A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards
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1kidzdoc
This thread is for discussion of A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards, which was selected for the 2011 Booker Prize longlist.
2kidzdoc
Here is my review of A Cupboard Full of Coats:
Jinx is a beautiful but deeply troubled east Londoner born to Caribbean immigrants, whose life was shattered 14 years ago when her mother Joy was brutally murdered by Berris, her second husband and Jinx's stepfather. Jinx blames her own jealousy and spite for her mother's murder, and has shut herself off from everyone, including her ex-husband and their young son, until the day that Lemon, Berris' best friend and a man she has admired since she first met him as a teenager, knocks on her front door. Lemon seeks to makes amends for his role in her mother's murder, now that Berris has just completed his prison sentence. During an intense weekend, filled with deep emotions and tempered by Lemon's irresistible cooked meals, the two relive their own separate and interlinked past histories, the passionate but troubled relationship between Berris and Joy, and the seemingly benign but malicious acts that led to Joy's murder.
A Cupboard Full of Coats is an intense and gripping debut novel which was an interesting selection for the Booker Prize longlist. I don't expect it to be selected for this year's shortlist, as it lacks the rich character development and complexity of the typical Booker fare. However, this being a far from typical year for the prize, I wouldn't be completely surprised if it does appear amongst the six finalists.
Jinx is a beautiful but deeply troubled east Londoner born to Caribbean immigrants, whose life was shattered 14 years ago when her mother Joy was brutally murdered by Berris, her second husband and Jinx's stepfather. Jinx blames her own jealousy and spite for her mother's murder, and has shut herself off from everyone, including her ex-husband and their young son, until the day that Lemon, Berris' best friend and a man she has admired since she first met him as a teenager, knocks on her front door. Lemon seeks to makes amends for his role in her mother's murder, now that Berris has just completed his prison sentence. During an intense weekend, filled with deep emotions and tempered by Lemon's irresistible cooked meals, the two relive their own separate and interlinked past histories, the passionate but troubled relationship between Berris and Joy, and the seemingly benign but malicious acts that led to Joy's murder.
A Cupboard Full of Coats is an intense and gripping debut novel which was an interesting selection for the Booker Prize longlist. I don't expect it to be selected for this year's shortlist, as it lacks the rich character development and complexity of the typical Booker fare. However, this being a far from typical year for the prize, I wouldn't be completely surprised if it does appear amongst the six finalists.
3Donna828
Oops, I forgot to post my review here when I read it last week:
Jinx lives up to her name. We find out on the first page that she killed her mother 14 years ago. Life since than hasn't been kind to her. She has a strained relationship with her 4-year-old son who lives with his father... "the capacity to hate and hurt was bigger inside me than any capacity to nurture." (Pg. 35) I did not like Jinx in the beginning of this book, but I felt sorry for her and was glad when family friend Lemon reentered her life bringing hope with his patient ways and his stories.
Over the course of a weekend of Caribbean food and revelations, we learn that things aren't always the way they appear and that good can come out of the most hopeless situations. This book deals with painful topics and is the type of book I usually avoid; however, I'm glad I took a chance with this debut novel.
The author's sensual prose reveals the memories, both good and bad, that Jinx has suppressed over the past 14 years. She has lived almost half of her life in a state of emotional paralysis due to a night of terror followed by guilt. Sometimes it takes a journey into the truth of the past to unleash the possibilities of the future. This book may not be worthy of the Man Booker Prize, but it deserves its place among the nominations.
Jinx lives up to her name. We find out on the first page that she killed her mother 14 years ago. Life since than hasn't been kind to her. She has a strained relationship with her 4-year-old son who lives with his father... "the capacity to hate and hurt was bigger inside me than any capacity to nurture." (Pg. 35) I did not like Jinx in the beginning of this book, but I felt sorry for her and was glad when family friend Lemon reentered her life bringing hope with his patient ways and his stories.
Over the course of a weekend of Caribbean food and revelations, we learn that things aren't always the way they appear and that good can come out of the most hopeless situations. This book deals with painful topics and is the type of book I usually avoid; however, I'm glad I took a chance with this debut novel.
The author's sensual prose reveals the memories, both good and bad, that Jinx has suppressed over the past 14 years. She has lived almost half of her life in a state of emotional paralysis due to a night of terror followed by guilt. Sometimes it takes a journey into the truth of the past to unleash the possibilities of the future. This book may not be worthy of the Man Booker Prize, but it deserves its place among the nominations.
4vancouverdeb
At last here is my review of a A Cupboard Full of Coats
Fourteen years ago Jinx's mother was killed in a terrible case of domestic abuse. Jinx blames herself for the death of her mother, and in so doing, cuts herself off from virtually all human connection, including her ex -husband and young son.
When Berris, Jinx's stepfather is released from prison, an old friend of both Berris and Jinx's mother stops by with the excuse that he is "just passing through and thought I might stop by."Jinx reluctantly allows him in, and the two of them spend the weekend talking and remembering the dreadful death of her mother.
Cubboard of Coats is a wrenchingly honest and gritty look at domestic abuse and its far reaching impact on family and friends.I found it to be a compelling and insightful read. Initially I was concerned that the subject matter might be too dark, but I quickly found myself totally immersed in the tale.
Cupboard of Coats never wallows in cliches, nor does it resort to sterotypes. A sad but ultimately redeeming read, not to be missed.
4.5 stars
I actually gave it 4.35 stars. One thing that troubled me a bit was -really, could a person change so much over one weekend. After I thought on it, I decided that yes, maybe one could -and in any case, the book only moved from Sunday to Monday -and did not go further -so Jinx could concievebly still slip up. That made it more believable for me.
Fourteen years ago Jinx's mother was killed in a terrible case of domestic abuse. Jinx blames herself for the death of her mother, and in so doing, cuts herself off from virtually all human connection, including her ex -husband and young son.
When Berris, Jinx's stepfather is released from prison, an old friend of both Berris and Jinx's mother stops by with the excuse that he is "just passing through and thought I might stop by."Jinx reluctantly allows him in, and the two of them spend the weekend talking and remembering the dreadful death of her mother.
Cubboard of Coats is a wrenchingly honest and gritty look at domestic abuse and its far reaching impact on family and friends.I found it to be a compelling and insightful read. Initially I was concerned that the subject matter might be too dark, but I quickly found myself totally immersed in the tale.
Cupboard of Coats never wallows in cliches, nor does it resort to sterotypes. A sad but ultimately redeeming read, not to be missed.
4.5 stars
I actually gave it 4.35 stars. One thing that troubled me a bit was -really, could a person change so much over one weekend. After I thought on it, I decided that yes, maybe one could -and in any case, the book only moved from Sunday to Monday -and did not go further -so Jinx could concievebly still slip up. That made it more believable for me.
