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Irma Was Here: Surviving the Eye of History's Strongest Atlantic Hurricane
Brand New
157 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 2019
21 people want to read
About the author
Diandra Jones
1 bookDiandra Jones is a writer, interdisciplinary artist, dancer and choreographer who has spent most of her adult life traveling, teaching and studying places geographically and culturally foreign to her hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. After retiring from a career as a professional Irish Step dancer, Diandra taught English and Dance in Chicago Public Schools before residing for ten years in Ghana, West Africa, then the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. She currently lives with her husband in Honolulu, Hawaii. Much of her life work, whether in teaching, performance or in writing, has sought to bridge gaps in intercultural understanding to engender in her fellow humans compassion for one another and for their environment. She is a Cum Laude Honors graduate of Loyola University with a B.A. in English Literature, and holds an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 7, 2019
Another feat of visceral artistry by Diandra Jones
Couldn’t. Put. It. Down.
As a resident of Tortola, we know Diandra personally as an artist, friend and teacher. A woman who’s face is always smiling and speaking words pumping you full of encouragement. And yes, a chronic hitchhiker picker upper.
This book took a hold of me and didn’t let me go. As I know the landscape and many of the people mentioned in the book I can truly say Diandra has captured the visual and the guts of her subjects. I laughed. I sobbed. I rejoiced and I despaired... a couple of times all at once. She is an advocate for all those know her and now directing her attention towards climate change and the human condition through Irma Was Here with her always present authenticity and power.
A “MUST” read.
Couldn’t. Put. It. Down.
As a resident of Tortola, we know Diandra personally as an artist, friend and teacher. A woman who’s face is always smiling and speaking words pumping you full of encouragement. And yes, a chronic hitchhiker picker upper.
This book took a hold of me and didn’t let me go. As I know the landscape and many of the people mentioned in the book I can truly say Diandra has captured the visual and the guts of her subjects. I laughed. I sobbed. I rejoiced and I despaired... a couple of times all at once. She is an advocate for all those know her and now directing her attention towards climate change and the human condition through Irma Was Here with her always present authenticity and power.
A “MUST” read.
August 5, 2019
A heartfelt, beautifully written book
This book cannot have been easy to write. To have your life ripped out from under you in a matter of hours is not something many of us have to go through. Thank god. But it’s clear that her relationship with her husband is built on a strong foundation that no hurricane could ever blow away, and wherever life takes them now, they will roll with any punches easily. I enjoyed this book. Buy it!
This book cannot have been easy to write. To have your life ripped out from under you in a matter of hours is not something many of us have to go through. Thank god. But it’s clear that her relationship with her husband is built on a strong foundation that no hurricane could ever blow away, and wherever life takes them now, they will roll with any punches easily. I enjoyed this book. Buy it!
January 15, 2025
Cheers to my first read of 2025!🤸🏾♀️
My picking up this book was heavily influenced by experiencing 2017's Hurricane Maria, in Dominica. The strongest hurricane to ever hit us as a direct Cat 5. Yet, I grappled with how "forgotten" it felt, almost as if it never happened. Among Dominicans, probably due to trauma and among outsiders, probably due to how insignificant the island is on a grand scale. When you hear of Maria, folks understandably speak of Puerto Rico. Granted, in these years past, I hardly heard of Irma either.
So, when I saw this book sitting on the "New Arrivals" shelf at the library, I instantly grabbed it. I never expected a book on a Caribbean hurricane and was curious to read a first-hand experience, as well as compare it to my own with Maria.
It was a deeply engaging story, that had me from start to end. Diandra captured the imagery so well, that I bet I'd see it just as clearly even without my own reference to similar sights. Plus the actual images at the end was a great addition.
I'm happy this telling exists. Although, it's surprising that it ended so soon. I assumed there would be a deeper dive into maybe survivor's / escapee's guilt or an update of what happened to Tortola in those weeks they couch surfed. But it was still a great story. I've only been to Tortola once (pre-Irma) and hope to see how far it's come from that battle one day.
(Now I feel awkward for yapping, lol)
How I find this book: Roseau Library
My picking up this book was heavily influenced by experiencing 2017's Hurricane Maria, in Dominica. The strongest hurricane to ever hit us as a direct Cat 5. Yet, I grappled with how "forgotten" it felt, almost as if it never happened. Among Dominicans, probably due to trauma and among outsiders, probably due to how insignificant the island is on a grand scale. When you hear of Maria, folks understandably speak of Puerto Rico. Granted, in these years past, I hardly heard of Irma either.
So, when I saw this book sitting on the "New Arrivals" shelf at the library, I instantly grabbed it. I never expected a book on a Caribbean hurricane and was curious to read a first-hand experience, as well as compare it to my own with Maria.
It was a deeply engaging story, that had me from start to end. Diandra captured the imagery so well, that I bet I'd see it just as clearly even without my own reference to similar sights. Plus the actual images at the end was a great addition.
I'm happy this telling exists. Although, it's surprising that it ended so soon. I assumed there would be a deeper dive into maybe survivor's / escapee's guilt or an update of what happened to Tortola in those weeks they couch surfed. But it was still a great story. I've only been to Tortola once (pre-Irma) and hope to see how far it's come from that battle one day.
(Now I feel awkward for yapping, lol)
How I find this book: Roseau Library
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2021
Easy read, Romance,
Excellent read! A bit of adventure romance and drama..I experience everything as if I was there and felt drawn to the characters.
Excellent read! A bit of adventure romance and drama..I experience everything as if I was there and felt drawn to the characters.
November 19, 2019
Excellent
Wow you could of not gotten it out there better than with this very scary book everyone should read it,live your life love your neighbors and support those in need!
Wow you could of not gotten it out there better than with this very scary book everyone should read it,live your life love your neighbors and support those in need!
November 4, 2019
Survival
A first hand account of surviving Hurricane Irma. How the people living in Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, pulled together after the island was destroyed
A first hand account of surviving Hurricane Irma. How the people living in Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, pulled together after the island was destroyed
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews