I love reading for so many reasons. But chief among them is literature’s ability to carry us to other places and cultures; to reveal some sliver of this vast, unknowable world.
That’s why I was delighted to discover an interview with an Antiguan writer, Joanne C. Hillhouse, on Caribbean writing. It’s a fascinating stroll through Caribbean literature with Hillhouse, who tells us about the books she read as a child and what she’s reading now. And the political and historical backdrop.
…though one of our leaders, reportedly, once said that we’re not a reading public, I would venture to say that we have always been a storytelling public – stories handed down have sustained our culture from the time when we didn’t have agency over our own lives (slavery) to present (post-Independence).
There’s nothing better than recommendations from people who are knowledgeable about a particular genre or subject matter and who are passionate about reading. I’ve read one of Hillhouse’s mentions, Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid, and now I’m inspired to dive into more.
Other authors mentioned in the interview: V.S. Naipaul, Junot Diaz, Samuel Selvon, Edwidge Danticat.
The interview offers a wonderfully accessible introduction to Caribbean literature, and I’m bookmarking the blog it appears on – African Book Addict – for more recommendations on literature from the African diaspora.
Read it: “Caribbean Literature Chat with Writer, Joanne C. Hillhouse,” on African Book Addict.
Image from Santo Domingo, DR via Honestly Yum
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