BOOK CLUB

HELLO, AND WELCOME TO MY BOOK CLUB!

Thank you for signing up. I am looking forward to interacting and sharing with you, all the exciting ideas and projects and upcoming features in store for you.  This is the Year of Restoration, as the COVID-19 rules are relaxed, and we begin to learn to live with this ravaging and destructive virus.  Being optimistic, I look forward to your feedback, ideas, and even suggestions for titles; not those ideas are in short supply!  It’s having the time in the day & night to fit them all in!! 

 

However, look out for my upcoming book in the next issue, as we welcome the New Year 2022 with optimism.

THE POWER OF INNOVATION IN STORYTELLING

FOCUS ON A WOMAN OF DESTINY  THE NOVEL

As an Artist, whether, writing novels, poetry or plays, it’s a case of different formats to tell my stories.  Why not come with me each month, as we explore the different facets of writing, by looking at my formats and why I choose to adapt them in different genres. 

 

I like to focus on innovative approaches to literature in general, and my first novel, “A Woman of Destiny: A Calypso Novel” suggests that it is a literary innovation.  The “Calypso Novel,” which is a new genre in the Caribbean literary Canon and among the body of Black British Writings.  The Calypso Novel is a literary landmark within the Caribbean Literary Canon, which lends a particular evaluative approach to reading Caribbean writings – as a song (calypso) and a book (novel).  The term “Calypso Novel” therefore suggests that a fusion of these two genres (the calypso or oral narrative and the written text) co-exist, to form a genre that is neither one nor the other; but gives primacy to the fusion within the text. 

INNOVATIVE APPROACH

It is an experimental approach that challenges the conventions of the Caribbean literary canon, by incorporating characteristics of the Calypso into the structure of the text, as a way of projecting Caribbean forms of expression.  Such an approach creates new, hybrid forms of expressions and opens up new possibilities for the reader, when reading Caribbean literary narratives.  A Woman of Destiny’s prime focus is on the creative process of the text, which characterizes the oral/scribal continuum in the Caribbean, and highlights the literariness of the oral genres. Therefore, in A Woman of Destiny, the Calypso serves as a living documentation of values, beliefs, customs, and conventions of a culture; including racial and ethnic attitudes of the people.  In particular, the Calypso can be seen to underscore creativity, as a form of problem-solving.  This is done via applying critical thinking skills to the art-form, and investigating how, ultimately, it promotes knowledge about Caribbean society in general.  This book comes with a Text Study Guide.

ANALYSIS EXTRACT of this book as a Calypso novel…. (From the Text Study Guide; pg. 69)

“The villagers are presented as members of the narrator’s backing band and we see their individual solos presented as a kind of call-and-response, as they briefly introduce each other on entering the bus to the town.  These upbeat solos are presented before the slower rhythm of the narrator and grandmother’s solo, as they are left to discuss a sociological phenomenon or historical truth.  The relationship between the narrator and grandmother is a striking duo percussion set…additionally Aunt Meena plays a key role and is portrayed as a lead singer in this 3 piece band…….”

Sign up our for Book Club Membership, and get a copy of A Woman of Destiny for only £3.99.  Buy all my books from www.Amazon.com or the publishers www.eaglepublications.org.uk or send an email: roselle.thompson@yahoo.co.uk

Read them now on Goodreads.

Get your copy and become acquainted with the tenacious protagonist Joanne, as we follow her in this Bildungsroman, from her Caribbean setting to life in Britain. 

Find out what a  Su-su is.  Listen in on the characters art of Speechifying in the Caribbean!  And what does the word Destiny in this context mean?

THE NOVEL’S MAIN THEMES LESSER BUT RELATED THEMES
Calypso Music Belief systems
Family/Fatherhood Tragedy
Education /Language Post-independence blues
Migration /Landscape Obeah
Storytelling & Empowerment Sexual exploitation & corruption
Childhood & growing up Gossip
Religion Violence
Matriarchy/Motherhood/Destiny Cultural practices

REVIEWS

“A brilliant novel, and highly recommended”. Sam Addeh 
“I would like to see this novel publicised as there is a lot to learn about the journey of Caribbean migrants to Britain.” Judith DeGale
“Let’s have more of this type of writing, a wonderful book, which takes me right back to when I first came to Britain, so much of the story is similar.” Thanks. Mrs. C Swan
“This is our history, it presents all the struggles, nuances and culture of Caribbean people in the early days. Schools need this book.” Douglas Abrahams

EVENTS - FRIDAY, 26 February – LONDON 6pm-8pm

Monthly Writers’ Group

  • Let’s Write!

Join us via Zoom online – Meet Authors, Poets and Playwrights

WHO WE ARE

We are a Collective that provides space for creative efforts, in order to empower writers.  We also exist to create compelling authentic literature, whether Prose, Poetry, or Plays; to be seen, heard, read, performed.

We welcome all ages, all levels of expertise, and all areas of interest.

WHY WE WRITE

  • We write because we can, and we love writing
  • To create foundations for change in society
  • Because our art influences perception
  • Social justice is inspired by our voices
  • We can empower each other to excel
  • We create worlds worth exploring, as food for thought

OUR MEETINGS

  • We meet virtually online by Zoom, due to COVID-19 limitations, on the last Saturday of each month, from 6pm to 8pm, GMT UK time.
  • We meet for discussions and presentations of work, meet guest Writers and Artists, and present information on how to negotiate the publishing and writing world, to advance your writing initiatives.

COME & JOIN US IN FEBRUARY!

Monthly Zoom Events & Meet Authors, Poets, and Playwrights.  Come and hear exciting artists read from their works.   Next event is on 26th February 2022, at 6pm-8pm VIA Zoom. Register by Email and  my Website    

….. a Final word…    Message me with your news:  I’d love to hear from you!

“The Caribbean landscape as heritage, is a canvass where inspirationally painted words, captures the beauty of the imagination” Roselle Thompson
Roselle Thompson’s 50 Best Books – These books influenced me as a young person and became eye-openers in my search for excellence.  After reading each one, I was inspired to look at life in a different way.  I hope they inspire you to embrace life and believe that nothing is impossible, but you might have to work harder to achieve it.
  1. The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon
  2. In the Castle of my Skin by George Lamming
  3. Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
  4. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
  5. A House for Mr. Biswas by VS Naipaul
  6. The Dragon Cant Dance by Earl Lovelace
  7. Ti Jean and His Brothers by Derek Walcott
  8. The Arrivants Trilogy by Edward Kamau Brathwaite
  9. Angel by Merle Collins
  10. Timepiece by Janice Shinebourne
  11. The Wretched of the Earth by Amie Cesare
  12. A Passage to India by E M Foster
  13. 1984 by George Orwell
  14. Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell
  15. A History of the Voice Edward Kamau Brathwaite
  16. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  17. The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
  18. Negritude by Leopold Sedar Senghor
  19. Palace of the Peacock by Wilson Harris
  20. The Pleasures of Exile by George Lamming
  21. Dream on Monkey Mountain and other Plays by Derek Walcott
  22. Beka Lamb by Zee Edgell
  23. The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano
  24. Miguel Street by V S Naipaul
  25. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
  26. Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad
  27. I is a Long memoried woman by Grace Nichols
  28. The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta
  29. Decolonising the Mind by Ngugi Wa Thiongo
  30. The Wretched of the Earth by Franz Fanon
  31. Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices by Stuart Hall
  32. Locating Culture by Homi Bhabha
  33. The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole
  34. The Black Presence in English Literature by David Dabydeen
  35. Slave Society in the British Leeward Islands at the end of the 18th century by Elsa Goveia
  36. Works by William Shakespeare
  37. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  38. Roll of Thunder hear my cry by Mildred Taylor
  39. A Long Road to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
  40. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
  41. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde R L Stevenson
  42. The Jumbie Bird by Ismith Khan
  43. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
  44. I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou
  45. Roots by Alex Haley
  46. The Souls of Black Folks by W E DuBois
  47. Selected Writings and Speech of Marcus Garvey
  48. And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
  49. From Columbus to Castro by Dr. Eric Williams
  50. Englan’ is a Bitch by Linton K. Johnson

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Join my Readers’ Club!

As a Roselle Thompson Readers’ Club member, you will receive my regular newsletter, exclusive content for free as well as sneak peeks of upcoming books!

As a thank you for signing up.  Look forward to being connected!

Roselle Thompson

Rest assured that your private information will never be sold or given to a third party or used outside of this mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of my newsletters. For information about our privacy practices, please visit my website.