The Year in San Fernando (Cws

by Michael Anthony

Twelve-year-old Francis gets a chance to go for a year to San Fernando to work as a servant-companion to old Mrs. Chandler, but he has never seen a town before or been away from the warmth of his family. With an introduction by Paul Edwards and Kenneth Ramchand.

Genres: Fiction

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Considered one of Trinidad’s foremost historians,
Anthony travelled to England in 1955, where he
worked in factories and as a telegraphist. His
literary career began with contributions to the
magazine Bim. His first novel, The Games Were
Coming, was published in 1963; his most famous,
The Year in San Fernando, in 1965. Other writings
include short collections Cricket in the Road (1973),
Sandra Street and Other Stories (1973) and The Chieftain’s
Carnival and Other Stories (1993), where each story is
based on significant events in Trinidad’s history.
Much of his work after 1975 consists of historical
research into his native island.

Reviews

[Geoffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all of the books read in my childhood, this and Christopher by Geoffrey Drayton stand out most in my memory. I can close my eyes and remember my old classrooms with the faded dry walls that had chips of plaster falling off of them. I remember the breezes outside and the mahogany trees and the teacher's droning voice putting me to sleep. I loved these books then and having re-read them recently, still escape to those long gone days.

[Orlando Fato · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Year in San Fernando" is a good book. From beginning to end, it has a solid plot, and Michael Anthony does a very good job at giving you a sense of place. Francis' first experiences in a house full of luxuries with a refined lady such as Mrs. Chandles, the first time on the streets, the wharf and the gulf, and the market of San Fernando are described with a vividness that makes you feel you are there. I thought it odd that his school experience was not as detailed as it should have been, considering that school plays an important role in children's life and this was a new school to him. In addition to Francis' first experiences as a boy in a big city away from his hometown, we are presented with the conflict of the Chandles family. I really liked the juxtaposition of these two stories developed simultaneously. To be highlighted is Michael Anthony's amazing job at presenting what it means for a child to watch people get old, specially their loved ones, and this was really moving and gave depth to the coming of age plot. "The Year in San Fernando" begins slowly, gets interesting in the middle and becomes very strong at the end, but I have a reason to give this book three stars despite the positive aspects that I've just described.

My problem with this book is the style. I know that Francis is supposed to be narrating the book and he's only 12 years old, but it literally feels like listening to a child narrating a story. This means that it was rather monotonous. I guess there should have been more dialogues in order to give the reader a break from all the descriptions. In addition, the use of the word "strange" became tiresome. Francis described every single little event and feeling as "strange", and I could swear that the word is on every single page from beginning to end. What's the problem with this? Well, for me "strange" is one of the vaguest words there is for describing anything because it could mean "anything". At the beginning I thought that, perhaps, this is part of the style to make the narration of a 12 year old more realistic. Francis is a child, and children tend to overuse the same words; however, now and then Francis also used words that are not really common in children's lexicon, such as "jaded" and "dejected", so I was a little put off by this contradiction.

All in all, "The Year in San Fernando" is a good book that it is worth reading, specially, as in my case, to have a taste of Trinidadian city life through the eyes of a country boy. Two other good books, in my opinion, about Trinidadian life that I very much enjoyed and recommend are Naipaul's "Miguel Street" and Mittelholzer's "A Morning at the Office".

[Bodosika Bodosika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting Words:We had heard only very little about Mr Chandles.
Ending Words:I thought of all the mixed-up things,of all the funny things,in fact,which made the year at Romaine Street.

What drew me to this book was it's title 'The Year in San Fernando' then on a closer look I found out it was written by a Caribbean (West Indies) writer not a British nor an American writer,coupled with my desire to know more and one day visit the Caribbean I had no other alternative than delve into this book.
Though I saw this book as a book for teenagers I also enjoy the narrative and to an extent an interesting piece.
Young Francis travelling for the first time from the country side to San Fernando to help out with the Chandles,on getting to the city he met with the elderly Mrs Chandles with whom he is to help with domestic cores and along the line he also met Julie 'The other woman' in Mr Chandles life.Though a very small novel I really enjoyed it and I will give it...3stars.

[Suzette St. Hillaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great literature book. It tells you of a young boy who had to take care of an old lady. The old lady son was involved with two ladies in two different town.

[Gwyneth Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice coming of age story for juveniles and young adults.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 3 out of 5]

All about Francis's adventures in San Fernando. Just for general knowledge, San Fernando is one of Trinidad's major cities, its quite hilly and is located on the islands South western coast.

[Celly · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something special about a book that paints a lucid picture of a time long ago. I enjoy books that are somewhat like a historical storybook, a window into the past. I am Trinbagonian and I am familiar with the San Fernando of the 21st century, but this book gave me a glimpse into life in San Fernando in the 1940s . It was a very fun book to read, interesting and entertaining. Thank you to my cousin Shivonne for recommending this book 😀 📔 Rating 4.5/5

The story is told from the perspective of Francis, this country boy from the coastal village of Mayaro who was now living in the city of San Fernando 🏗 🏭 🏢 What a change in surroundings from a quiet coastal village ⛱ 🏖 to a busy city! He went from living in a very small home constantly surrounded by his family to living in a large house with an old lady. Everything was new and everything was an experience and it was entertaining how excitedly he spoke of these new adventures and situations ☺️ 🙂

http://cellythoughts.blog/2020/04/15/...

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book as a child.
It's one of those coming-of-age stories that you can't help but relate to at every age you reread. I'm seeing Mr. Chandles with new eyes, feeling through the protagonist's senses as he experiences the world around him.

[R.A. Bentinck · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are a Caribbean youth growing up the 70s and 80s you fall deeply in love with Michale Anthony's writing because you can relate.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...and to so many other sounds that kept the night alive" (173). *Many other quotes arrested my attention, but this one more than others.

[Latoya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of an atmospheric read than a story.

[lauraღ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread of a childhood book, kind of mandatory reading. It holds up.

[Vanessa George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read a long time ago but I continue to look for this level of comfort while reading to this date.

[Kitania Queen]

Very captivating coming of age novel, with great focus on the historic culture of San Fernando. The imagery is vivid and the narrative encloses the reader in the plot. 8/10 thumbs up!

[Kimoya Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I remember this book, dang it was good, very good I love it. a bit sad and happy but yet I love it. interesting book.

[Ibhee Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is interesting

[Imani Williams]

You need to read it so you can understand.Its a nice and interesting novel. :)

[Breanna]

ahhhhh luv it

[Shawn Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book.

[Amanda Ming]

What was the setting of the story? In chapter one
State the name of this setting of the novel? In chapter one
Give me a brief summary of chapter one