This is definitely a book I like, with 27 numberless
chapters[1]. Among its strengths:
local color, dialogue, and voice. Also, because one thread centers on Charles
Dickens's Great Expectations, Jones
(2007/2006)'s novel (see pp. 77-81, 83-97, 99, 103, 105, 107-117, 119-120, 126-134,
150, 152, 155, 179, 182, 185-187, 191, 193-196, 198-201, 210-219; for problems
associated with the name Pip see pp. 172-173; for Mr. Watts's retelling see pp.
139-150, 153-157, 160-164, 166-169) may be classified as a literary work, with
some pedagogical application (see pp. 19, 24-25, 61-62, 80, 106-109, 113, 142).
While focused more on the impact of white (for
first direction mention see p. 2) Pop Eye (first mention p. [cf p. 216]; see
pp. 114, 125) or Mr Watts (see pp. 196) – real name Tom Christian Watts (first
mention p. 3) – in the lives of an island (first mention p. 2) black community
(first mention p. 3; cf pp. 81, 86, 156), most directly Matilda (first mention
p. 12) Laimo (first mention p. 35) who narrates the events as she remembers
them (see ppp. 111, 217), the story, set in the context of war (see pp. 7-11, 20-21,
31-35, 41, 43-44, 64, 70-71, 81-105, 128-130, 171-183; for Watts's story to “the
rambos” (p. 35) see pp. 135-157, 160-169[2]), gives more in terms of place and
people. Jones (2007/2006)'s descriptive characterization of Bougainville (see
pp. 6, 12), particularly, makes this imagined world more real and beautiful.
Also, his inclusion of local memory (see pp. 26-27, 32-33, 35-38, 50-57, 66-69,
73-77; cf p. 50) adds depth to other members of the village.
Yet, for Matilda, “I only know the man who
took us kids by the hand and taught us how to re-imagine the world, and to see
the possibility of change, to welcome it into our lives” (p. 210). In the end,
though, Jones (2007/2006) shows us that Matilda is reluctant for change. For
her, island life holds mostly memories of the dead (see pp. 182-183, 196-198,
217) while, at the same time, she desperately clings to the ghosts of Dickens
(see pp. 193-196, 198-201, 210-219) and Pop Eye (see pp. 193-196, 198-212, 214-216,
219). The question becomes: Will she ever break the dead’s hold on her?
Ironically, she takes
no responsibility for her role in the deaths of Pop Eye and her mom (see pp. 92-94,
96-97, 101-103, 179; for how they die see pp. 173, 179). At the same time, we
can easily understand why her mom sacrifices herself (see pp. 175-179); she
doesn’t want to leave the island (see pp. 150-152, 169-170) even if that’s not how Matilda sees her, choosing instead to
elevate her mom’s final action (see pp. 179-180). Still, Jones (2007/2006)
doesn’t give us enough to answer the question: Would the book have helped them
(see pp. 86-90, 96, 172-181) before it no longer could (see pp. 102-103)?
It’s also unclear when
things are happening. If the beginning of the book starts “six months ago” and
“everything that follows I wrote over the intervening months” (p. 217), how
many years have actually passed (see p. 111)? It’s a relevant question simply
because of the care Matilda shows in recording specific years (see pp. 1, 6, 13,
35, 179-180, 92), clock times (see pp. 2), calendar times (see pp. 7, 12, 27,
69, 71, 79, 104), and complete dates (see pp. 19) until “I didn’t bother with
recording the passing of time” (p. 108). And yet, time is still important to
her after that (see pp. 120, 128-129, 132, 141-144, 149, 164, 169, 189, 192-193,
201, 217)!
But, also, how does she
manage to save anything after fighting the water (see pp. 184-187)? Did she start a journal at some
point? Either way, it’s a significant gap that introduces doubts as to the
veracity of Matilda’s life story, especially concerning what people said, the
order of events (see pp. 67-68, 132-133, 135-138, 162, 164, 166), etc. Yet, if
this was an intentional ploy on the part of Lloyd (2007/2006), could her story
be instead a retelling in the style of Pop Eye’s (see first para.), but one
that explains the impact Dickens has on her life (see pp. 198-199)? Even if we
accept that, though, it only raises another question: What are her actual
memories?
So, for me, the ending
is a little weak. Beyond that, however, I found the story easy to read; but
more, I could imagine the people and their island outside of the book! So I
definitely recommend your reading Lloyd (2007/2006)’s Mister Pip!
[1] The first page of every other chapter has a bird
on top of two leaves (see pp. 1, 12, 26, 41, 50, 64, 79, 98, 118, 135, 148,
169, 191, 211), while the other chapters have blank first pages (see pp. 6, 20,
31, 43, 58, 72, 91, 106, 126, 143, 157, 181, 201). This not to be confused with
the only random flying bird that appears on pp. 114, which might indicate the
middle of the narrative.
[2] For what Matilda’s
learns of the real Watts and his wife see pp. 201-210.
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