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Mr.
Potter by Jamaica Kincaid Rating: •• (Mildly Recommended) |
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Click on title or picture to buy from amazon.com |
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All in the Family In earlier novels, Jamaica Kincaid
presented vivid images of her mother and brother. In her latest work of
fiction, Mr.
Potter, she presents what she can about her elusive father. Through a
series of vignettes, the patient reader comes to see dimensions of Mr.
Potter, a chauffeur in Antigua. While she puts flesh on his bones with her
best poetic skill, the distractions of Mr. Potter’s parents and children,
give the reader limited insight into Mr. Potter. The many repetitious phrases
can drive some readers crazy. Try this, for example: And that day, the
sun was in its usual place, up above and in the middle of the sky, and it
shone in its usual way so harshly bright, making even the shadows pale,
making even the shadows seek shelter; that day the sun was in its usual
place, up above and in the middle of the sky, but Mr. Potter did not note
this, so accustomed was he to this, the sun in its usual place, up above and
in the middle of the sky; if the sun had not been in its usual place, that
would have made a great big change in Mr. Potter’s day, it would have meant
rain, however briefly such a thing, rain, might fall, but it would have
changed Mr. Potter’s day, so used was he to the sun in its usual place, way
up above and in the middle of the sky.” That’s the first sentence of the book. If
you can get through that, and want to go on, you’re likely to enjoy the rest
of Mr.
Potter. Steve Hopkins, June 1, 2002 |
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ã 2002 Hopkins and Company, LLC The
recommendation rating for this book appeared in the August 2002
issue of Executive
Times Hopkins
& Company, LLC • 723 North Kenilworth Avenue • Oak Park, IL 60302 E-mail: books@hopkinsandcompany.com |
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