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Windward Family: An atlas of love, loss and belonging
'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes, and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'
Twenty years after living there as a child, Alexis Keir returns to the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. He is keen to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections. But he also carries with him the childhood scars of being separated from his parents and put into uncaring hands.
Inspired by the embrace of his relatives in the Caribbean, Alexis begins to unravel the stories of others who left Saint Vincent, searching through diary pages and newspaper articles, shipping and hospital records, and faded photographs. He uncovers tales of exploitation, endeavour and bravery of those who had to find a home far away from where they were born. A child born with vitiligo, torn from his mother's arms to be exhibited as a showground attraction in England; a woman who, in the century before the Windrush generation, became one of the earliest Black nurses to be recorded as working in a London hospital; the young boy who became a footman in a Yorkshire stately home. And Alexis's mother, a student nurse who arrives in 1960s London, ready to start a new life in a cold, grey country - and the man from her island who she falls in love with.
From the Caribbean to England, North America and New Zealand, from windswept islands to the wet streets of London, and spanning generations of travellers from the 19th century to the present, Windward Family takes you inside the beating heart of a Black British family, separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging.
Twenty years after living there as a child, Alexis Keir returns to the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. He is keen to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections. But he also carries with him the childhood scars of being separated from his parents and put into uncaring hands.
Inspired by the embrace of his relatives in the Caribbean, Alexis begins to unravel the stories of others who left Saint Vincent, searching through diary pages and newspaper articles, shipping and hospital records, and faded photographs. He uncovers tales of exploitation, endeavour and bravery of those who had to find a home far away from where they were born. A child born with vitiligo, torn from his mother's arms to be exhibited as a showground attraction in England; a woman who, in the century before the Windrush generation, became one of the earliest Black nurses to be recorded as working in a London hospital; the young boy who became a footman in a Yorkshire stately home. And Alexis's mother, a student nurse who arrives in 1960s London, ready to start a new life in a cold, grey country - and the man from her island who she falls in love with.
From the Caribbean to England, North America and New Zealand, from windswept islands to the wet streets of London, and spanning generations of travellers from the 19th century to the present, Windward Family takes you inside the beating heart of a Black British family, separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging.
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2023
19 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 23, 2022
alexis keir's windward family is the memoir of a black british family in which a voice is created for keir's ancestors and those he feels a kinship to. a love letter to the caribbean island of st vincent where it all began, lost memories and the journeys of those who came before him allow history to be retold in a way that frames how we become.
the central theme of belonging is explored through the detailed lives of those forgotten - one of the first black nurses on record to work in a london hospital, a child with vitiligo forced into the role of a showground attraction, a young footman in a stately home located in yorkshire, and the love story of his mother and a fellow man after she arrived in 1960s london as a student nurse. exploitation, struggle, love, and the bravery of those who left behind all they knew to be better and live better shine thanks to the sheer beauty of the prose that welcomes you on each page, where the clear love keir has for those who make him him is emphasised.
in several locations: the caribbean, england, new zealand and america, we are taken through an incredible ancestry, allowing those once forgotten to be placed into history forevermore.
the central theme of belonging is explored through the detailed lives of those forgotten - one of the first black nurses on record to work in a london hospital, a child with vitiligo forced into the role of a showground attraction, a young footman in a stately home located in yorkshire, and the love story of his mother and a fellow man after she arrived in 1960s london as a student nurse. exploitation, struggle, love, and the bravery of those who left behind all they knew to be better and live better shine thanks to the sheer beauty of the prose that welcomes you on each page, where the clear love keir has for those who make him him is emphasised.
in several locations: the caribbean, england, new zealand and america, we are taken through an incredible ancestry, allowing those once forgotten to be placed into history forevermore.
May 1, 2023
A brilliant memoir that highlights Alexis’s life and the life of some Vincentians who left the island willingly and unwillingly to go to the UK. A great read for anyone who loves history and memoirs
Alexis Keir goes deep in his exploration of where home is and what we are rooted to. He tells us the story of his family, how they left St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a better life. So did a lot of Vincentians who ended up in the UK. He explored how and why they left and under what circumstances they decided to stay. The book is set in St. Vincent, USA, UK and New Zealand, as the author tries to find his place in the world.
I think what I enjoyed a lot about this book is how personal it was but also very much intertwined with history. I generally don’t read a lot of memoirs from St. Vincent and I loved how much I learned. This is a great read for anyone who loves memoirs and history.
Alexis Keir goes deep in his exploration of where home is and what we are rooted to. He tells us the story of his family, how they left St. Vincent and the Grenadines for a better life. So did a lot of Vincentians who ended up in the UK. He explored how and why they left and under what circumstances they decided to stay. The book is set in St. Vincent, USA, UK and New Zealand, as the author tries to find his place in the world.
I think what I enjoyed a lot about this book is how personal it was but also very much intertwined with history. I generally don’t read a lot of memoirs from St. Vincent and I loved how much I learned. This is a great read for anyone who loves memoirs and history.
January 31, 2023
→ 3.75 stars
This memoir did many things right combining fiction and non-fiction – a narrative choice I had never seen before in a memoir –, mingling personal experience with the non-personal, and the inclusion of many worthwhile and interesting conversations about race and identity from a Caribbean diaspora perspective. It's also well-written.
However, what makes this book unique is also what made it lose some of its essence as a memoir in my opinion. Although Windward Family is very informative in the way it explores the trips the author has taken, especially to his native country of Saint Vincent, it felt too meandering and lost within itself at times... and when I'm reading a memoir I like to be up close and personal.
I'd recommend this book to those looking for a different kind of memoir, larger in scope, and with a variety of perceptions.
ARC provided by the Bookouture Audio and Netgalley, thank you.
This memoir did many things right combining fiction and non-fiction – a narrative choice I had never seen before in a memoir –, mingling personal experience with the non-personal, and the inclusion of many worthwhile and interesting conversations about race and identity from a Caribbean diaspora perspective. It's also well-written.
However, what makes this book unique is also what made it lose some of its essence as a memoir in my opinion. Although Windward Family is very informative in the way it explores the trips the author has taken, especially to his native country of Saint Vincent, it felt too meandering and lost within itself at times... and when I'm reading a memoir I like to be up close and personal.
I'd recommend this book to those looking for a different kind of memoir, larger in scope, and with a variety of perceptions.
ARC provided by the Bookouture Audio and Netgalley, thank you.
August 13, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
3.5 stars.
Windward Family is an interwoven fiction and fact memoir that is very informative and managing to weave threads between non-personal and personal experiences and events. I enjoyed hearing much about the author and his journey especially the places he's travelled and experiences he's had as well as thoughts and conversations about topics such as race and personal identity especially being from a Carribean disaporsa viewpoint. I connected to some parts of this book really well, but other times, I felt the book lose its focus in places, but maybe that's just me. This was a very unique memoir in the aspect of combinations of fiction and fact, but overall, the author did a great job, and the narrator added to the essence of this book, too.
3.5 stars.
Windward Family is an interwoven fiction and fact memoir that is very informative and managing to weave threads between non-personal and personal experiences and events. I enjoyed hearing much about the author and his journey especially the places he's travelled and experiences he's had as well as thoughts and conversations about topics such as race and personal identity especially being from a Carribean disaporsa viewpoint. I connected to some parts of this book really well, but other times, I felt the book lose its focus in places, but maybe that's just me. This was a very unique memoir in the aspect of combinations of fiction and fact, but overall, the author did a great job, and the narrator added to the essence of this book, too.
December 26, 2022
This memoir was clearly a labor of love by the author - to capture his sense of history, identity, people, and the place he came from - the island of St. Vincent. It was interesting to learn more about the land, history, culture, and food and visualize life on the island. I enjoyed the author’s quest tracing the history of a few who left St. Vincent in search of a better life and his experiences living in New Zealand. However, I found the structure of the book odd. The order of chapters felt random and jumped around people, places, and timelines, which made it disconcerting. And, I didn’t feel like the author’s writing conveyed the warmth and connectedness with his parents, his immediate family, or when he mentioned his girlfriends. For a book focused on love, loss, and belonging, I wish the feelings those words generate could have come through a lot stronger. All in all, still a good read for the sense of place of St. Vincent and the author’s quest of its history. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 11, 2025
While interesting at times, I ended up with some mixed feelings about this. I thought the chapters about historical figures were very touching, but I expected there to be more of an emphasis on those. Instead, this mainly read like a memoir or travel log, and I found that element of the book decidedly less interesting.
Read as part of the Read Around the World book club (Saint Vincent & the Grenadines)
Read as part of the Read Around the World book club (Saint Vincent & the Grenadines)
February 11, 2023
'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes, and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'
This was a really beautifully written unique memoir.
Upon returning to the island of St. Vincent, Alexis finds himself exploring the stories of others who have left the Caribbean island and what became of them in the larger world. Exploring out the fates of others who have left the island makes this an interesting, enthralling read.
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a really beautifully written unique memoir.
Upon returning to the island of St. Vincent, Alexis finds himself exploring the stories of others who have left the Caribbean island and what became of them in the larger world. Exploring out the fates of others who have left the island makes this an interesting, enthralling read.
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 2, 2023
Let me tell you where this book took me.....St Vincent, New Zealand, the UK - it took me 20 years and 200 years back in time.....it was beautiful and fascinating. This is a divine memoir that mixes the author's own history with the history of other important/ forgotten figures and it was a delight to read.
From Keir's journey discovering his family origins in St Vincent (which I loved!), to the church in Marlow where there is the grave for a young boy with vitiligo who died at the age of four, though he could have been known as The Beautiful Spotted Boy, it should never be forgotten that his name is George Alexander Gratton, and after his birth in the early 1800s he was carried away from his enslaved mother to England in order to become an attraction in a circus.
This book is deeply moving and feels like a poetic love letter to family history whilst highlighting how the threads that weave through us are a result of our origins and heritage, as well as what we learn to embrace and pursue. The author's biographical sections are peppered with heartfelt pages dedicated to telling the stories of others, especially of those like George who never had a voice.
I loved it - this was an absolute pleasure of a book to read, so beautifully written and destined to take you on a journey - you can almost feel the air in these places.
From Keir's journey discovering his family origins in St Vincent (which I loved!), to the church in Marlow where there is the grave for a young boy with vitiligo who died at the age of four, though he could have been known as The Beautiful Spotted Boy, it should never be forgotten that his name is George Alexander Gratton, and after his birth in the early 1800s he was carried away from his enslaved mother to England in order to become an attraction in a circus.
This book is deeply moving and feels like a poetic love letter to family history whilst highlighting how the threads that weave through us are a result of our origins and heritage, as well as what we learn to embrace and pursue. The author's biographical sections are peppered with heartfelt pages dedicated to telling the stories of others, especially of those like George who never had a voice.
I loved it - this was an absolute pleasure of a book to read, so beautifully written and destined to take you on a journey - you can almost feel the air in these places.
November 21, 2025
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Windward Family is part memoir, part reimagined historical accounts of past Vincentian’s who also found themselves in the UK. I read this for my Reading Around the World challenge for Saint Vincent and The Grenadines!
I loved the mixing of Alexis’ personal stories with the historical chapters. Through Keir’s book, I learned about Saint Vincent’s nature and history! The food descriptions alone made me so hungry 😅
I also enjoyed Keir’s moving reflections on places, how he moved around the world and left a piece of himself behind when it was time to move on. Incredible story and moved to tears at some parts!
Windward Family is part memoir, part reimagined historical accounts of past Vincentian’s who also found themselves in the UK. I read this for my Reading Around the World challenge for Saint Vincent and The Grenadines!
I loved the mixing of Alexis’ personal stories with the historical chapters. Through Keir’s book, I learned about Saint Vincent’s nature and history! The food descriptions alone made me so hungry 😅
I also enjoyed Keir’s moving reflections on places, how he moved around the world and left a piece of himself behind when it was time to move on. Incredible story and moved to tears at some parts!
February 3, 2023
3.5star
The Windward Family is a fragmented memoir that infuses both non-fiction and fiction styles of writing. I sought to enjoy the experimental writing style.
This memoir is one of belonging, loss, and love of a family and their ancestry. I love the tenderness in the writing style. There is a uniqueness to this book and it’s very informative. Alexis takes us on a journey through the Caribbean to America. I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Windward Family is a fragmented memoir that infuses both non-fiction and fiction styles of writing. I sought to enjoy the experimental writing style.
This memoir is one of belonging, loss, and love of a family and their ancestry. I love the tenderness in the writing style. There is a uniqueness to this book and it’s very informative. Alexis takes us on a journey through the Caribbean to America. I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2023
Windward Family An atlas of love, loss and belonging by Alexis Keir Narrated by Theo Solomon
Pub Date 02 Feb 2023
<3 This was brilliantly written! Between the reenactment of the Historical content intertwined with his memoir made it flow or felt like a period drama. It was heart wrenching and maddening. Black History that carry on into the collective generational trauma of BIPOC folks. It was one of the stories where I was wishing there was such a thing as a time machine so I can dispense some street justice. Theo Solomon's narration from a British accent of the White oppressor to a Caribbean Patois of the oppressed or enslaved for both genders was absolutely flawless! Yall know I am a book binger and I can not say enough on how this story was written so vividly! <3
#WindwardFamily #NetGalley #Enslavement #Trauma #vitiligo #stolenchildren #StVincent
'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'
Twenty years after living there as a child, Alexis Keir returns to the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. He is keen to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections. But he also carries with him the childhood scars of being separated from his parents and put into uncaring hands.
Inspired by the embrace of his relatives in the Caribbean, Alexis begins to unravel the stories of others who left Saint Vincent, searching through diary pages and newspaper articles, shipping and hospital records and faded photographs. He uncovers tales of exploitation, endeavour and bravery of those who had to find a home far away from where they were born.
A child born with vitiligo, torn from his mother's arms to be exhibited as a showground attraction in England; a woman who, in the century before the Windrush generation, became one of the earliest Black nurses to be recorded as working in a London hospital; a young boy who became a footman in a Yorkshire stately home. And Alexis's mother, a student nurse who arrives in 1960s London, ready to start a new life in a cold, grey country - and the man from her island whom she falls in love with.
From the Caribbean to England, North America and New Zealand, from windswept islands to the rainy streets of London, and spanning generations of travellers from the 19th century to the present, Windward Family takes you inside the beating heart of a Black British family, separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging.
Pub Date 02 Feb 2023
<3 This was brilliantly written! Between the reenactment of the Historical content intertwined with his memoir made it flow or felt like a period drama. It was heart wrenching and maddening. Black History that carry on into the collective generational trauma of BIPOC folks. It was one of the stories where I was wishing there was such a thing as a time machine so I can dispense some street justice. Theo Solomon's narration from a British accent of the White oppressor to a Caribbean Patois of the oppressed or enslaved for both genders was absolutely flawless! Yall know I am a book binger and I can not say enough on how this story was written so vividly! <3
#WindwardFamily #NetGalley #Enslavement #Trauma #vitiligo #stolenchildren #StVincent
'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'
Twenty years after living there as a child, Alexis Keir returns to the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. He is keen to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections. But he also carries with him the childhood scars of being separated from his parents and put into uncaring hands.
Inspired by the embrace of his relatives in the Caribbean, Alexis begins to unravel the stories of others who left Saint Vincent, searching through diary pages and newspaper articles, shipping and hospital records and faded photographs. He uncovers tales of exploitation, endeavour and bravery of those who had to find a home far away from where they were born.
A child born with vitiligo, torn from his mother's arms to be exhibited as a showground attraction in England; a woman who, in the century before the Windrush generation, became one of the earliest Black nurses to be recorded as working in a London hospital; a young boy who became a footman in a Yorkshire stately home. And Alexis's mother, a student nurse who arrives in 1960s London, ready to start a new life in a cold, grey country - and the man from her island whom she falls in love with.
From the Caribbean to England, North America and New Zealand, from windswept islands to the rainy streets of London, and spanning generations of travellers from the 19th century to the present, Windward Family takes you inside the beating heart of a Black British family, separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging.
February 26, 2023
✨ Review ✨ Windward Family: An atlas of love, loss and belonging by Alexis Keir
First - I think this was a powerful memoir of the impact of diaspora over generations -- in family, love, pain, racial trauma, and so much more. I learned a lot and was fascinated by the stories Keir told here.
With that said, I think this was a super bold memoir that took some big risks in style and organization. I didn't dislike these choices but it made it much much harder to figure out in an audio format:
-it mixes nonfiction memoir with fictional anecdotes about real (I think?) people. It wasn't clear to me until the end that these were fictional and it was hard to keep track of all of these people and storylines that might have appeared only early in the book and at the end. I'm still so confused about all of this.
-it is very nonlinear, jumping in time and place. this might work better in print format where you can refer back but made it hard to sort out while listening.
-as a very place-based story and written in places I'm not very familiar with (Saint Vincent, New Zealand, and even rural UK), it was really challenging to follow where he was at in audio without a map (again, especially with the non-linear narrative.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.25 stars)
Genre: memoir
Location: UK, New Zealand, Saint Vincent.
Pub Date: out now
Read this if you like:
⭕️ memoir about places that might be unfamiliar
⭕️ weaving together generational stories
⭕️ non-linear memoir
⭕️ BEAUTIFUL covers
Thanks to Thread and #netgalley for an advanced audio copy of this book!
First - I think this was a powerful memoir of the impact of diaspora over generations -- in family, love, pain, racial trauma, and so much more. I learned a lot and was fascinated by the stories Keir told here.
With that said, I think this was a super bold memoir that took some big risks in style and organization. I didn't dislike these choices but it made it much much harder to figure out in an audio format:
-it mixes nonfiction memoir with fictional anecdotes about real (I think?) people. It wasn't clear to me until the end that these were fictional and it was hard to keep track of all of these people and storylines that might have appeared only early in the book and at the end. I'm still so confused about all of this.
-it is very nonlinear, jumping in time and place. this might work better in print format where you can refer back but made it hard to sort out while listening.
-as a very place-based story and written in places I'm not very familiar with (Saint Vincent, New Zealand, and even rural UK), it was really challenging to follow where he was at in audio without a map (again, especially with the non-linear narrative.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.25 stars)
Genre: memoir
Location: UK, New Zealand, Saint Vincent.
Pub Date: out now
Read this if you like:
⭕️ memoir about places that might be unfamiliar
⭕️ weaving together generational stories
⭕️ non-linear memoir
⭕️ BEAUTIFUL covers
Thanks to Thread and #netgalley for an advanced audio copy of this book!
Read
December 5, 2022Let me start by saying that memoirs are one of my top genres. I love reading about people's stories and deeply respect their ability and willingness to share them with the world.
Windward family had two or three memorable essays in it for me. These essays really stood out to me because of their writing and the powerful messages of the stories - stories of heartache, abandonment, and home. Other than these few sections of the book, I was not engaged with the main narrative or the side characters in the story.
The book jumps from past to future to past again and again, while not only following Keir's life but also others who have experienced similar life experiences at different times in history. Although it was a unique story structure that I hadn't read before, I found the insertion of other people's stories made it hard to follow. It didn't have a flow in the timeline or in the subject. The topics often changed between paragraphs in one essay. It felt choppy at times.
I had higher hopes for this memoir overall and I was disappointed. Nevertheless, I never regret reading someone's life story and I'm sure many people will benefit from his experiences.
Thank you to Net Galley & Thread Books for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Windward family had two or three memorable essays in it for me. These essays really stood out to me because of their writing and the powerful messages of the stories - stories of heartache, abandonment, and home. Other than these few sections of the book, I was not engaged with the main narrative or the side characters in the story.
The book jumps from past to future to past again and again, while not only following Keir's life but also others who have experienced similar life experiences at different times in history. Although it was a unique story structure that I hadn't read before, I found the insertion of other people's stories made it hard to follow. It didn't have a flow in the timeline or in the subject. The topics often changed between paragraphs in one essay. It felt choppy at times.
I had higher hopes for this memoir overall and I was disappointed. Nevertheless, I never regret reading someone's life story and I'm sure many people will benefit from his experiences.
Thank you to Net Galley & Thread Books for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 18, 2023
⭐⭐⭐ -- Decent cover on this book
Windward Family: An atlas of love, loss and belonging by Alexis Keir tells the story of a Black British family that is separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging. The book takes readers on a journey from the Caribbean to England, North America, New Zealand and back again across generations of travellers spanning the 19th century to the present.
While there were some outstanding parts in this book, I found it to be an alright read overall. The jumping around time-wise between memoir and fiction made it difficult to stay invested in the story, and I also found that the entire book felt really choppy and disjointed. However, I appreciate the author's effort to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections while shedding light on tales of exploitation, endeavor, and bravery from those who had to find a home far from where they were born.
Overall, if you're interested in exploring themes of love, loss, and history within the generations of a family, then Windward Family might be worth checking out.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Windward Family: An atlas of love, loss and belonging by Alexis Keir tells the story of a Black British family that is separated by thousands of miles but united by love, loss and belonging. The book takes readers on a journey from the Caribbean to England, North America, New Zealand and back again across generations of travellers spanning the 19th century to the present.
While there were some outstanding parts in this book, I found it to be an alright read overall. The jumping around time-wise between memoir and fiction made it difficult to stay invested in the story, and I also found that the entire book felt really choppy and disjointed. However, I appreciate the author's effort to uncover lost memories and rediscover old connections while shedding light on tales of exploitation, endeavor, and bravery from those who had to find a home far from where they were born.
Overall, if you're interested in exploring themes of love, loss, and history within the generations of a family, then Windward Family might be worth checking out.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
November 14, 2022
I was received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes, and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'
Whilst facing his own history, and his families, the author also finds that he is not the only one who left his island of birth to find a different life. He explores their stories further and in these stories finds his own sense of self, his identity.
I fell in love with this story, I like the way it switched from one central character to another, telling their stories as they found their place in their chosen homeland and how this all came together in the authors own story.
The different locations were described to give each an individual feel and allowed you to build a clear picture of each place. I would highly recommend this book.
'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes, and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'
Whilst facing his own history, and his families, the author also finds that he is not the only one who left his island of birth to find a different life. He explores their stories further and in these stories finds his own sense of self, his identity.
I fell in love with this story, I like the way it switched from one central character to another, telling their stories as they found their place in their chosen homeland and how this all came together in the authors own story.
The different locations were described to give each an individual feel and allowed you to build a clear picture of each place. I would highly recommend this book.
February 5, 2023
This is an incredible memoir; an unusual mix of fact, reminiscence and fiction pulled into a single narrative. Rather than a straightforward autobiography, Alexis Keir takes the opportunity to reconnect with his homeland, St Vincent and creates a truly compelling narrative which looks at the displacement of people over hundreds of years.
I’m ashamed by the way many were treated; colonialism is odious and some of the stories recounted are truly heartbreaking. But, they are genuine human stories and should be told. History needs to be rewritten to reflect what it was really like and Weir has an eye for detail and a lyrical way of writing that really brings things to life. He is the voice of the past and these are forgotten lives whose story wouldn’t have been told. The essence is about identity, personal and racial and it’s a sweeping and compelling exploration. I was hooked. I loved the prose, the pace and the every story. A must for anyone interested in people or social history.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.
I’m ashamed by the way many were treated; colonialism is odious and some of the stories recounted are truly heartbreaking. But, they are genuine human stories and should be told. History needs to be rewritten to reflect what it was really like and Weir has an eye for detail and a lyrical way of writing that really brings things to life. He is the voice of the past and these are forgotten lives whose story wouldn’t have been told. The essence is about identity, personal and racial and it’s a sweeping and compelling exploration. I was hooked. I loved the prose, the pace and the every story. A must for anyone interested in people or social history.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.
January 20, 2023
This is part memoir and part loose fiction based around the authors learnings of the history of Saint Vincent, of children ripped from their families and the exploitation and abuse many met at the hands of the white people who invited them to Britain and treated them in the most inhumane ways.
Alexis Keir paints a picture so vivid that I could feel the sun on my face, I could smell the sea and taste the food. I loved reading how both his father and mother left their island on a promise of better things and met in England. A lot of the writing I found deeply upsetting and uncomfortable and we should feel this way. The poor child with vitiligo performing in the circus broke me. Truly a tale that brings the light and the shade to extreme.
A brilliant and well deserved 5 stars. The narration was perfect too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.
Alexis Keir paints a picture so vivid that I could feel the sun on my face, I could smell the sea and taste the food. I loved reading how both his father and mother left their island on a promise of better things and met in England. A lot of the writing I found deeply upsetting and uncomfortable and we should feel this way. The poor child with vitiligo performing in the circus broke me. Truly a tale that brings the light and the shade to extreme.
A brilliant and well deserved 5 stars. The narration was perfect too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.
November 25, 2022
Mixing memoir with historical biography, Windward Family charts the course of St Vincentian diaspora over the years through the lives of a few individuals. It's about place, identity and belonging, families both biological and found. It's a labour of love, and every word is heartfelt.
There are pockets of brilliance, but looking at the book as a whole, I struggled a little with the structure. The essays flit back and forth in time, sometimes covering the same themes and imagery; I wanted a stronger linear narrative to tie it all together. And while I loved the inclusion of the biographies, I found the fictive style they were written in jarring. It's a great premise, I just felt it needed a little more constructive editing to really tie it all together.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
There are pockets of brilliance, but looking at the book as a whole, I struggled a little with the structure. The essays flit back and forth in time, sometimes covering the same themes and imagery; I wanted a stronger linear narrative to tie it all together. And while I loved the inclusion of the biographies, I found the fictive style they were written in jarring. It's a great premise, I just felt it needed a little more constructive editing to really tie it all together.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
January 23, 2023
A beautifully written book had my hooked from the beginning. Refreshing and informative to understand more about the journey many Caribbean’s made and about sacrifices made. In 2023 these accounts are providing a more balanced account of history which is so important. Living in the Home Counties I’m familiar with Marlow, High Wycombe and Luton so found it even easier to connect. I also learnt about George Alexander Grattan. Grateful for this as I think it’ll stay with me for a long time. Reminded me of how people were in awe of Hottentots Venus. Can’t begin to imagine how that would’ve felt being gawped at. Yet the author captured the sentiment and almost a familial love story of George and Mr Richardson. As for me I’m off to the National Portrait Gallery to witness and be part of history. Fab fab book.
May 10, 2023
This is a memoir/general fiction book, which I found really interesting.
Alexis Keir is a man who used to live in the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent as a child. Twenty years later, he goes back there to find out more about his past, and to try to find people that he used to know. Once he finds his relatives there, he goes through the stories of other people who also had to leave Saint Vincent in the past. We are shown the lives of these lovely characters, and what happened to them.
The audiobook narrator was very good, and I liked his voice. Since a lot of the audiobooks I read are narrated by women, I was happy to hear a man's voice, for a change. He did a good job.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author/narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Alexis Keir is a man who used to live in the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent as a child. Twenty years later, he goes back there to find out more about his past, and to try to find people that he used to know. Once he finds his relatives there, he goes through the stories of other people who also had to leave Saint Vincent in the past. We are shown the lives of these lovely characters, and what happened to them.
The audiobook narrator was very good, and I liked his voice. Since a lot of the audiobooks I read are narrated by women, I was happy to hear a man's voice, for a change. He did a good job.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author/narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
March 31, 2025
⭐ 2.5
I was excited to read Windward Family, the first chapters had me completely engaged. The storytelling initially drew me in, but as the book progressed, I found myself skimming through sections. It felt like the narrative lost momentum, dragging in places and straying from its core focus.
Interestingly, I found the side stories more compelling than the author’s personal journey. The historical accounts of Vincentians from the past, such as Annie Brewster and George Alexander Grafton, also known as "The Spotted Boy," were particularly fascinating.
Despite its pacing issues, Windward Family offers valuable insights into Vincentian history and identity, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in Caribbean heritage.
I was excited to read Windward Family, the first chapters had me completely engaged. The storytelling initially drew me in, but as the book progressed, I found myself skimming through sections. It felt like the narrative lost momentum, dragging in places and straying from its core focus.
Interestingly, I found the side stories more compelling than the author’s personal journey. The historical accounts of Vincentians from the past, such as Annie Brewster and George Alexander Grafton, also known as "The Spotted Boy," were particularly fascinating.
Despite its pacing issues, Windward Family offers valuable insights into Vincentian history and identity, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in Caribbean heritage.
January 29, 2023
Thoughtful patchwork of Black diasporic life. Interweaving displacement, medical racism, enslavement, migration, barrel children, and homelessness with family love and care. Although the structure can feel a bit confusing as we jump around the different interweaving story, the payoff is touching. Weir manages to be empathetic and generous to people experiencing many different sides of being away from/parted from/left from family.
Thanks to Netgalley for access to advance copies of the e-book and the audiobook.
Thanks to Netgalley for access to advance copies of the e-book and the audiobook.
February 16, 2023
'It took two decades for me to go in search of the parts of myself I had left behind in the Caribbean. What ghosts were waiting for me there? There was a thick, black journal in my flat, stuffed with letters, postcards, handwritten notes, and diary entries. For the first time in years, I opened it.'
This was an interesting and refreshing way to write a memoir. It was heartbreaking in parts and achingly beautiful at the same time. I really appreciated learning about others lives that so different from my own. A very interesting read!
January 31, 2023
Thank you to Net Gallery for this copy.
A glorious mix of Alexis's own family's history of migration to the UK, including his travel to live & work in New Zealand, North America & finally after two decades away a trip back to his birth land of Saint Vincent.
This ran alongside accounts of stories from those who suffered & succeed at the hands of the Empire rule.
The intertwined stories from past & present worked well.
A glorious mix of Alexis's own family's history of migration to the UK, including his travel to live & work in New Zealand, North America & finally after two decades away a trip back to his birth land of Saint Vincent.
This ran alongside accounts of stories from those who suffered & succeed at the hands of the Empire rule.
The intertwined stories from past & present worked well.
February 5, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Upon returning to the island of St. Vincent, Alexis finds himself exploring the stories of others who have left the Caribbean island and what became of them in the larger world. Exploring out the fates of others who have left the island makes this an interesting, enthralling read.
Upon returning to the island of St. Vincent, Alexis finds himself exploring the stories of others who have left the Caribbean island and what became of them in the larger world. Exploring out the fates of others who have left the island makes this an interesting, enthralling read.
June 18, 2023
3/5
From the vibrant cover to the amazing places mentioned in the description I was ready to embark on a colorful journey! This book lagged at times with all the information provided but this is an amazing memoir on finding home.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #WindwardFamily
From the vibrant cover to the amazing places mentioned in the description I was ready to embark on a colorful journey! This book lagged at times with all the information provided but this is an amazing memoir on finding home.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #WindwardFamily
August 3, 2023
I enjoyed this book very much, like some other readers I found some of the time jumps and chapters did not necessarily make for easy or fluid reading. That said as a fellow child of the Windrush generation (my parents being from Trinidad) I very much relate to some of the sayings, food and family relationships. A heartwarming and thought provoking read.
August 25, 2024
4 stars
Reading across the Diaspora wherein the memoir of a Black (St. Vincents)/British socialworker/writer tells his and his family’s story across the oceans as well as stories of other BlackBritians.
I enjoyed learning about St. Vincents, the migration and the history/struggles/achievements/lives of BlackBritians.
Reading across the Diaspora wherein the memoir of a Black (St. Vincents)/British socialworker/writer tells his and his family’s story across the oceans as well as stories of other BlackBritians.
I enjoyed learning about St. Vincents, the migration and the history/struggles/achievements/lives of BlackBritians.
October 5, 2024
In Windward Family, Alexis Keir makes the colonial history of St. Vincent and the stories of Vincentians in Britain the background for his own experiences. The novel shows that the Windrush Scandal belongs to a timeline that is still relevant.
November 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this: A heartfelt insight into the author’s family history, intertwined with his fictional imagining of the lives of other members of the Vincentian diaspora.
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