impossible choice must be made, altering the twins’ shared future forever.
This is a heavy, fairly literary read that also happens to be completely absorbing. The plot is straightforward enough; the book’s energy comes from the almost cosmic twists of fate that befall the family, and the sense of lawlessness that prevails in their neighborhood. There are Old Testament levels of intensity to this story. I hope you, like me, find it worth it.
Read more at: https://bookofthemonth.com/golden-chi...
December 1, 2018
Devastatingly beautiful. This book is going to haunt me for a few days.
May 11, 2022
Το Χρυσό παιδί αποτελεί το πρώτο μυθιστόρημα της Adam. Η συγγραφέας τοποθετεί την ιστορία της στον τόπο καταγωγής της στο Τρινιντάντ. Βασικοί ήρωές της είναι τα μέλη μιας οικογένειας έχοντας ωστόσο στο επίκεντρο τον πατέρα Κλάιντ και έπειτα τα δίδυμα. Το χρονικό πλαίσιο που διαδραματίζονται τα γεγονότα είναι η δεκαετία μεταξύ 80 και 90, με ό,τι αυτό συνεπάγεται σε οικονομικό και ηθικό επίπεδο. Οικονομικές δυσχέρειες, δυσκολίες στην καθημερινή ζωή είναι τα βασικά προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει η οικογένεια Κλάιντ. Ίσως όμως το μεγαλύτερο πρόβλημα, όπως προσωπικά το εξέλαβα, είναι αυτός ο διαχωρισμός των παιδιών, η ιδιαίτερη αγάπη και προσοχή που μπορεί να λαμβάνει ένα παιδί σε σχέση με το άλλο, από τους γονείς. Τα δίδυμα της ιστορίας δεν είναι ίδια. Ο Πίτερ είναι ευφυής σε αντίθεση με τον Πολ ένα πρόβλημα στη γέννα καλλιέργησε την ιδέα ότι είναι λιγότερο έξυπνος, καθυστερημένος στην ανάπτυξή του. Ένας γονιός θα φρόντιζε το αδύναμο παιδί του... εδώ όμως τι συμβαίνει; Ο πατέρας Κλάιντ στο μυαλό του διαχωρίζει τους δυο γιους του. Ο ένας έχει δικαίωμα στη μόρφωση και ο άλλος;;; Κι αντιλαμβάνεσαι ακόμα περισσότερο αυτό τον διαχωρισμό όταν απαγάγεται ο Πολ και τα λύτρα που ζητούν οι απαγωγείς ισούνται με τα χρήματα της μόρφωσης του Πίτερ... Θα τα δώσει ο πατέρας; Ηθικά διλήμματα γεννιούνται.
Το μυθιστόρημα αυτό κοινωνικού περιεχομένου και αναστοχασμού μας φέρνει αντιμέτωπους με ερωτήματα που όποια απάντηση και να δώσεις πιστεύεις ότι είναι λανθασμένη και οδηγεί σε αναπότρεπτες συνέπειες.
Το βιβλίο χωρίζεται σε τρία μέρη, τοποθετούμενα χρονικά στο παρόν, παρελθόν, παρόν. Το δεύτερο μέρος περιλαμβάνει εμβόλιμες ιστορίες που βοηθούν τον αναγνώστη να κατανοήσει την κοινωνική και οικονομική θέση των ηρώων, και να κατανοήσει την δράση των ηρώων που πρέπει να αντιμετωπίσουν προβλήματα κάποιες φορές κοινά με τα δικά του.
Αν έπρεπε να σταθώ στην σκιαγράφηση των ηρώων θα σημείωνα ότι είναι αρκετά καλή καθώς η συγγραφέας επικεντρώνει την προσοχή της στους γονείς και κυρίως στο πατέρα.
Συναισθήματα πόνου, απορίας καλλιεργούνται στον αναγνώστη και θα προσθέσω και το οργής για εμένα γιατί δεν μπορώ να φανταστώ ότι θα μετρούσα την αγάπη που θα πρόσφερα σε κάθε παιδί... ή ακόμα καλύτερα τις ευκαιρίες στη ζωή.
Το μυθιστόρημα αυτό κοινωνικού περιεχομένου και αναστοχασμού μας φέρνει αντιμέτωπους με ερωτήματα που όποια απάντηση και να δώσεις πιστεύεις ότι είναι λανθασμένη και οδηγεί σε αναπότρεπτες συνέπειες.
Το βιβλίο χωρίζεται σε τρία μέρη, τοποθετούμενα χρονικά στο παρόν, παρελθόν, παρόν. Το δεύτερο μέρος περιλαμβάνει εμβόλιμες ιστορίες που βοηθούν τον αναγνώστη να κατανοήσει την κοινωνική και οικονομική θέση των ηρώων, και να κατανοήσει την δράση των ηρώων που πρέπει να αντιμετωπίσουν προβλήματα κάποιες φορές κοινά με τα δικά του.
Αν έπρεπε να σταθώ στην σκιαγράφηση των ηρώων θα σημείωνα ότι είναι αρκετά καλή καθώς η συγγραφέας επικεντρώνει την προσοχή της στους γονείς και κυρίως στο πατέρα.
Συναισθήματα πόνου, απορίας καλλιεργούνται στον αναγνώστη και θα προσθέσω και το οργής για εμένα γιατί δεν μπορώ να φανταστώ ότι θα μετρούσα την αγάπη που θα πρόσφερα σε κάθε παιδί... ή ακόμα καλύτερα τις ευκαιρίες στη ζωή.
Read
September 24, 2018Golden Child tells the story of Clyde and Joy and their two teenage sons, Paul and Peter. When Paul goes walking in the bush one afternoon and doesn't come home, his parents are faced with an agonizing decision.
It's a window into life on Trinidad, a country that I am not familiar with. Adams writes beautiful, economic prose, and her story has palpable movement and pathos. The descriptions of the social and economic structure of Trinidad are detailed. Clyde and Joy strive to make it through each day in a place where corruption is deeply ingrained and the reader is able to watch how it wears them down. It's also a compelling portrayal of the perils of parenting in a highly challenging environment. It's well-written and subtle, a powerful combination!
It's a window into life on Trinidad, a country that I am not familiar with. Adams writes beautiful, economic prose, and her story has palpable movement and pathos. The descriptions of the social and economic structure of Trinidad are detailed. Clyde and Joy strive to make it through each day in a place where corruption is deeply ingrained and the reader is able to watch how it wears them down. It's also a compelling portrayal of the perils of parenting in a highly challenging environment. It's well-written and subtle, a powerful combination!
October 21, 2018
Be ready. Everyone will be talking about this one. At the risk of heresy, this work reminded me of The Sound and the Fury with the changing voices and perspective. Fabulous work.
I received an advanced copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I received an advanced copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
March 1, 2019
Goodreads deleted my review and moved the book to want-to-read!! I hope this was just a glitch 🙄🙄Posting my review again!!
Golden Child by Clare Adam was an extremely hard book to read, but even harder was writing this review. I literally procrastinated jotting down my thoughts for weeks. You see, I tend to categorize books – there are those I adore, keep recommending and won’t stop talking about, then there are the those that don’t work for me, ones I simply don’t care about and can’t be bothered enough to talk about. There is also an in-between category – books that I am enjoying while reading, but as soon as I move on to another, they easily slip out of my mind. And then, there is that dreaded group, one very few books make it to – books that I am convinced I don’t like, but somehow they affect me so deeply, it’s impossible to stop thinking about them, a constant string of ifs and whys and hows keep bothering me days after I am done with it. Golden Child belongs in that dire last category.
Set in 1980’s rural Trinidad, this story revolves around an Indian immigrant family, Clyde and Joy Deyalsingh, and their thirteen year old twin boys, Peter and Paul. Peter is a prodigy, incredibly intelligent, always excelling in school and life. Paul, on the other hand has always had difficulty with learning, primarily due to being oxygen deprived during birth. Clyde works long hours at a Petroleum plant and Joy takes care of the house and kids. The twins always stick together. Life is simple and good, if not easy. And then, one day Paul doesn’t come back home from school. Afternoon turns into evening that gradually fades into night. And life that the Deyalsinghs have known, changes irrevocably.
The story is divided into three parts, written in third person and told from three different perspectives of Clyde, a priest from the twin’s school Father Kavanagh and Paul. The writing style overall did not impress me. Mostly it felt flat, matter of fact and lacking in emotion. For an extremely raw and heart-wrenching story line, the narration seemed devoid of the personal connection one would expect. Although the vivid descriptions of the island setting and life in general in Trinidad during the eighties is extremely well written. The author succeeds in painting a raw and fairly accurate picture of the backlash of corruption, violence and politics on this tiny island.
The family dynamics and societal workings is also portrayed adeptly in the story. On one hand there is a jealously that leads to an impossible betrayal while on the other there is also extreme kindness and generosity. Where there are dangerous repercussions of innocent gossip, there is also a sense of community where people gather together and offer as much help during desperate times. For a fairly short book, the author has managed to encompass a wide variety of emotions and characters.
However, the final and also the shortest part of this book is what packs the colossal emotional punch. That unimaginable, heart-breaking choice that occurs towards the end of this story, invokes a giant emotional conflict, one that every reader has an opinion on. I do too, I felt enraged, crushed, and literally wanted to scream at Clyde. I can’t elaborate further, because I’d like to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, so you need to read the book to know what I am talking about. And if you have read this and want to talk, hit me up, I am not sure any amount of conversation I have about this is ever going to be enough!
Moving on, what bothered me most, even more than that terrible choice, was the abruptness with which the story ends and the lack of Clyde’s emotional response on how that one decision he was solely responsible for, affects him as a father, a husband and as a human. I wanted to know what he felt, how he justified his action and how he moved on, that is, if he did at all. It was the absence of this substantial part of the story that left me staggered and extremely unfulfilled. I’d never understand his decision, but I wish I could have known how it affected him.
And so, to conclude, I’d say even though I had mixed feelings about this story, it made its impact. A strange yet stirring tale of impossible choices, complex emotions and unthinkable sacrifices, Golden Child by Clare Adam will leave its readers conflicted and hurting.
Read this if you like literary fiction with convoluted family dynamics and extreme emotional conflicts.
For more reviews visit my blog Booktimistic - Books, Outdoors & Optimism
** A free finished copy was provided by SJP for Hogarth and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
Golden Child by Clare Adam was an extremely hard book to read, but even harder was writing this review. I literally procrastinated jotting down my thoughts for weeks. You see, I tend to categorize books – there are those I adore, keep recommending and won’t stop talking about, then there are the those that don’t work for me, ones I simply don’t care about and can’t be bothered enough to talk about. There is also an in-between category – books that I am enjoying while reading, but as soon as I move on to another, they easily slip out of my mind. And then, there is that dreaded group, one very few books make it to – books that I am convinced I don’t like, but somehow they affect me so deeply, it’s impossible to stop thinking about them, a constant string of ifs and whys and hows keep bothering me days after I am done with it. Golden Child belongs in that dire last category.
Set in 1980’s rural Trinidad, this story revolves around an Indian immigrant family, Clyde and Joy Deyalsingh, and their thirteen year old twin boys, Peter and Paul. Peter is a prodigy, incredibly intelligent, always excelling in school and life. Paul, on the other hand has always had difficulty with learning, primarily due to being oxygen deprived during birth. Clyde works long hours at a Petroleum plant and Joy takes care of the house and kids. The twins always stick together. Life is simple and good, if not easy. And then, one day Paul doesn’t come back home from school. Afternoon turns into evening that gradually fades into night. And life that the Deyalsinghs have known, changes irrevocably.
The story is divided into three parts, written in third person and told from three different perspectives of Clyde, a priest from the twin’s school Father Kavanagh and Paul. The writing style overall did not impress me. Mostly it felt flat, matter of fact and lacking in emotion. For an extremely raw and heart-wrenching story line, the narration seemed devoid of the personal connection one would expect. Although the vivid descriptions of the island setting and life in general in Trinidad during the eighties is extremely well written. The author succeeds in painting a raw and fairly accurate picture of the backlash of corruption, violence and politics on this tiny island.
The family dynamics and societal workings is also portrayed adeptly in the story. On one hand there is a jealously that leads to an impossible betrayal while on the other there is also extreme kindness and generosity. Where there are dangerous repercussions of innocent gossip, there is also a sense of community where people gather together and offer as much help during desperate times. For a fairly short book, the author has managed to encompass a wide variety of emotions and characters.
However, the final and also the shortest part of this book is what packs the colossal emotional punch. That unimaginable, heart-breaking choice that occurs towards the end of this story, invokes a giant emotional conflict, one that every reader has an opinion on. I do too, I felt enraged, crushed, and literally wanted to scream at Clyde. I can’t elaborate further, because I’d like to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, so you need to read the book to know what I am talking about. And if you have read this and want to talk, hit me up, I am not sure any amount of conversation I have about this is ever going to be enough!
Moving on, what bothered me most, even more than that terrible choice, was the abruptness with which the story ends and the lack of Clyde’s emotional response on how that one decision he was solely responsible for, affects him as a father, a husband and as a human. I wanted to know what he felt, how he justified his action and how he moved on, that is, if he did at all. It was the absence of this substantial part of the story that left me staggered and extremely unfulfilled. I’d never understand his decision, but I wish I could have known how it affected him.
And so, to conclude, I’d say even though I had mixed feelings about this story, it made its impact. A strange yet stirring tale of impossible choices, complex emotions and unthinkable sacrifices, Golden Child by Clare Adam will leave its readers conflicted and hurting.
Read this if you like literary fiction with convoluted family dynamics and extreme emotional conflicts.
For more reviews visit my blog Booktimistic - Books, Outdoors & Optimism
** A free finished copy was provided by SJP for Hogarth and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
May 24, 2018
As first reviewer, let me make a prediction. People are going to love this book. The painful choices parents in poverty must make distilled into a sort of metaphoric story about a pair of twin boys and their parents living in Trinidad. When one of the boys disappears, the natural assumption is that any parent would do anything possible to find and rescue their child. But, what if the child who was lost is the "slow" twin? What if the price of bringing him back is the future the parents have carefully constructed for the their "golden child"? That is, what if you must trade one child for the other? This is the dilemma constructed in this well-written book. For me, the plot was melodramatic. The choices poor parents make are seldom so clear cut and seldom are the outcomes so obvious. It was hard for me to sympathize with a parent who could make the choice that the father, Clyde, makes in this story and the ending, likewise, seems constructed for maximum drama rather than depth.
May 25, 2020
ETA: [Dieses Buch haben wir auch im Papierstau Podcast besprochen (Folge 89: New Horizons)] /ETA
Dies ist die dramatische und tragische Geschichte einer Familie, geprägt von Herkunft, sozialer Schicht und äußerer Umstände. Clyde und Joy, die sich mehr schlecht als recht durchs Leben schlagen, um ihren Söhnen etwas zu ermöglichen, eine Zukunft, Bildung, Hoffnung. Doch Peter und Paul, die eineiigen Zwillinge, ähneln sich zwar äußerlich, sind aber ansonsten grundverschieden, und die Frage, die im Raum steht: Welche dieser Unterschiede sind tatsächlich real, welche anerzogen? Da ist Peter, der Erstgeborene, das titelgebende Goldkind. Er ist unfassbar klug und hat beste Chancen, die ärmliche Herkunft seiner Familie auf dem Bildungsweg hinter sich zu lassen. Paul hingegen hat von Geburt an mit Schwierigkeiten zu kämpfen: Noch im Mutterleib von der Nabelschnur umwickelt, stockte die Sauerstoffzufuhr zu seinem Gehirn, seitdem wird er als "zurückgeblieben" abgestempelt - und auch durchgängig so behandelt. Zu Recht?
Die Geschichte beginnt, als die Zwillinge 13 Jahre alt sind und sich die Familie gerade von einem Überfall mit anschließendem Streit erholt. Kurz darauf verschwindet Paul. Clyde macht sich auf die Suche nach seinem Sohn, durchstreift die Nachbarschaft und den Busch, doch Paul bleibt verschwunden. Dieser erste Teil dient als gute Einführung in den Alltag der Familie, man bekommt einen ersten Eindruck der Verhältnisse der einzelnen ProtagonistInnen zueinander.
Dann macht die Autorin einen cleveren Cut: Teil zwei springt weit in die Vergangenheit und erzählt von Peter und Pauls Kindheit und den unterschiedlichen Erwartungen, mit/unter denen sie aufwuchsen. Die Erzählstimme wechselt hier in jedem Kapitel, neben den unmittelbaren Familienmitgliedern kommen auch Außenstehende zu Wort und werfen so noch mal ein ganz anderes Licht auf bestimmte Situationen. Neben der vierköpfigen "Kernfamilie" gibt es noch zahlreiche weitere Verwandte, die das Schicksal der anderen wechselseitig bestimmen. Zum Beispiel Onkel Vishnu, der Bruder von Mutter Joy, der als studierter Mediziner und relativ wohlhabender Mann der große Vorbildcharakter ist. Er erkennt Peters Talent und fördert den Jungen, was wiederum zu Neid und Missgunst bei anderen Verwandten führt.
Der dritte Teil setzt schließlich wieder in der Gegenwart ein, wir erhalten tiefere Einsicht in Pauls Gefühlswelt und seinen Entschluss zur Flucht, die schließlich der Auslöser für den tragischen Höhepunkt des Familiendramas wird. Das Ende bzw. der letzte Teil hat mich sehr mitgenommen - die Situation, die sich ergibt, die Gründe dafür und die letztlichen Konsequenzen waren wirklich absolut tragisch und ich lobe Claire Adam für ihren Mut, das so krass durchzuziehen. Das wird mich noch eine Weile beschäftigen.
Neben der Erzählung an sich und den tiefen Emotionen, die das alles bei mir ausgelöst hat, ist noch ein dritter Aspekt wichtig und erwähnenswert: Die Location des Romans, die hier ganz klar ein weiterer "Protagonist" ist. Die Geschichte spielt auf Trinidad, und der Inselstaat ist allgegenwärtig: Es kribbelt und krabbelt überall, der Busch ist dunkel und geheimnisvoll, das Wetter heiß und feucht. Doch nicht nur die Natur, auch die Menschen und Gewohnheiten sprühen nur so vor Lokalkolorit. Korruption und Banden bestimmen das gesellschaftliche Bild und durchdringen auch scheinbar "sichere" Beziehungen. Die Angst vor Gewalt ist ebenso allgegenwärtig: Hunde sind nicht die "besten Freunde", sondern werden scharf gemacht und verdingen sich als Alarmanlage. Claire Adam bringt den Staat, in dem sie aufwuchs, hier gut zum Leben.
Ein faszinierender Debütroman, der Lust auf mehr von der Autorin macht - und ebenso Lust auf mehr Romane, die Sarah Jessica Parker für Hogart publiziert. Beide Frauen haben hier auf Goodreads übrigens "Notes und Highlights" gepostet, die ich als zusätzliche Informationen sehr interessant und erhellend fand.
Dies ist die dramatische und tragische Geschichte einer Familie, geprägt von Herkunft, sozialer Schicht und äußerer Umstände. Clyde und Joy, die sich mehr schlecht als recht durchs Leben schlagen, um ihren Söhnen etwas zu ermöglichen, eine Zukunft, Bildung, Hoffnung. Doch Peter und Paul, die eineiigen Zwillinge, ähneln sich zwar äußerlich, sind aber ansonsten grundverschieden, und die Frage, die im Raum steht: Welche dieser Unterschiede sind tatsächlich real, welche anerzogen? Da ist Peter, der Erstgeborene, das titelgebende Goldkind. Er ist unfassbar klug und hat beste Chancen, die ärmliche Herkunft seiner Familie auf dem Bildungsweg hinter sich zu lassen. Paul hingegen hat von Geburt an mit Schwierigkeiten zu kämpfen: Noch im Mutterleib von der Nabelschnur umwickelt, stockte die Sauerstoffzufuhr zu seinem Gehirn, seitdem wird er als "zurückgeblieben" abgestempelt - und auch durchgängig so behandelt. Zu Recht?
Die Geschichte beginnt, als die Zwillinge 13 Jahre alt sind und sich die Familie gerade von einem Überfall mit anschließendem Streit erholt. Kurz darauf verschwindet Paul. Clyde macht sich auf die Suche nach seinem Sohn, durchstreift die Nachbarschaft und den Busch, doch Paul bleibt verschwunden. Dieser erste Teil dient als gute Einführung in den Alltag der Familie, man bekommt einen ersten Eindruck der Verhältnisse der einzelnen ProtagonistInnen zueinander.
Dann macht die Autorin einen cleveren Cut: Teil zwei springt weit in die Vergangenheit und erzählt von Peter und Pauls Kindheit und den unterschiedlichen Erwartungen, mit/unter denen sie aufwuchsen. Die Erzählstimme wechselt hier in jedem Kapitel, neben den unmittelbaren Familienmitgliedern kommen auch Außenstehende zu Wort und werfen so noch mal ein ganz anderes Licht auf bestimmte Situationen. Neben der vierköpfigen "Kernfamilie" gibt es noch zahlreiche weitere Verwandte, die das Schicksal der anderen wechselseitig bestimmen. Zum Beispiel Onkel Vishnu, der Bruder von Mutter Joy, der als studierter Mediziner und relativ wohlhabender Mann der große Vorbildcharakter ist. Er erkennt Peters Talent und fördert den Jungen, was wiederum zu Neid und Missgunst bei anderen Verwandten führt.
Der dritte Teil setzt schließlich wieder in der Gegenwart ein, wir erhalten tiefere Einsicht in Pauls Gefühlswelt und seinen Entschluss zur Flucht, die schließlich der Auslöser für den tragischen Höhepunkt des Familiendramas wird. Das Ende bzw. der letzte Teil hat mich sehr mitgenommen - die Situation, die sich ergibt, die Gründe dafür und die letztlichen Konsequenzen waren wirklich absolut tragisch und ich lobe Claire Adam für ihren Mut, das so krass durchzuziehen. Das wird mich noch eine Weile beschäftigen.
Neben der Erzählung an sich und den tiefen Emotionen, die das alles bei mir ausgelöst hat, ist noch ein dritter Aspekt wichtig und erwähnenswert: Die Location des Romans, die hier ganz klar ein weiterer "Protagonist" ist. Die Geschichte spielt auf Trinidad, und der Inselstaat ist allgegenwärtig: Es kribbelt und krabbelt überall, der Busch ist dunkel und geheimnisvoll, das Wetter heiß und feucht. Doch nicht nur die Natur, auch die Menschen und Gewohnheiten sprühen nur so vor Lokalkolorit. Korruption und Banden bestimmen das gesellschaftliche Bild und durchdringen auch scheinbar "sichere" Beziehungen. Die Angst vor Gewalt ist ebenso allgegenwärtig: Hunde sind nicht die "besten Freunde", sondern werden scharf gemacht und verdingen sich als Alarmanlage. Claire Adam bringt den Staat, in dem sie aufwuchs, hier gut zum Leben.
Ein faszinierender Debütroman, der Lust auf mehr von der Autorin macht - und ebenso Lust auf mehr Romane, die Sarah Jessica Parker für Hogart publiziert. Beide Frauen haben hier auf Goodreads übrigens "Notes und Highlights" gepostet, die ich als zusätzliche Informationen sehr interessant und erhellend fand.
September 24, 2021
I read this book a while ago and I've been trying to find it on Goodreads, but I couldn't for the longest time because I was misremembering the title! Golden Child. Not "The Golden Child." Sophie, you are a dumb dumb.
I read this book a loooooong time ago but I think about it a lot, so here I am, writing a review about it.
Spoilers ahead! I have to rant about this book and I can't do it without talking about what happens, because it's crazy.
The basics (from what I remember):
Two twins. One is smart and one is "dumb" (spoiler alert, he's not dumb, he just has dyslexia). The "dumb" twin gets kidnapped and held for ransom. The parents the whole time are like, "err, well they took the one who's bad at reading so maybe we should just cut our losses and be thankful that they didn't take the smart one??" They take too long to decide to pay the ransom and the kid ends up raped and dead. He's like, 10. His kidnappers violently rape him and abuse him and end up murdering him.
I think this book stuck with me for so long because it was one of the first books I ever read with like, graphic sexual abuse. But even in comparison to all the books I've read now, it still stands out to me as one of the grossest and saddest. I think the only other books that even come close to comparing in terms of triggering sexual assault (I mean, all sexual assault is triggering, but like, REALLY REALLY triggering, can't stop thinking about it for weeks triggering) is probably The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. But at least in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the victim gets revenge on her abuser, in this one there is no justice because the victim was a 10-year-old boy and he was murdered.
Really really sad and gross, I do not recommend it if you can't handle that kind of thing emotionally (I kind of can't).
Child rape in this book.
Bad and gross.
Needed to talk about it.
Mission accomplished.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
I read this book a loooooong time ago but I think about it a lot, so here I am, writing a review about it.
Spoilers ahead! I have to rant about this book and I can't do it without talking about what happens, because it's crazy.
The basics (from what I remember):
Two twins. One is smart and one is "dumb" (spoiler alert, he's not dumb, he just has dyslexia). The "dumb" twin gets kidnapped and held for ransom. The parents the whole time are like, "err, well they took the one who's bad at reading so maybe we should just cut our losses and be thankful that they didn't take the smart one??" They take too long to decide to pay the ransom and the kid ends up raped and dead. He's like, 10. His kidnappers violently rape him and abuse him and end up murdering him.
I think this book stuck with me for so long because it was one of the first books I ever read with like, graphic sexual abuse. But even in comparison to all the books I've read now, it still stands out to me as one of the grossest and saddest. I think the only other books that even come close to comparing in terms of triggering sexual assault (I mean, all sexual assault is triggering, but like, REALLY REALLY triggering, can't stop thinking about it for weeks triggering) is probably The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. But at least in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the victim gets revenge on her abuser, in this one there is no justice because the victim was a 10-year-old boy and he was murdered.
Really really sad and gross, I do not recommend it if you can't handle that kind of thing emotionally (I kind of can't).
Child rape in this book.
Bad and gross.
Needed to talk about it.
Mission accomplished.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2022
Βρισκομαστε στο Τρινινταντ, μαζι με την οικογενεια των διδυμων Πιτερ και Πολ, δυο αγοριων που παροτι βιολογικα ειναι ιδιοι, ουσιαστικα διαφερουν πολυ. Ωστοσο μοιραζονται τα ιδια βασανα και τις ανησυχιες του να μενεις σε ενα μερος με τοση σκληροτητα, ελλειψη μορφωσης, κοινωνικα προβληματα οπως ναρκωτικα, εγκληματικοτητα σε τετοιο βαθμο ωστε το να μπαινουν διαρρηκτες στο σπιτι σου κ να σε κλεβουν κ να σε αφηνουν δεμενο χειροποδαρα, ειναι απλα η καθημερινοτητα. Πολλες φορες στην αναγνωση του βιβλιου, αυτου του σκληρου και στεναχωρου βιβλιου, αναρωτηθηκα ποιος ειναι ο κεντρικος ηρωας, μιας και η αφηγηση αλλαζει προσωπα συνεχως, αλλα και συντομα γινεται σαφες οτι καθενα απο τα διδυμα γινεται το "σκαλοπατι" του άλλου για να ανεβει καπου. Αρχικα ο Πιτερ, το χρυσο παιδι της οικογενειας, ο έξυπνος, δουλευταρας, γινεται το σκαλι του Πολ για να μορφωθει, αλλα και για να απολαυσει μια καλυτερη μοιρα κοινωνικοποιησης απο αυτη στην οποια θα είχε καταδικαστει ως ενα παιδι με νοητικα και άλλα θεματα κοινωνικοποιησης. Αργοτερα ο Πολ "ξεπληρωνει" τη χαρη και γινεται το σκαλι που θα σηκωσει τον Πιτερ να πεταξει μακρυα απο αυτον τον αγριο και αφιλοξενο τοπο, κυριως ομως με εμπειρίες και βιωματα που θα τον κανουν να θυμαται παντα πως η οικογενεια σημαινει βοηθεια και υποστηριξη, οσο μακρυα κι αν βρισκεται...
Δε θα πω αλλα γιατι στην ιστορια υπαρχει ενα major plot twist και δε θα ντραπω να ομολογησω οτι εριξα καποια δακρυα, φυσικα με αυτό το plot twist, αλλα και με το ποσο ρεαλιστικα συγκινητικοι ηταν οι χαρακτηρες των γονιων. Για μενα, ηταν μεγαλη εκπληξη αυτο το βιβλιο, πηγε σε μονοπατια που δε φανταζομουν ουτε απο την περιληψη, ουτε απο οσα διαβασα σε κριτικες. Το αγαπησα για τα μηνυματα που προσφερε απλοχερα στον αναγνωστη και φυσικα μεγαλο μπραβο και παλι και παλι στη σειρα aldina που μας ταξιδευει σε προορισμους που δε ξεραμε οτι θελουμε να βρεθουμε.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 αστερια
Δε θα πω αλλα γιατι στην ιστορια υπαρχει ενα major plot twist και δε θα ντραπω να ομολογησω οτι εριξα καποια δακρυα, φυσικα με αυτό το plot twist, αλλα και με το ποσο ρεαλιστικα συγκινητικοι ηταν οι χαρακτηρες των γονιων. Για μενα, ηταν μεγαλη εκπληξη αυτο το βιβλιο, πηγε σε μονοπατια που δε φανταζομουν ουτε απο την περιληψη, ουτε απο οσα διαβασα σε κριτικες. Το αγαπησα για τα μηνυματα που προσφερε απλοχερα στον αναγνωστη και φυσικα μεγαλο μπραβο και παλι και παλι στη σειρα aldina που μας ταξιδευει σε προορισμους που δε ξεραμε οτι θελουμε να βρεθουμε.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 αστερια
February 5, 2019
DNFed at page 112 after trying to slog through for way too long
This is a slow burn character driven story, but I just couldn't relate to the characters. A wonderful setting and interesting elements were overshadowed by descriptive passages that led to no-where.
This is a slow burn character driven story, but I just couldn't relate to the characters. A wonderful setting and interesting elements were overshadowed by descriptive passages that led to no-where.
March 18, 2019
Golden Child is a debut novel by Claire Adam, who grew up in Trinidad where the novel is set. It is about a set of twins, one who seems destined for great things while the other suffers from issues occurring during his birth. Most of the novel revolves around when one son goes missing.
Overall the storytelling is a slow burn. There are some side stories that didn't seem to matter as much as I thought they would, and despite the title I found myself surprised by the ending. I would have liked to get to know all of the characters better. The placeness of the writing is the best part.
Thanks to the publisher for providing access through NetGalley. The book came out January 29, 2019.
Overall the storytelling is a slow burn. There are some side stories that didn't seem to matter as much as I thought they would, and despite the title I found myself surprised by the ending. I would have liked to get to know all of the characters better. The placeness of the writing is the best part.
Thanks to the publisher for providing access through NetGalley. The book came out January 29, 2019.
August 12, 2025
The Desmond Elliot Prize for debut fiction has thrown up some outstanding winners in recent years – two by Galley Beggar (A Girl is a Half Formed Thing and We That Are Young), as well as Glorious Heresies and Golden Hill.
This book, the 2019 winner, is about a set of identical twins – one called Paul (who is seen by his father as retarded) and the other the eponymous Golden Child – so I came to it with high expectations.
The book is set on Trinidad in the 1980s – and generally I think does an excellent job of conveying many aspects of the life of the Island – from the speech, the food, the flora and fauna, the street life, the money and influence dominated social strata, the impact of crime – both low level and organised.
The main protagonist is Clyde, a worker at a petroleum plant, married to Joy (whose family are considerably wealthier than the couple). They have twin sons – Paul and Peter. Paul was said to have been deprived of oxygen at birth – and seems to struggle academically from the outset, albeit seeming to suffer more from a lack of formal concentration, perhaps severe dyslexia and very low self-esteem, more than the mental deficiency his relatives (and particularly father) largely label him with (and which in turn further decreases his confidence). Peter on the other hand is marked out early on for his academic prowess and potential both by teachers and by Joy’s Uncle – who leaves much of his fortune for Peter’s future education (at it is hoped an Ivy League college).
The book opens one day, a few nights after a burglary on their modest and run-down house looking for money Clyde is supposed to have – Paul has gone missing and Clyde hunts for him unsuccesfully while reflecting on his two sons. The second part ranges back in time to fill in much of the background. The third section tells us where Paul went.
Overall I found this an underwhelming novel – the central idea of the book (how parental expectations can force roles on children) seems rather forced and the character of Peter in particular disappointingly undeveloped. I was not convinced by the choice Clyde makes (which manages the feat of being simultaneously predictable and unrealistic) or how the family react afterwards.
This book, the 2019 winner, is about a set of identical twins – one called Paul (who is seen by his father as retarded) and the other the eponymous Golden Child – so I came to it with high expectations.
The book is set on Trinidad in the 1980s – and generally I think does an excellent job of conveying many aspects of the life of the Island – from the speech, the food, the flora and fauna, the street life, the money and influence dominated social strata, the impact of crime – both low level and organised.
The main protagonist is Clyde, a worker at a petroleum plant, married to Joy (whose family are considerably wealthier than the couple). They have twin sons – Paul and Peter. Paul was said to have been deprived of oxygen at birth – and seems to struggle academically from the outset, albeit seeming to suffer more from a lack of formal concentration, perhaps severe dyslexia and very low self-esteem, more than the mental deficiency his relatives (and particularly father) largely label him with (and which in turn further decreases his confidence). Peter on the other hand is marked out early on for his academic prowess and potential both by teachers and by Joy’s Uncle – who leaves much of his fortune for Peter’s future education (at it is hoped an Ivy League college).
The book opens one day, a few nights after a burglary on their modest and run-down house looking for money Clyde is supposed to have – Paul has gone missing and Clyde hunts for him unsuccesfully while reflecting on his two sons. The second part ranges back in time to fill in much of the background. The third section tells us where Paul went.
Overall I found this an underwhelming novel – the central idea of the book (how parental expectations can force roles on children) seems rather forced and the character of Peter in particular disappointingly undeveloped. I was not convinced by the choice Clyde makes (which manages the feat of being simultaneously predictable and unrealistic) or how the family react afterwards.
November 3, 2019
"It's like choosing your favourite child" is a phrase you often hear celebrities trot out in interviews, when asked to select a dearest album or movie from their career. An impossible question to answer, they love them all equally. Though going by Claire Adam's debut novel, maybe choosing one's preferred offspring is not the quandary it's made out to be?
Peter and Paul are thirteen-year-old twins, living in a leaky house on the island of Trinidad with their parents Clyde and Joy. Peter is a genius - a sensible, hardworking boy with a bright future already mapped out for him. Paul, on the other hand, struggles in school and has some unusual habits. His folks refer to him as "slightly retarded", as his birth had some difficulties, and he has heard it so many times that he fully believes it. Clyde works long hours at the local petroleum plant in order to afford a better life for his children, specifically Peter. Joy tries her best to treat the boys equally but Peter's abilities leave his brother in his shadow. Then one day, Paul goes missing, and Clyde is forced to make a difficult, heartbreaking decision.
Claire Adam grew up in Trinidad and she paints a fascinating portrait of the island. It is a country of stunning natural beauty, but also it seems to be a dangerous and corrupt place. One day Clyde comes home to find his family tied up and his house ransacked, and his neighbours congratulate him, saying how lucky he is they weren't murdered. The wealthier families, like Joy's brother Phillip, live in gated compounds with maximum security. The poorer ones hide away what little money they have and are careful not to mention their savings in public, in case they might be blackmailed for it.
The central dilemma of the book is certainly an intriguing one. However I found it quite obvious in the way that it played out - Clyde acts in a manner that is signposted from the beginning. Some of the chapters are narrated by Paul, offering a moving insight into his life and his acceptance at his lack of opportunities. If only the rest of the family were as vividly rendered as him. Though I found elements of Golden Child unsatisfying, it is still a compelling story about the pressures of parenthood and the sacrifices that are involved.
Peter and Paul are thirteen-year-old twins, living in a leaky house on the island of Trinidad with their parents Clyde and Joy. Peter is a genius - a sensible, hardworking boy with a bright future already mapped out for him. Paul, on the other hand, struggles in school and has some unusual habits. His folks refer to him as "slightly retarded", as his birth had some difficulties, and he has heard it so many times that he fully believes it. Clyde works long hours at the local petroleum plant in order to afford a better life for his children, specifically Peter. Joy tries her best to treat the boys equally but Peter's abilities leave his brother in his shadow. Then one day, Paul goes missing, and Clyde is forced to make a difficult, heartbreaking decision.
Claire Adam grew up in Trinidad and she paints a fascinating portrait of the island. It is a country of stunning natural beauty, but also it seems to be a dangerous and corrupt place. One day Clyde comes home to find his family tied up and his house ransacked, and his neighbours congratulate him, saying how lucky he is they weren't murdered. The wealthier families, like Joy's brother Phillip, live in gated compounds with maximum security. The poorer ones hide away what little money they have and are careful not to mention their savings in public, in case they might be blackmailed for it.
The central dilemma of the book is certainly an intriguing one. However I found it quite obvious in the way that it played out - Clyde acts in a manner that is signposted from the beginning. Some of the chapters are narrated by Paul, offering a moving insight into his life and his acceptance at his lack of opportunities. If only the rest of the family were as vividly rendered as him. Though I found elements of Golden Child unsatisfying, it is still a compelling story about the pressures of parenthood and the sacrifices that are involved.
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