by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Here Comes the Sun is a major departure from our usual type of
fiction choices. Most of us would not have picked this book off the shelf to
read on our own because of the subject matter. However this debut novel shows
us an entirely different side to survival in Jamaica. This book gave us a lot
of topics to discuss. Margot works at a luxury resort and has an extra job on
the side working as a prostitute. Margot and her mother Delores work hard and
put all their hopes onto the youngest daughter, Thandi. Her whole life has been
leading to medical school because that’s their meal ticket and key to survival.
However, Thandi dreams of being an artist.
Here Comes the Sun is depressing and upsetting because so many
bad things happen to these women. Multi-generation sexual abuse, poverty, and
neglect lead Grandma Merle, Delores, and Margot to do terrible things to
survive. None of us can blame them for what they have to do. Selling their
bodies and their children is the only thing these women have. We’re all shocked
sexual abuse is so prevalent. None of the characters have positive
relationships with men.
Homophobia is vicious in the River
Bank area of Jamaica. Verdene Moore is called a witch and is chased from the
markets. Her neighbors put dead dogs in her yard and throw blood on her house
and sidewalk. The relationship between Verdene and Marogt is strong despite
what could happen to them if they’re caught together. Margot dreams of buying a
home in the Lagoons, far away from the prying eyes of neighbors.
Margot’s betrayal of Verdene is
unexpected. Margot does not tell Verdene her hotel is taking over River Bank.
Margot advises Verdene to sell and not hire lawyer to read the contract. We can understand Margot’s reasoning, she
wanted to have the upper hand and money in their relationship for once and her
job depended on all the homeowners selling. Jamaica is a paradise to those who
visit, but not to those who live there. The resorts are taking over all the
beaches and pushing people from their homes.
The Jamaican patois
dialect shines through in this novel. Reading the patois is difficult but it
pulls the reader deeper into the story. Dennis-Benn is compared to Mark Twain
in her use of vernacular. The Jamaica Dennis-Benn creates is desperate, poverty-ridden, and sad. Although this novel features graphic scenes this is a
great book to discuss with a group.
