Dr Joan Barbara Simon divides her time between researching children’s literacy development and writing fiction. Having obtained her first Ph.D. in educational studies, she’s dared to go for her ultimate challenge: a Ph.D in Creative Writing. Of herself, she says: ‘I’ve made it my mission to look more closely at undefined spaces as the best way to resist the temptation and comfort of easy answers. I’m interested in a broad range of language issues. Currently wrapping my brain around the political properties of words as polysemic, liminal entities and the nature of their common borders with the visual arts and gendered realities. That said, I’m a nice girl, so talk to me.
LONG TIME WALK ON
WATER by Joan Barbara Simon
Summary:
Emily Thompson, Rose to her friends, emigrates to the motherland, England,
in search of a better life. It will be hard work for the young mother in this
rich man’s country; above all she must also come to terms with this unknown
phenomenon; di Hinglish dem.
James Dunbar. Jack is what he answers to. Picking his way through the
mucky incidents of life, he consoles himself that things will get better.
They happen to meet at a bus-stop, Emily and Jack.
A tale of how the
humble live whilst waiting for their dreams to come true.
*
The plane
landed with a bump. Rose squeezed herself into the seat and when she opened her
eyes the plane was still racing along the runway so she dug her forefingers
into the rectangular metal ashtrays and closed her eyes once more. She had
tried to learn the national anthem in case, after all, how could she just pick
up herself and go all that way and not know a thing. Nobody she knew had learnt
the British national anthem; they had better things to worry about. United
Kingdom. Rose could think of nothing. Two addresses ensconced in a pocket of
her handbag, that was it. United Kingdom. Great Britain. The Motherland. Hinglan…
This was it, that moment that had been beckoning her as she
stood over the grave of her starved child, for whom the corn she had planted in
desperation had not grown quickly enough, despite good J.A. sunshine and her
nightly prayers. That moment was now real and rapping at her door. The plane
had not crashed, even as it had swooped down over the island, pecking like a
famished crow at a crumb. She had not been sucked out of the emergency exit,
nor had her food got up of its own accord to float around. And there was air
enough for everyone, like in a train, really, only you couldn’t open the
windows.
The captain spoke a few words. It was a chilly day in
London, they could expect repeated drizzly spells. One or two moans on board,
one or two jovial remarks that the captain should take them back.
“Thank you
for travelling with us. I hope you had a pleasant journey,” the English
stewardess speak like a book.
“Very. Tank
yu.” Rose stepped out of the aircraft. Into the Motherland.
‘a journey of self-discovery, beautifully
crafted, and one that will leave the reader as changed as Simon’s characters.
Highly, highly recommended.’ (Amazon)
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Thanks Joan for sharing,
Anita
Anita
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