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Lest We Find Gold
'Lest We Find Gold' is a powerful and compelling masterpiece of fine literature. The rhythmic story weaves between the past and present of Millicent 'Milly' Pratt's life; through the 'golden' layers we uncover the secret issues of insecurity, domestic abuse, social prejudice and the internal struggle between fear and acceptance. We look beneath the 'caftan' that cloaks Milly in self-deception, confusion and pain, and we are left gasping as she strips herself to release the freedom of 'naked finery'.
318 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2019
9 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Schwapp
4 books9 followersMelanie Schwapp was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Two short migrations at two key stages of her life opened her eyes to the cultural and social discriminations in society, and thus began her quest for understanding through writing. At the age of five she moved to England with her family, where she was awakened to the nature of colour prejudice, and then during her late teens and early twenties she attended the University of South Carolina, where the subtle traits of discrimination cemented her interest in the social repercussions of these prejudices.
Although Melanie has written recreationally all her life, her first published work was a children’s book, “Lally-May’s Farm Suss” in 2007 in which she revives Jamaican myths and several cultural aspects through the eyes of a child. Her second publication was the novel “Dew Angels” in 2011 where she explores the hidden aspect of prejudice and other social handicaps in Jamaican society. In 2014 the novel picked up both the Literary Classics Gold Award for Cultural Issues, and the ‘Words on Wings’ Top Honors Award. In 2016 the novel was republished in the UK through HopeRoad Publishing.
In 2018 Melanie’s shot story, “Granny Dead” won the representative place for Jamaica in the Commonwealth Anthology novel.
In 2019, Melanie released her second novel, “Lest We Find Gold”, in which she explores the debilitating chains of gender and cultural stigma that hold women frozen in abusive relationships.
Haven fallen in love with the rural lifestyle while growing up on her grandparents’ farm in Montego Bay, Melanie also does small garden landscaping and interior decorating. She is a devoted mother to her three children and a sometimes-devoted wife to her husband. She resides in Kingston, Jamaica.
Although Melanie has written recreationally all her life, her first published work was a children’s book, “Lally-May’s Farm Suss” in 2007 in which she revives Jamaican myths and several cultural aspects through the eyes of a child. Her second publication was the novel “Dew Angels” in 2011 where she explores the hidden aspect of prejudice and other social handicaps in Jamaican society. In 2014 the novel picked up both the Literary Classics Gold Award for Cultural Issues, and the ‘Words on Wings’ Top Honors Award. In 2016 the novel was republished in the UK through HopeRoad Publishing.
In 2018 Melanie’s shot story, “Granny Dead” won the representative place for Jamaica in the Commonwealth Anthology novel.
In 2019, Melanie released her second novel, “Lest We Find Gold”, in which she explores the debilitating chains of gender and cultural stigma that hold women frozen in abusive relationships.
Haven fallen in love with the rural lifestyle while growing up on her grandparents’ farm in Montego Bay, Melanie also does small garden landscaping and interior decorating. She is a devoted mother to her three children and a sometimes-devoted wife to her husband. She resides in Kingston, Jamaica.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 24, 2022
BookOfCinz Book Club Pick Absolutely loved this book and of course I had to make it a book club pick!
Lest We Find Gold is Melanie Schwapp's sophomore novel. The book follows the life of Milly from her early years to her present life with her husband. Milly has a lot going for her, well educated, a practicing nurse with a big future ahead of her. She meets her husband when he comes into the hospital for heart palpitations and since then Milly finds herself dying a little daily.
I really enjoyed this book, Melanie Schwapp really did a great job of painting such a full picture of Milly my heart ached for her and her suffering. I loved how the book was formatted, we get insight to Milly's early life with the backdrop of her current life. I particularly loved the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, that for me was so well done. As a Jamaican, I particularly loved how Jamaican the book felt, from the descriptions, to the various cultural nuances-it was great!
My only complaint was I felt the husband's character could have been a bit more. Maybe this is me looking for a reason why some men turn out the way they do but... I also would have liked to hear more about the sister, I felt her character could have gotten some more airplay.
If you are looking for a great read, with a lead female character who is brave I highly recommend this read.
Lest We Find Gold is Melanie Schwapp's sophomore novel. The book follows the life of Milly from her early years to her present life with her husband. Milly has a lot going for her, well educated, a practicing nurse with a big future ahead of her. She meets her husband when he comes into the hospital for heart palpitations and since then Milly finds herself dying a little daily.
I really enjoyed this book, Melanie Schwapp really did a great job of painting such a full picture of Milly my heart ached for her and her suffering. I loved how the book was formatted, we get insight to Milly's early life with the backdrop of her current life. I particularly loved the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, that for me was so well done. As a Jamaican, I particularly loved how Jamaican the book felt, from the descriptions, to the various cultural nuances-it was great!
My only complaint was I felt the husband's character could have been a bit more. Maybe this is me looking for a reason why some men turn out the way they do but... I also would have liked to hear more about the sister, I felt her character could have gotten some more airplay.
If you are looking for a great read, with a lead female character who is brave I highly recommend this read.
February 2, 2020
Lest We Find Gold is Melanie Schwapp's sophomore novel. The book follows the life of Milly from her early years to her present life with her husband. Milly has a lot going for her, well educated, a practicing nurse with a big future ahead of her. She meets her husband when he comes into the hospital for heart palpitations and since then Milly finds herself dying a little daily.
I really enjoyed this book, Melanie Schwapp really did a great job of painting such a full picture of Milly my heart ached for her and her suffering. I loved how the book was formatted, we get insight to Milly's early life with the backdrop of her current life. I particularly loved the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, that for me was so well done. As a Jamaican, I particularly loved how Jamaican the book felt, from the descriptions, to the various cultural nuances-it was great!
My only complaint was I felt the husband's character could have been a bit more. Maybe this is me looking for a reason why some men turn out the way they do but... I also would have liked to hear more about the sister, I felt her character could have gotten some more airplay.
If you are looking for a great read, with a lead female character who is brave I highly recommend this read.
I really enjoyed this book, Melanie Schwapp really did a great job of painting such a full picture of Milly my heart ached for her and her suffering. I loved how the book was formatted, we get insight to Milly's early life with the backdrop of her current life. I particularly loved the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, that for me was so well done. As a Jamaican, I particularly loved how Jamaican the book felt, from the descriptions, to the various cultural nuances-it was great!
My only complaint was I felt the husband's character could have been a bit more. Maybe this is me looking for a reason why some men turn out the way they do but... I also would have liked to hear more about the sister, I felt her character could have gotten some more airplay.
If you are looking for a great read, with a lead female character who is brave I highly recommend this read.
June 24, 2021
If ever the phrase “All That Glitters Is Not Gold” was a book…this would be it.
I found this book easy to read and found myself lost in Millys world. Schwapp takes us on a journey from Millys childhood to adulthood and shows how childhood events and traumas can resurface in adulthood and influence our choices. Millys relationship with her mother is also tied to how she feels about herself and subconsciously the choices she makes.
I loved the depiction of “uptown” and Jamaica in this book. I could picture everything clearly. Although this wasn’t an overall happy book I did find myself laughing at points and nodding at the accuracy of some of the descriptions. I felt like I’ve met most of these characters at some point in life. This was a great read!
I found this book easy to read and found myself lost in Millys world. Schwapp takes us on a journey from Millys childhood to adulthood and shows how childhood events and traumas can resurface in adulthood and influence our choices. Millys relationship with her mother is also tied to how she feels about herself and subconsciously the choices she makes.
I loved the depiction of “uptown” and Jamaica in this book. I could picture everything clearly. Although this wasn’t an overall happy book I did find myself laughing at points and nodding at the accuracy of some of the descriptions. I felt like I’ve met most of these characters at some point in life. This was a great read!
April 8, 2020
Melanie Schwapp’s novel boasted well developed, complex and intruiging characters. I could visualize all of the major characters and their personalities vividly. Milly grew from a young girl to a young woman to an adult, and the author took us on the journey with her while showing us how cyclical life is and how trauma can follow a person throughout their existence.
Throughout the novel, a commentary on classism was interspersed at every turn. Clearly, Monty and Milly came from two different worlds, and her attempts to integrate into his world, and physically/mentally conform to his family's standards were an unsettling reality showing the apparent division in Jamaica's socioeconomic classes.
Domestic violence was really well explored in this novel and the author shed light on why it’s so hard for people to reconcile someone they thought they loved with someone who is an abuser. It is in this difficulty to reconcile why it’s not so easy to 'just get up and leave' as some people say. Monty tore Milly down - from making her quit her job, to demeaning her and abusing her. It is so important to not be afraid to bring these issues to the forefront and for people to read and understand abuser mentality and victim reality.
Really well written, easy to read, easy to get lost in their world. Well done!
Throughout the novel, a commentary on classism was interspersed at every turn. Clearly, Monty and Milly came from two different worlds, and her attempts to integrate into his world, and physically/mentally conform to his family's standards were an unsettling reality showing the apparent division in Jamaica's socioeconomic classes.
Domestic violence was really well explored in this novel and the author shed light on why it’s so hard for people to reconcile someone they thought they loved with someone who is an abuser. It is in this difficulty to reconcile why it’s not so easy to 'just get up and leave' as some people say. Monty tore Milly down - from making her quit her job, to demeaning her and abusing her. It is so important to not be afraid to bring these issues to the forefront and for people to read and understand abuser mentality and victim reality.
Really well written, easy to read, easy to get lost in their world. Well done!
February 1, 2022
A pretty decent novel, I think you are going to enjoy reading about Millie's life!
March 5, 2022
I loved this book!
I absolutely love the story but the ending was even more amazing! This book reminds me that sometimes we chase after gold but that gold sometimes isn’t good for us. It kills our soul….. Definitely a must read.
I absolutely love the story but the ending was even more amazing! This book reminds me that sometimes we chase after gold but that gold sometimes isn’t good for us. It kills our soul….. Definitely a must read.
February 17, 2022
At first glance of this book the artwork captivated me but as I turned to the first page, the wording touched my heart.
Melanie has a way with words. I was reading a novel yet the wording felt so poetic, it kept me wanting more.
The storyline, the plot, the Jamaican patois and Milly… oh sweet, innocent Milly, kept me so intrigued with the book I could not put it down.
Melanie’s writing spoke to the woman within me and her words embedded in my mind.
Melanie has a way with words. I was reading a novel yet the wording felt so poetic, it kept me wanting more.
The storyline, the plot, the Jamaican patois and Milly… oh sweet, innocent Milly, kept me so intrigued with the book I could not put it down.
Melanie’s writing spoke to the woman within me and her words embedded in my mind.
March 2, 2020
This was an emotional read for me. The book is set in Jamaica and the story line made me angry, hurt and hopeful all in one. The truth is this book was personal for me, the journey from releasing yourself of your childhood hurts to reaching the point where you accept that you should not be defined by your past. Simply Awesome. I think this is a read for all women.
February 26, 2022
Another book that deserves more attention and love than the hype books in the gram!
Lest We Find Gold is a story about Milly Pratt’s past and present life. How we see the unmasking of her issues with domestic violence, abuse, insecurity, social prejudice. Looking beneath her confusion, pain, betrayal with acceptance, finding her freedom and loving herself back.
The author’s writing is captivating, making a simple story a powerful one. You will be engrossed in the story of Milly and invested in her life. What I like about the whole thing is you get immersed in the story of another culture and will make you realise it has universal theme that binds you. I like the mother-daughter dynamics and Milly’s relationship with people around her. We see domestic violence in all its ugly sides. Somehow making us understand the reason why she stays in a toxic relationship, in what she initially thinks is a gold find, when his light fills her holes and dark spaces not knowing it clouds her mind. It shocks her to see the gold tarnished right before her eyes, making you forget that it can and that you yourself is golden. The ending is something I know will happen, I don’t like just how it happened but a bold way to end it (pun unintended 😀).
Overall, a good read and wishing more people will read this one.
May 10, 2024
The upper-class myth of a perfect life is shattered. The road to fitting into a social class is riddled with bumps, bruises and pretense. From the outside looking in, everything seems perfect until the inside is undressed to reveal deep and dark secrets that make even those at the lower socioeconomic stratum cringe. Control and dominance dominated the mysterious plot that takes us into the squalor of inner cities and the opulence of gated communities. One woman's quest for freedom makes her resort to what was an unthinkable necessity. This page turner turns the readers' minds to examine the real state of affairs as the plot thickens, turns and changes the lives of characters.
July 31, 2020
A woman suffers disappointment in her marriage, but this is directly related to what she learned about man and woman affairs as a child.
I have placed this on my domestic violence and Jamaican mothers shelves because of the ongoing themes that are presented in the books that I read.
This book is firmly set in Kingston 6, Jamaica with nostalgic touches on deep rural Jamaica, it also has delicious episodes of food preparation with local ingredients.
Based on the forward and afterward notes, this book connected very closely to the personal life of the author.
I have placed this on my domestic violence and Jamaican mothers shelves because of the ongoing themes that are presented in the books that I read.
This book is firmly set in Kingston 6, Jamaica with nostalgic touches on deep rural Jamaica, it also has delicious episodes of food preparation with local ingredients.
Based on the forward and afterward notes, this book connected very closely to the personal life of the author.
February 26, 2022
Este libro me ha dejado sensaciones encontradas. Por un lado, nos ofrece un contexto social que se centra en lo local, pero que logra transmitir lo universal y, además, es habitado por una protagonista con varias capas, lo cual la vuelve harto interesante. Sin embargo, la historia repite sus propios lugares comunes y eso la vuelve densa y, por momentos, aburrida de leer. En un momento me pasó que me daba igual terminarlo o no, pues sentía que la autora no me llevaba a ningún lado y que, aunque avanzara en capítulos, estaba detenido en un solo momento narrativo.
May 3, 2020
This book was a provocative page turner. Our Book Club unanimously agreed that this was the most interesting book we had read for the year. The book tackles domestic violence, classism, infidelity and sexuality in a beautifully crafted story that is impossible to put down and impossible to forget long after reading.
August 2, 2022
Beautifully written story but warning, the descriptions of abuse are vivid. Tells the story of Milly growing up and then marrying and the lessons on men and love she took from her mother, friend Tabby, and her uncle. Her perception of their relationships molded her view of her own and what ultimately has her questioning if all that glitters is gold.
May 24, 2022
Lest we find gold
An epic read. Life and its illusions. A girl resents her mother and her choices and grows up and realizes not everything is as black and white as it seems. That her mother s choices were not as shallow as she may have thought.
An epic read. Life and its illusions. A girl resents her mother and her choices and grows up and realizes not everything is as black and white as it seems. That her mother s choices were not as shallow as she may have thought.
April 25, 2020
Emotionally taut. Jarringly honest. I was hooked.
January 30, 2022
Interesting read
At some parts of the book I felt the story
trailed away. I wish book like these which cover abuse would include the legal options women have in these situations.
At some parts of the book I felt the story
trailed away. I wish book like these which cover abuse would include the legal options women have in these situations.
January 19, 2021
This book was an excellent read. I could not stop reading once I started. The issues highlighted in this book are very important especially for women. Awesome read....
March 6, 2022
Oh I absolutely adored this book! And the ending - please can we talk about that ending?
P E R F E C T I O N
I found this book raw and beautiful. Very real and full of sentiment. Even though the topic was a tough one, it wasn't written in a exploitative manner, or overly dramatic either - I felt just right.
P E R F E C T I O N
I found this book raw and beautiful. Very real and full of sentiment. Even though the topic was a tough one, it wasn't written in a exploitative manner, or overly dramatic either - I felt just right.
June 14, 2022
When I walked in the bookstore and pulled this book from the shelves, handed my card to the cashier to swipe and walked out, I didn't know what I was in for.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I pulled it off my shelf and started to read it in preparation for bookclub.
I didn't know until I was barely able to see the words because my eyes were filled with tears, my heart with a florid of emotions - anger, pain, sadness, happiness, and peace that this book is going to be possibly my favorite book this year!!
It is not because It brought me home to physical places I knew personally in my childhood (i.e Hope Gardens, Palisadoes etc), it's because this book was written in such a way that I understood and I empathized with Milly. I felt her pain and I felt her moments of joy.
Often times we don't understand the decisions people make, especially those who are near and dear to us. However, this book is a reminder that things aren't always what they seem. Its a reminder to always extend grace and compassion to those who make "bad decisions ", to offer if nothing else, a listening ear and maybe forgiveness.
Sometimes the ones closest to us are the ones who hurt us, and navigating that path of walking away from what doesn't serve us, however winding, might be necessary.
The title was perfectly chosen to highlight the desire of the protagonist to acquire something of great need... but at what cost?
I wanted to fight Monty and his mother. And though I didn't agree with all of Nicole's (Milly's mother) decisions I had great compassion for her too... afterall flawed people aren't necessarily bad people , right?
Some great things about the book includes its mention of folklore songs, foods, and places. There was also a balance in the display of unconventional but possibly true love scenarios. Also, the humor was right up my alley!
Though some may finds it repetitive in parts, I don't mind that formatting because it made me feel like i was in Millys mind or that she was speaking to me and just pouring out her heart unrehearsed, just raw and bare.
Melanie Schwapps put her foot in this one!!! Love it bad!!!
I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I pulled it off my shelf and started to read it in preparation for bookclub.
I didn't know until I was barely able to see the words because my eyes were filled with tears, my heart with a florid of emotions - anger, pain, sadness, happiness, and peace that this book is going to be possibly my favorite book this year!!
It is not because It brought me home to physical places I knew personally in my childhood (i.e Hope Gardens, Palisadoes etc), it's because this book was written in such a way that I understood and I empathized with Milly. I felt her pain and I felt her moments of joy.
Often times we don't understand the decisions people make, especially those who are near and dear to us. However, this book is a reminder that things aren't always what they seem. Its a reminder to always extend grace and compassion to those who make "bad decisions ", to offer if nothing else, a listening ear and maybe forgiveness.
Sometimes the ones closest to us are the ones who hurt us, and navigating that path of walking away from what doesn't serve us, however winding, might be necessary.
The title was perfectly chosen to highlight the desire of the protagonist to acquire something of great need... but at what cost?
I wanted to fight Monty and his mother. And though I didn't agree with all of Nicole's (Milly's mother) decisions I had great compassion for her too... afterall flawed people aren't necessarily bad people , right?
Some great things about the book includes its mention of folklore songs, foods, and places. There was also a balance in the display of unconventional but possibly true love scenarios. Also, the humor was right up my alley!
Though some may finds it repetitive in parts, I don't mind that formatting because it made me feel like i was in Millys mind or that she was speaking to me and just pouring out her heart unrehearsed, just raw and bare.
Melanie Schwapps put her foot in this one!!! Love it bad!!!
July 7, 2020
Definitely a wonderful second novel, Milly is intriguing and powerful throughout the book. This book did not disappoint
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews