Quick question...what West Indian books have you read lately? Amm, maybe I should rephrase the question.
Defining 'West Indian' is simple enough when it comes to cricket, but for literature, especially in the region, the title gets tied up in all things colonial and antiquated. I asked a few friends to answer my question and most of them, if not all, mentioned some book that was on the school curriculum from the Caribbean Examinations Council or required reading for university.
The idea of a 'West Indian' writing or WI books seems to be locked into the time zone of colonial education, making sure you become a walking talking "West Indian Reader" like the one the Mighty Sparrow sings about. The books and mention of its writers tend to float around the halls of academic institutions like secondary schools or universities.
What a tragedy!
We've got some great writers. 'We' meaning the Caribbean, the West Indies. And I'd like to talk about them, go where they've gone and do some exploring of the landscapes they've given to the world.
Like honeymooners take a trip to the place their love first blossomed, I'm hoping together we can take a journey to these Imaginary Landscapes and revive our romance with West Indian fiction.
