When you first read about it, Jasmine Sealy’s ‘The Island of Forgetting’ sounds like one of those books that you want your entire family to read. Set in Barbados, it is described as a multi-generational story about generational trauma, myth, memory, and selfhood. The novel recounts the stories of a family over four generations as they run a beachfront hotel as they confront their history.
Jasmine Sealy is a Bajan writer based in Toronto. ‘The Island of Forgetting’ is her debut and won the Amazon.ca First Novel Award in 2023. The book was born out of Sealy’s master's thesis at UBC where she wrote a short story reenvisioning the mythical figure of Calypso. In myth, Calypso is a seductive sea goddess and in Sealy’s take, she resurfaces as a wilful and stunning teenager. I adore this backstory and the fact that it led Sealy to widen the parameters of the story to create such a highly-praised debut. I am also reminded of Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘A Small Place’ as ‘The Island of Forgetting’ presents similar conversations about the role of tourism in the Caribbean.
I was delighted to come across this Substack interview generously shared on
newsletter Mixed Messages. In it, Sealy delves deeper into her mixed heritage and relationship with Barbados.
Have you read The Island of Forgetting? Is it on your TBR list? Also, any Bajans found their way here?? I’d love to know about any other writers from the island of Barbados to keep on my radar. Let us know below.
On Sunday 30th June I’ll be hosting the Writing from abundance:: Writers resisting survival mode workshop. I cannot wait to write and resist with you. This will be a chance to consider and challenge survival mode which contrasts the freedom needed to truly tell our stories as writers. It’s not too late to join! Tickets are $10.10 USD and I have made space for sponsored tickets for those who would appreciate it. Feel free to ask me any questions or sign up using the link below. Hope to see you there!
Keep a look out for more Caribbean writers in this thread celebrating Caribbean literary greatness. Also, feel free to check out previous writers shared throughout this month!
Girl you know I have!!!! I loved that book, it was SO easy to read which is always a joy
Yes!!!! I'm remembering your review now, I loved the way you described it https://marthasmonthly.substack.com/p/february-reads