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The Islands: Stories
Powerful stories that explore the legacy of colonialism, and issues of race, immigration, sexual discrimination, and class in the lives of Jamaican women across London, Panama, France, Jamaica, Florida and more
The Islands follows the lives of Jamaican women—immigrants or the
descendants of immigrants—who have relocated all over the world to escape the ghosts of colonialism on what they call the Island. Set in the United States, Jamaica, and Europe, these international stories examine the lives of an uncertain and unsettled cast of characters. In one story, a woman and her husband impulsively leave San Francisco and move to Florida with wild dreams of American reinvention only to unearth the cracks in their marriage. In another, the only Jamaican mother—who is also a touring comedienne—at a prep school feels pressure to volunteer in the school’s International Day. Meanwhile, in a third story, a travel writer finally connects with the mother who once abandoned her.
Set in locations and times ranging from 1950s London to 1960s Panama to modern-day New Jersey, Dionne Irving reveals the intricacies of immigration and assimilation in this debut, establishing a new and unforgettable voice in Caribbean-American literature. Restless, displaced, and disconnected, these characters try to ground themselves—to grow where they find themselves planted—in a world in which the tension between what’s said and unsaid can bend the soul.
The Islands follows the lives of Jamaican women—immigrants or the
descendants of immigrants—who have relocated all over the world to escape the ghosts of colonialism on what they call the Island. Set in the United States, Jamaica, and Europe, these international stories examine the lives of an uncertain and unsettled cast of characters. In one story, a woman and her husband impulsively leave San Francisco and move to Florida with wild dreams of American reinvention only to unearth the cracks in their marriage. In another, the only Jamaican mother—who is also a touring comedienne—at a prep school feels pressure to volunteer in the school’s International Day. Meanwhile, in a third story, a travel writer finally connects with the mother who once abandoned her.
Set in locations and times ranging from 1950s London to 1960s Panama to modern-day New Jersey, Dionne Irving reveals the intricacies of immigration and assimilation in this debut, establishing a new and unforgettable voice in Caribbean-American literature. Restless, displaced, and disconnected, these characters try to ground themselves—to grow where they find themselves planted—in a world in which the tension between what’s said and unsaid can bend the soul.
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
June 5, 2023
In The Islands, Dionne Irving writes about Jamaican women navigating their personal lives and relationships in the context of global colonialism. I found her prose vivid and enjoyed how she forefronts issues of race and class while still keeping the focus on the emotions and desires of Jamaican women living across the United States, Jamaica, and Europe. There’s an interesting theme that runs across these stories related to feeling disconnected from who you are and what you want, even when you may have had “more” opportunities than your immigrant or less-privileged parents.
At the same time, I found the stories unfortunately repetitive in their tone and affect. Most of the stories end on an unhappy or despairing note. It’s not like I expected every story to end in a super positive way or for the characters’ lives to be wrapped neatly in a bow, however, the repetition came from how I felt that Irving would introduce an unhappy character struggling with a personal dilemma in the context of a societal issue (e.g., colorism, classism, toxic masculinity) and then the character never really grew or made more than maybe a tiny step toward overcoming the obstacle in front of them. It’s like, yes, I get that white supremacy is undeniably a negative force in the lives of these characters, though I wanted more than just that. I don’t regret having tried these stories out, though.
At the same time, I found the stories unfortunately repetitive in their tone and affect. Most of the stories end on an unhappy or despairing note. It’s not like I expected every story to end in a super positive way or for the characters’ lives to be wrapped neatly in a bow, however, the repetition came from how I felt that Irving would introduce an unhappy character struggling with a personal dilemma in the context of a societal issue (e.g., colorism, classism, toxic masculinity) and then the character never really grew or made more than maybe a tiny step toward overcoming the obstacle in front of them. It’s like, yes, I get that white supremacy is undeniably a negative force in the lives of these characters, though I wanted more than just that. I don’t regret having tried these stories out, though.
April 16, 2023
Solid collection that explores Jamaicans living in Jamaica and around the world- well written and deeply insightful
The Islands is a collection of ten short stories that explores immigration, classism, the effects of colonialism and Jamaicans trying to seek a better life in the diaspora. Truly this was a great collection, majority of them I absolutely loved, including:
Shopgirl we read of a young girl who spends majority of her time in her family’s shop serving persons from “the Islands” who miss a taste of home. I loved how truly real this felt, especially because it is from a teenagers’ perspective who cannot relate to their parents and visitors to the shop who miss home.
The others I enjoyed are:
The Gifts
An American Idea of Fun
Canal
All-Inclusive
Overall, this is truly a great collection of short stories.
The Islands is a collection of ten short stories that explores immigration, classism, the effects of colonialism and Jamaicans trying to seek a better life in the diaspora. Truly this was a great collection, majority of them I absolutely loved, including:
Shopgirl we read of a young girl who spends majority of her time in her family’s shop serving persons from “the Islands” who miss a taste of home. I loved how truly real this felt, especially because it is from a teenagers’ perspective who cannot relate to their parents and visitors to the shop who miss home.
The others I enjoyed are:
The Gifts
An American Idea of Fun
Canal
All-Inclusive
Overall, this is truly a great collection of short stories.
November 11, 2023
Jamaica Farewell
Review of the Catapult Books paperback edition (November 1, 2022).
Average rating for the stories = 3.4, rounded down to 3 for GR.
Shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize to be announced November 13, 2023.
The Islands is a collection of ten stories from the Jamaican diaspora, usually the 2nd or 3rd generation children of immigration. Jamaica itself does not feature in many stories directly but is simply mentioned in passing. I found the stories towards the end to be the most moving.
Individual ratings and story setups are below. The setups don't give away the story endings so they are not spoiler blocked.
1. Florida Life. *** A couple with a wife of Jamaican heritage and an American husband move from San Francisco to Florida and find themselves bedevilled by their white trash neighbours, an infestation of cockroaches and then bats in their attic.
2. Shopgirl. *** A shop girl dreams of a future when the ordinary Jamaican foods she sells will become exotic sought-for foodie items. Very short 4-page story.
3. Weaving. **** A down on his luck prize fighter named Delroy goes piglet napping in order to get a birthday present for his daughter with his ex-wife who is remarried.
4. All-Inclusive. *** A model & aspiring actress from LA meets a Jamaican poet who steals lines from Claude McKay’s “The Tropics in New York” in order to impress her. He is married but still finds time to take her on exotic trips. During a trip staying at an “all-inclusive” resort in Jamaica she has an existential crisis.
5. The Cape. *** A couple, a former student and her older husband professor go on a recuperative retreat to their summer home in Wellfleet on Cape Cod in Massachusetts near Hyannis. Her Jamaican ex-slave family has roots in the community from years before.
6. Canal. *** A Canadian woman Pilar is suffering from glaucoma. She is called from Panama about the death of her abuelita (Spanish: Little Granny), the name her grandmother had her call the housekeeper. Pilar has to travel to settle her abuelita’s affairs. Her ancestors had emigrated from Jamaica to Panama. She reminisces about her early years in Panama.
7. An American Idea of Fun. *** 15 year old Patricia (of Trinidanian background) travels from Cleveland, Ohio to France on a summer trip with white family friends, the Claudels, who have a summer home in France. There is rising tension as you begin to suspect that Mr. Claudel is a creep.
8. Some People. *** Kerry & Nathan choose a school for their daughter Lady in Montclair, New Jersey. Kerry’s parent emigrated to New York from Jamaica. She is stereotyped by her neighbours and the teacher at Lady’s school and is roped into making Jamaican food for a dinner. But she is not considered Jamaican by her mother and her friends.
9. The Gifts. **** 19 year old Peaches emigrates from Jamaica to Brixton, England in the 1960. She works as a housekeeper for the Stewarts. After 6 years she continues as a kept woman by Mr. Stewart. She goes to school for 4 years for secretarial training. She is now 30 years old and becomes pregnant and is fired by Mrs. Stewart. At 40, she reads that Mr. Stewart has died.
10. Waking Life. ***** Pauline, a travel writer, lives in Paris with her boyfriend. She grew up in Toronto with her grandmother where her mother left them when she moved to England to work in design. On a writing assignment to London, she arranges to meet her mother in Brixton having not seen her for many years.
Soundtrack
Jamaica Farewell (1956) by Harry Belafonte. Going with the theme of my lede.
Electric Avenue (1982) by Eddy Grant. I never knew that it was an actual street, which is mentioned in Waking Life (see Story #10).
Woke Up This Morning (1997) by the Alabama 3 from the album Exile on Coldharbour Lane. The mention of Coldharbour Lane (also in Story #10) reminded me what a great song the extended version of The Sopranos Theme was.
Other Reviews
New York Times by Brenda Peynado, November 21, 2022.
Harvard Review Online by Victoria Zhuang, April 30, 2023.
Trivia and Links
Read an introduction to the book and an excerpt from Shopgirl (Story #2) at CBC Books from October 11, 2023.
Ziggy Marley recites “The Tropics in New York” (excerpted in All-Inclusive Story #4) in a video at the Poetry Foundation website.
Review of the Catapult Books paperback edition (November 1, 2022).
Average rating for the stories = 3.4, rounded down to 3 for GR.
Shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize to be announced November 13, 2023.
The Islands is a collection of ten stories from the Jamaican diaspora, usually the 2nd or 3rd generation children of immigration. Jamaica itself does not feature in many stories directly but is simply mentioned in passing. I found the stories towards the end to be the most moving.
Individual ratings and story setups are below. The setups don't give away the story endings so they are not spoiler blocked.
1. Florida Life. *** A couple with a wife of Jamaican heritage and an American husband move from San Francisco to Florida and find themselves bedevilled by their white trash neighbours, an infestation of cockroaches and then bats in their attic.
2. Shopgirl. *** A shop girl dreams of a future when the ordinary Jamaican foods she sells will become exotic sought-for foodie items. Very short 4-page story.
3. Weaving. **** A down on his luck prize fighter named Delroy goes piglet napping in order to get a birthday present for his daughter with his ex-wife who is remarried.
4. All-Inclusive. *** A model & aspiring actress from LA meets a Jamaican poet who steals lines from Claude McKay’s “The Tropics in New York” in order to impress her. He is married but still finds time to take her on exotic trips. During a trip staying at an “all-inclusive” resort in Jamaica she has an existential crisis.
5. The Cape. *** A couple, a former student and her older husband professor go on a recuperative retreat to their summer home in Wellfleet on Cape Cod in Massachusetts near Hyannis. Her Jamaican ex-slave family has roots in the community from years before.
6. Canal. *** A Canadian woman Pilar is suffering from glaucoma. She is called from Panama about the death of her abuelita (Spanish: Little Granny), the name her grandmother had her call the housekeeper. Pilar has to travel to settle her abuelita’s affairs. Her ancestors had emigrated from Jamaica to Panama. She reminisces about her early years in Panama.
7. An American Idea of Fun. *** 15 year old Patricia (of Trinidanian background) travels from Cleveland, Ohio to France on a summer trip with white family friends, the Claudels, who have a summer home in France. There is rising tension as you begin to suspect that Mr. Claudel is a creep.
8. Some People. *** Kerry & Nathan choose a school for their daughter Lady in Montclair, New Jersey. Kerry’s parent emigrated to New York from Jamaica. She is stereotyped by her neighbours and the teacher at Lady’s school and is roped into making Jamaican food for a dinner. But she is not considered Jamaican by her mother and her friends.
9. The Gifts. **** 19 year old Peaches emigrates from Jamaica to Brixton, England in the 1960. She works as a housekeeper for the Stewarts. After 6 years she continues as a kept woman by Mr. Stewart. She goes to school for 4 years for secretarial training. She is now 30 years old and becomes pregnant and is fired by Mrs. Stewart. At 40, she reads that Mr. Stewart has died.
10. Waking Life. ***** Pauline, a travel writer, lives in Paris with her boyfriend. She grew up in Toronto with her grandmother where her mother left them when she moved to England to work in design. On a writing assignment to London, she arranges to meet her mother in Brixton having not seen her for many years.
Soundtrack
Jamaica Farewell (1956) by Harry Belafonte. Going with the theme of my lede.
Electric Avenue (1982) by Eddy Grant. I never knew that it was an actual street, which is mentioned in Waking Life (see Story #10).
Woke Up This Morning (1997) by the Alabama 3 from the album Exile on Coldharbour Lane. The mention of Coldharbour Lane (also in Story #10) reminded me what a great song the extended version of The Sopranos Theme was.
Other Reviews
New York Times by Brenda Peynado, November 21, 2022.
Harvard Review Online by Victoria Zhuang, April 30, 2023.
Trivia and Links
Read an introduction to the book and an excerpt from Shopgirl (Story #2) at CBC Books from October 11, 2023.
Ziggy Marley recites “The Tropics in New York” (excerpted in All-Inclusive Story #4) in a video at the Poetry Foundation website.
November 5, 2022
This is an impressive collection that glimpses the Caribbean immigrants’ experiences abroad in the often unwelcoming lands of their colonizers. Not surprisingly, themes surrounding the concept of “home” are explored from both angles: those who were born in the Caribbean but have spent the majority of their lives away living/working in a “foreign” country and from their first-generation children raised in niche communities and struggle to fit in, yet identify with and revere places they’ve never visited. Most stories are told from a female point of view and address the overt and implicit sexual exploitation/abuse that occurred when negotiating employment opportunities - many positions involved domestic work amid strangers who preyed on the protagonist’s desperation and lack of options. Other stories contained battles against underlying negative (classist, sexist, and racial) stereotypes, and in other stories, some willingly become paid escorts when desperation and hopelessness prevail.
Other stories look at themes surrounding the desire to reinvent oneself via relocating; the pressures of assimilation and isolation, individualism vs collective representation/”being the only one;” and a few explore the complicated and conflicted family relationships (grandparents raising grandchildren, absent fathers, absent mothers, and resentful children). The challenges of interracial and cross-cultural dating are also examined within a few stories.
This is a well-conceived collection that covered a lot of timely and complex issues reverberating in the wake of imperialism and colonialism.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
Other stories look at themes surrounding the desire to reinvent oneself via relocating; the pressures of assimilation and isolation, individualism vs collective representation/”being the only one;” and a few explore the complicated and conflicted family relationships (grandparents raising grandchildren, absent fathers, absent mothers, and resentful children). The challenges of interracial and cross-cultural dating are also examined within a few stories.
This is a well-conceived collection that covered a lot of timely and complex issues reverberating in the wake of imperialism and colonialism.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.
June 3, 2022
This powerhouse collection of stories brings to vivid life the experiences of a diverse cast of (mostly) women of (mostly) Jamaican descent around the world, from Florida to France to 1950s London to 1960s Panama and beyond. The very first story, “Florida Lives,” about a Black couple who move from San Francisco to Florida only to suffer from the heat, some bats, and their tacky neighbors, is blazoned on my mind and I don’t think I’m ever going to stop thinking about it (or look at tacky neighbors the same way ever again). These stories movingly explore identity, belonging, and home all through the complexities of the Jamaican diaspora, immigration, assimilation, colonialism, racism, sexism, and class—all through a vivid cast of characters who will remain on your mind long after each story ends. I’m not a big short story reader, but this is truly a must-read collection and highly recommended for fans of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies!
November 12, 2023
A collection of short stories narrated by flawed characters making their way in the worlds plagued by colonialism. We meet various characters, primarily female, throughout Jamaica, Panama, Britain, Canada and The U. S. from present day trailing back to the 1850s.
Irving has such a vivid way of constructing worlds and emotions that it felt impossibly true. I kept thinking that this must be drawing on some true event but these are too varied to all be from her own life. And that trueness came in from the flawedness of these characters. None of the narrators are without obvious flaws. They are messy and selfish with their wounds and mistakes only half camouflaged. They feel entirely human.
Some of the comments made by the narrators were ableist (particularly around a story of a spouse becoming disabled/disfigured) and those really unsettled me. The character feels bad for having these thoughts but the thoughts about the uselessness of disabled people and being trapped were presented as facts. I have mixed feelings about whether this was suppose to be given or challenged. The scene of her recoiling from his disfigurement really upset me as that happens and has real life affects on people.
Throughout there is disparaging comments made about people. So it is hard to see what is meant as flawed and what is meant as okay. I don't think many of these characters are meant to be presented as ideal.
There is a lot of themes on colonialism (the resorts, the tourism industry, occupation), the loss of language and culture throughout generations and time spent away, the dynamics of family and of divorce and separation, the difference between Black American and Jamaican American, the lack or inclusion of children, relationships between young Black women (and teenagers) and older white men. The exploitation of Black bodies when their politics dehumanize the same people they sleep with. The longterm affects of these relationships on the women and girls, the listlessness of middle age and of being on a precipe of change, the experience of being the only Black person in the room/neighbourhood or the only not in a serving capacity.
I really enjoyed all of these themes and look forward to what Dionne Irving writes next.
Irving has such a vivid way of constructing worlds and emotions that it felt impossibly true. I kept thinking that this must be drawing on some true event but these are too varied to all be from her own life. And that trueness came in from the flawedness of these characters. None of the narrators are without obvious flaws. They are messy and selfish with their wounds and mistakes only half camouflaged. They feel entirely human.
Some of the comments made by the narrators were ableist (particularly around a story of a spouse becoming disabled/disfigured) and those really unsettled me. The character feels bad for having these thoughts but the thoughts about the uselessness of disabled people and being trapped were presented as facts. I have mixed feelings about whether this was suppose to be given or challenged. The scene of her recoiling from his disfigurement really upset me as that happens and has real life affects on people.
Throughout there is disparaging comments made about people. So it is hard to see what is meant as flawed and what is meant as okay. I don't think many of these characters are meant to be presented as ideal.
There is a lot of themes on colonialism (the resorts, the tourism industry, occupation), the loss of language and culture throughout generations and time spent away, the dynamics of family and of divorce and separation, the difference between Black American and Jamaican American, the lack or inclusion of children, relationships between young Black women (and teenagers) and older white men. The exploitation of Black bodies when their politics dehumanize the same people they sleep with. The longterm affects of these relationships on the women and girls, the listlessness of middle age and of being on a precipe of change, the experience of being the only Black person in the room/neighbourhood or the only not in a serving capacity.
I really enjoyed all of these themes and look forward to what Dionne Irving writes next.
February 19, 2024
The future perfect is always more interesting than the present complicated. p160
from the story
An American Idea of Fun
Dionne Irving elegantly details the complicated present in these ten luminous, nearly perfect stories.
She will re-create herself until she figures out who she is, asking herself again and again How did I get here? p205
from the story Some People
from the story
An American Idea of Fun
Dionne Irving elegantly details the complicated present in these ten luminous, nearly perfect stories.
She will re-create herself until she figures out who she is, asking herself again and again How did I get here? p205
from the story Some People
February 28, 2023
The marketing for this book sells it short. The back-cover blurb starts: "The Islands follows the lives of Jamaican women..." As neither a Jamaican nor a woman, I got the message loud and clear. You are a guest to these stories; speak quietly, tread softly, look but don't touch. Enjoy, but know these stories aren't for you.
But these stories were for me. Not only was at least one about a man, and another contain no Jamaican characters, but nearly every story was so drastically different from what I expected in tone and subject that I felt like I was taking a crash course on the human condition. There is a common theme of displacement, and otherness, and the struggles of those who are pushed to the edges of society and must make those edges home. But the themes of hope, fears, struggles, and finding that life is often less glamorous than it first seems; these will resonate with a wide variety of people.
If I had to look for flaws, I might suggest a slightly cleaner edit. The first half seemed more impactful than the back half. The book is not long, but one or two stories covered nearly identical arcs and could have been cut. The back cover contains many inaccuracies to the text and seems like it was written by someone who didn't read the book but wanted to sell it to book clubs. But the text itself is really lovely and I enjoyed my time with this book.
But these stories were for me. Not only was at least one about a man, and another contain no Jamaican characters, but nearly every story was so drastically different from what I expected in tone and subject that I felt like I was taking a crash course on the human condition. There is a common theme of displacement, and otherness, and the struggles of those who are pushed to the edges of society and must make those edges home. But the themes of hope, fears, struggles, and finding that life is often less glamorous than it first seems; these will resonate with a wide variety of people.
If I had to look for flaws, I might suggest a slightly cleaner edit. The first half seemed more impactful than the back half. The book is not long, but one or two stories covered nearly identical arcs and could have been cut. The back cover contains many inaccuracies to the text and seems like it was written by someone who didn't read the book but wanted to sell it to book clubs. But the text itself is really lovely and I enjoyed my time with this book.
May 20, 2024
A bit disappointing. However, I think it's partly because it was an audiobook.
"The Islands" features 10 short stories about Jamaican women yearning for identity and a place to call home. Despite nearing resolution, each tale ends abruptly, leaving the reader frustrated. This feeling of incompleteness is common for me with short stories, but "The Islands" takes it too far. I kept hoping for a satisfying conclusion, but none came.
"The Islands" features 10 short stories about Jamaican women yearning for identity and a place to call home. Despite nearing resolution, each tale ends abruptly, leaving the reader frustrated. This feeling of incompleteness is common for me with short stories, but "The Islands" takes it too far. I kept hoping for a satisfying conclusion, but none came.
September 19, 2023
4.5 rounded down. A fantastic short story collection offering insights to a wide variety of first and second generation immigrant experience of the Jamaican diaspora. Fully expecting this to make the Giller shortlist
April 6, 2024
Excellently written, THIS is what CanLit prize culture should be all about. Not All the Colour in the World (days elapsed without complaining about that book: back to zero).
March 15, 2023
This is one of the best short story collections I've ever read! Irving draws me in immediately and depicts the insecurities of straddling two or more different worlds simultaneously and in so many different aspects of life. Wow!! I will definitely be watching for more of her writing in the future!
"Florida Lives" felt very realistic. It is amazing how human nature wants to start over as many times as not. I could appreciate the fact that the Fletchers proved to be quite useful in the end, despite her initial impression of them. I do believe our DNA contains much more than just inherited physical/emotional characteristics, but also past experiences of ancestors, etc.
"Shopgirl" is so true. Will anyone else remember her as the person selling something in that store? Will you remember who just sold you something in a store? All she'll remember is the "work"!
"Weaving" was not an easy read but felt realistic. I could sympathize with the man...he was trying the best he knew how.
"All-Inclusive" was sad and depressing to me. I feel for people trapped in untenable relationships. It is very easy to say that a person should never involve themselves with someone already married, but it can and does happen. And then what?
"The Cape" was a very personally relatable story for me. It is tough when you end up serving as caregiver to a partner with whom you expected to keep enjoying life. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be when you are younger, in your 30s...
"Canal" Was about the Panama Canal and the US taking over in the aftermath of President Kennedy's assassination. Interestingly, a jewish housekeeper/nanny was caring for a Cuban family when they had to flee for their lives. It was this caregiver who kept hold of the little girl very tightly as they ran through smoke, etc. As children, we are not always respectful and caring as we should be to others...
"An American Idea of Fun" depicted just how much parents can be convinced of a wholesome opportunity for their children which may actually be a very damaging experience. But our society does grant more respect for those with money, regardless of their actions. Money can definitely provide access that may otherwise not have been granted... (I despise such older male predators.)
"Some People" depicts some of the unintentionally discriminatory and well-meaning social situations endured by people who are "different" and/or of a minority status. Even from their own "friends"! And how some others can intercede on their behalf at times. (Even if those people may seem pushy and overbearing at times...)
"The Gifts" is yet another scenario of a married man exploiting a "domestic servant" and the resultant damage to the person being exploited and abused. It is not only sexual exploitation and damage, but emotional and mental abuse that the exploited must resolve at some point in their life. And what is a very poor (especially young and sexually appealing) person to do when approached with gifts of items that would otherwise be unattainable? We all need interpersonal relationships of one kind or another.
"Waking Life" was quite disturbing. It touched on many of my own personal relationships and emotions. In many ways, my mother was much the same...and yet she remained in my life and obsessed over me. Not sure which is worse, though at least I had a mother in my life and she did care about me, just not in a healthy way.
"Florida Lives" felt very realistic. It is amazing how human nature wants to start over as many times as not. I could appreciate the fact that the Fletchers proved to be quite useful in the end, despite her initial impression of them. I do believe our DNA contains much more than just inherited physical/emotional characteristics, but also past experiences of ancestors, etc.
"Shopgirl" is so true. Will anyone else remember her as the person selling something in that store? Will you remember who just sold you something in a store? All she'll remember is the "work"!
"Weaving" was not an easy read but felt realistic. I could sympathize with the man...he was trying the best he knew how.
"All-Inclusive" was sad and depressing to me. I feel for people trapped in untenable relationships. It is very easy to say that a person should never involve themselves with someone already married, but it can and does happen. And then what?
"The Cape" was a very personally relatable story for me. It is tough when you end up serving as caregiver to a partner with whom you expected to keep enjoying life. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be when you are younger, in your 30s...
"Canal" Was about the Panama Canal and the US taking over in the aftermath of President Kennedy's assassination. Interestingly, a jewish housekeeper/nanny was caring for a Cuban family when they had to flee for their lives. It was this caregiver who kept hold of the little girl very tightly as they ran through smoke, etc. As children, we are not always respectful and caring as we should be to others...
"An American Idea of Fun" depicted just how much parents can be convinced of a wholesome opportunity for their children which may actually be a very damaging experience. But our society does grant more respect for those with money, regardless of their actions. Money can definitely provide access that may otherwise not have been granted... (I despise such older male predators.)
"Some People" depicts some of the unintentionally discriminatory and well-meaning social situations endured by people who are "different" and/or of a minority status. Even from their own "friends"! And how some others can intercede on their behalf at times. (Even if those people may seem pushy and overbearing at times...)
"The Gifts" is yet another scenario of a married man exploiting a "domestic servant" and the resultant damage to the person being exploited and abused. It is not only sexual exploitation and damage, but emotional and mental abuse that the exploited must resolve at some point in their life. And what is a very poor (especially young and sexually appealing) person to do when approached with gifts of items that would otherwise be unattainable? We all need interpersonal relationships of one kind or another.
"Waking Life" was quite disturbing. It touched on many of my own personal relationships and emotions. In many ways, my mother was much the same...and yet she remained in my life and obsessed over me. Not sure which is worse, though at least I had a mother in my life and she did care about me, just not in a healthy way.
February 24, 2025
The themes of identity and belonging are strong throughout the text, offering a glimpse into the lives of people navigating displacement, migration and juggling cultural identity. Some stories really shine with sharp writing and deep emotion. However, the collection feels uneven at times. While certain narratives are engaging, others come across as underdeveloped or repetitive. If you are into character driven storytelling, it is still worth checking out.
June 4, 2024
So...it started and ended well.
Honestly, it started out really well, because I really liked the first story and that seemed like a good omen. The final two stories were also very strong. And I think what those three had in common was that they were different. (Har har.) When Irving has a unique idea for a story, she can really hit it out of the park. I appreciated seeing just the kind of struggle to be a human living a life through these different women's eyes, and how well she could take something seemingly minor and show you how major it really is, or in reverse, take something that feels enormous and let you see it as though under a microscope. And while the characters themselves aren't always too sure of what the hell they're doing, in those stories it made them relatable and real. Peaches and Po especially I thought were very three-dimensional, and Peaches' story was definitely my favorite.
However, unfortunately most of the middle of the collection was fairly weak, and part of the reason for that is, unlike what I said above, a number of the plots felt basically the same. Like she had this one idea, and then just altered the names and places and some of the details and called it a new story. I felt like I read a different draft of the same outline three or four times. Also, some of the characters in the middle stories were indistinguishable from any others. Plus, to be candid, I absolutely hated the third story and do not know what the heck the author's intent with it was. I don't want to spend any time in the head of an immature, abusive, loser ass piece of trash man.
So a real mixed bag, but the ones I liked, I liked a lot. So that's good.
Individual ratings:
Florida Lives: 4
Shopgirl: 2
Weaving: 1
All-Inclusive: 3
The Cape: 2
Canal: 3
An American Idea of Fun: 3
Some People: 2
The Gifts: 5
Waking Life: 4
Honestly, it started out really well, because I really liked the first story and that seemed like a good omen. The final two stories were also very strong. And I think what those three had in common was that they were different. (Har har.) When Irving has a unique idea for a story, she can really hit it out of the park. I appreciated seeing just the kind of struggle to be a human living a life through these different women's eyes, and how well she could take something seemingly minor and show you how major it really is, or in reverse, take something that feels enormous and let you see it as though under a microscope. And while the characters themselves aren't always too sure of what the hell they're doing, in those stories it made them relatable and real. Peaches and Po especially I thought were very three-dimensional, and Peaches' story was definitely my favorite.
However, unfortunately most of the middle of the collection was fairly weak, and part of the reason for that is, unlike what I said above, a number of the plots felt basically the same. Like she had this one idea, and then just altered the names and places and some of the details and called it a new story. I felt like I read a different draft of the same outline three or four times. Also, some of the characters in the middle stories were indistinguishable from any others. Plus, to be candid, I absolutely hated the third story and do not know what the heck the author's intent with it was. I don't want to spend any time in the head of an immature, abusive, loser ass piece of trash man.
So a real mixed bag, but the ones I liked, I liked a lot. So that's good.
Individual ratings:
Florida Lives: 4
Shopgirl: 2
Weaving: 1
All-Inclusive: 3
The Cape: 2
Canal: 3
An American Idea of Fun: 3
Some People: 2
The Gifts: 5
Waking Life: 4
October 27, 2022
You can't now know, but you will be the lonely one who understands how blood thickens stew, how marrow complicates flavor, how the perfect pepper in the bin needs to be found — taken from shopgirl
Brilliant stories that capture the realities and experiences of Black women immigrants and children of immigrants, written with awareness and sass that adds fiyah to each and the grace that allows these characters to be flawed in all the ways they can.
Irving's stories are sassy, smart, aware, sad, reflective, and real. She has captured family history, prejudices, and dynamics with a deft hand showing how observant and understanding of the immigrant experience and identity. With each story read, she weaves in the realities of race, time, culture, and people within communities and relationships.
She uses histories and migration to build her characters and their lives and loves, how feelings of loss, dissatisfaction, fulfilment, or lack push these people forward, steering them towards the path or decisions that need making. Her characters are equally self-aware and not, some are willing to scrutinise where they are in relationships, jobs, and family, while others only see where they have fallen short or how they have been shafted by life and people they have been with.
As she moves from islands to cities, her ability to tap into not just the struggles that come from straddling two identities and cultures, the microaggression of 'well-meaning white liberals', internalised expecattions, and showing just how The Island can manifest in their lives and what it means to each of them.
Brilliant stories that capture the realities and experiences of Black women immigrants and children of immigrants, written with awareness and sass that adds fiyah to each and the grace that allows these characters to be flawed in all the ways they can.
Irving's stories are sassy, smart, aware, sad, reflective, and real. She has captured family history, prejudices, and dynamics with a deft hand showing how observant and understanding of the immigrant experience and identity. With each story read, she weaves in the realities of race, time, culture, and people within communities and relationships.
She uses histories and migration to build her characters and their lives and loves, how feelings of loss, dissatisfaction, fulfilment, or lack push these people forward, steering them towards the path or decisions that need making. Her characters are equally self-aware and not, some are willing to scrutinise where they are in relationships, jobs, and family, while others only see where they have fallen short or how they have been shafted by life and people they have been with.
As she moves from islands to cities, her ability to tap into not just the struggles that come from straddling two identities and cultures, the microaggression of 'well-meaning white liberals', internalised expecattions, and showing just how The Island can manifest in their lives and what it means to each of them.
January 11, 2023
Profound collection of stories that brings to light the realities of the immigrant experience. For such a short book we fully understand these characters, their fight to hang on to culture they barely know or remember, racism presents itself at the dinner table of an immigrant family trying to assimilate, a marriage is tested as cultures clash and they exist to the world under false pretenses of a perfect life. The young immigrant mother who bears a son for her white boss and struggles to form her own identity. This book explores the harsh realities of the choices people make in search for a better life, the grass is not always green in "Foreign" and the choice to migrate sometimes comes with hard learned consequences. Precious and Pauline's stories are the ones that will stay with me. Overall, solid collection, highly recommend.
January 8, 2023
An excellent short story collection on the theme of Jamaican diaspora and first generation lives, covering a range of experiences and socio-economic conditions. All express the complexity and confusion of heritage and circumstance. And, most resonant with my own life, the missing sense of belonging, of being home. We are all islands to some extent, but some much more so than others, whether through temperament or circumstance.
“That was all they were in some ways, a group of people out there, anonymous and unknown, who she was linked to through biology. And she was here staying in the resort instead of working in the resort . . . because of luck. She was not special; she was not of value. She was just lucky. It was that simple.”
“That was all they were in some ways, a group of people out there, anonymous and unknown, who she was linked to through biology. And she was here staying in the resort instead of working in the resort . . . because of luck. She was not special; she was not of value. She was just lucky. It was that simple.”
September 28, 2023
I enjoyed this collection of short stories from a new to me Black Canadian author. I picked this up because the book is nominated for the Giller and definitely can see why! Each story was unique with memorable characters perfect for fans of authors like Dionne Brand. Looking forward to reading more by from her!
November 3, 2023
If I had to describe this book with one word, it would be anger. In each of the stories in this collection, there is an underlying current of anger, resentment, and discontent. I don’t need my fiction to be all sunshine and roses, but this was just too much. I had to put the book down sometimes because of the overwhelming negativity.
October 1, 2023
Longlisted for the 2023 Giller Prize. I liked this one a lot! A lot of really great and compelling short stories that made me want to keep reading. Though the themes of home, belonging, colonialism and loss were woven throughout most of them, the majority of the characters and situations felt distinct and not repetitive like I’ve found with short story collections before. I really enjoyed the stories “Canal”, “An American Idea of Fun” and “Waking Life” in particular. I hope to see this one on the shortlist!
November 23, 2022
I loved reading THE ISLANDS: Stories by Dionne Irving and it’s five stars for me! I loved these stories that centre around Jamaican women and how their lives change around the world. There’s different settings so we travel to Jamaica, United States and Europe. It’s interesting how others would view these women who have to deal with immigration, colonialism and finding their place. I found all ten stories enjoyable and my fave stories are All-Inclusive and Some People. This is one of my fave short story collections of 2022!
Thank you to Catapult for my gifted review copy!
Thank you to Catapult for my gifted review copy!
April 29, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
This should have won the 2023 Giller.
This should have won the 2023 Giller.
October 14, 2023
Rating 3.5 rounded down
February 20, 2024
Out of the 10 stories in the collection, I enjoyed 4. Dionne Irving is a talented writer, but this didn't seem like her best work.
October 27, 2022
Review by Julia Romero, Book Reviewer at October Hill Magazine
Dionne Irving's debut collection and second work of fiction is a standout exposé into the lives of Jamaican women across the globe. From Jamaica to Europe to the United States, these daughters of immigrants struggle to make a home in unfamiliar and unsettling places. Irving’s cast of characters are flawed and uncertain. They are restless mothers, distraught daughters, and passionate lovers, growing roots in contaminated soil.
The opening story begins in Florida where a couple has relocated with dreams of prosperity and reinvention, only to watch their hastily built structure crumble around them....Read the rest of the review in October Hill Magazine's Fall 2022 Issue
Dionne Irving's debut collection and second work of fiction is a standout exposé into the lives of Jamaican women across the globe. From Jamaica to Europe to the United States, these daughters of immigrants struggle to make a home in unfamiliar and unsettling places. Irving’s cast of characters are flawed and uncertain. They are restless mothers, distraught daughters, and passionate lovers, growing roots in contaminated soil.
The opening story begins in Florida where a couple has relocated with dreams of prosperity and reinvention, only to watch their hastily built structure crumble around them....Read the rest of the review in October Hill Magazine's Fall 2022 Issue
April 12, 2024
Mostly? A collection of depressing stories about people in dysfunctional heterosexual relationships. Yes, there are the intersections of racism, classism, sexism and colourism, but the sameness of the stereotypical male-female dynamics becomes boring.
July 11, 2023
More than anything else, I feel like my rating of this collection as a whole is appropriate, even if it suggests I disliked this more than I actually do. On the contrary, there were a few stories on here I quite liked. "Weaving" has this depressive desperation to it was effective, "All-Inclusive" felt very surreal despite its rather realistic portrayal of the world, and "Canal" pretty much is the sort of thing that would come to mind if you thought about what a good, competent short story would be. But as a whole, the stories start to feel repetitive. Even if the supposed scope of this collection is wide (stories of Jamaican diaspora), tropes of troubled and questionable relationships and similarly stuck women start to repeat over and over. This especially gets prominent towards the back end of the collection, where the quality seems to go down from the first few stories.
There's also this weirdly, I don't know, less rigorous feeling to the writing here. For the life of me I swear I saw some grammatical mistakes on here. Certain sentence structures and implementation felt off, as well as the jarring transition from past tense to present tense in verbs. I feel like, more than anything else, it needed a few more read-throughs by an editor(s) than really anything else, but it's something that does hurt the integrity of the writings present.
There's also this weirdly, I don't know, less rigorous feeling to the writing here. For the life of me I swear I saw some grammatical mistakes on here. Certain sentence structures and implementation felt off, as well as the jarring transition from past tense to present tense in verbs. I feel like, more than anything else, it needed a few more read-throughs by an editor(s) than really anything else, but it's something that does hurt the integrity of the writings present.
October 11, 2022
What a fantastic collection of short stories that depict the Jamaican diaspora. Each story was so satisfying and I immediately wanted (and did) to read the next story. The Jamaican experience is so diverse and far from the common stereotypes of Bob Marley and marijuana. The Islands depict colonialism, migration and the immigrant experience as well as the second generation. For readers of Anthony Veasna So, May-Lee Chai, Sindya Bhanoo, Kimberly Garza, Ye Chun and Nicole Dennis-Bern.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
ETA: Staff Pick 11/22
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
ETA: Staff Pick 11/22
January 11, 2023
Je lis rarement des nouvelles, qui me laissent souvent sur ma faim. Vous avez fait un bon choix, m'avait dit la libraire, alors que je passais à la caisse. Elle ne se trompait pas, cette collection d'histoires courtes allait me plaire, et ce dès la première nouvelle, qui met superbement la table pour cette série de textes courts narrant des trajectoires variées de personnages issus de la diaspora jamaïcaine (ou habitant la Jamaïque). Ces fictions brèves s'articulent beaucoup autour de la notion d'intersectionnalité, permettent de la saisir dans ses multiples incarnations, sans jamais adopter un ton pédagogique ou faire dans la littérature à thèse. L'autrice n'hésite pas non plus à s'immiscer dans les zones d'ombre, avec des personnages tout sauf manichéens. Il y a beaucoup d'humour, de tendresse, de douleur et une bonne dose de malaise dans ces petites histoires, pas mal toutes réussies, qui se complètent bien et forment un ensemble cohérent. J'ai choisi ce livre un peu au hasard, et le hasard a bien fait les choses!
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