The Island of Forgetting

The Island of Forgetting by Jasmine Sealy

Reviewed by Linda
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Thank you @boroughpress for this copy!

I absolutely enjoyed this novel and I just can’t believe that this is Jasmin Sealy‘s debut - so much talent and such great writing that transported my mind to the island of Barbados, where the book is set.

This is a multigenerational novel where we meet key, linear family members linked by the desire to escape the imprint that generational trauma has left on each of their lives. Each character will captivate you in an entirely different way and a multitude of themes are expertly explored.

We first meet Iapetus, the lost soul of the island who witnesses the traumatic death of his tyrannical father at the hands of his brother, Cronus.
Iapetus leaves behind a child, Atlas, who is brought up as the unwanted nephew in his uncle’s household and in his bratty cousin’s shadow.
By far my favourite part of the novel, is the period of time where we meet Atlas’ daughter, Calypso and then grandson, Nautilus.
At this point, the family runs a hotel on the island and faces the difficulty of keeping it afloat, relying on foreign investment. I loved the insight into the local perspective and Sealy expertly forces us to consider the dark side of tourism in Barbados as a backdrop. Highly recommend.