Book: Broken Gourds
Author: Beresford McLean
Reviewer: Franklene Frater
IN POST-COLONIAL societies such as Jamaica, attitudes to folklore are often shrouded in misunderstanding and misconceptions. Practitioners, particularly of intuitive medicine, have been historically viewed with suspicion and disdain in "civilised society".
In a departure from this stance, Beresford McLean in his novel Broken Gourds gives a colourful, picturesque, true-to-life, non-romanticised version of life in post-slavery Jamaica. His characters are sharp, distinct, non-political and, therefore, credible.
The work is well written, well researched and imaginative. The vibrant colours on the cover as well as those described in the novel are easily acceptable as they link with the culture the village inherited from their ancestors. One could easily imagine a modern-day Maroon village resembling the mythical one in this story.
THE STORY
Without giving too much away the story begins with members of the Port Maria City Council deciding to commence work on a road modernisation project which would necessitate the demolition of some of the town's historic buildings. This rather neatly leads the town's storyteller to regale, griot-style, both Council members and nearby children of the history of the village and its important buildings.
CHARACTERS
The novel's commentary refers to Broken Gourds as inspirational folklore and it is through his characters that this becomes evident. His major character, Brother Walk is obviously celebrated as McLean shows much of his innocence and purity particularly in his early days. As he gains more prominence, however, he becomes subject to the foibles which apparently naturally attend those in leadership roles.
The author manages, through the major character, to show the genuineness of natural healing, herbal healing, spiritual gifts and the link between the spiritual and medicinal so often discounted in academia and established religion. Despite exposing and examining "home grown" religions positively he is not totally seduced by this view as he creates a character (in the person of Brother Walk) who, like any other megalomaniac, is affected by the power he possesses.
Through supporting characters McLean examines the deeply rooted social divide which still exists in today's Jamaica. "Granny the midwife", Dada the "prophet" and Pastor Hamilton, pastor of the First Baptist Church whose economic survival depended on the village to understand the tensions in that society as the different potential leaders contend for supremacy.
As the story parallels contemporary Jamaica, its pyramid structure is as evident as it was then. The biases among the social elite the pastor, Police Inspector and their wives who, though morally upright, dedicate themselves to whatever it takes to rid themselves of their perceived enemies.
CULTURAL HISTORY
McLean displays a thorough knowledge and appreciation of Jamaica's cultural history. He shows cultural beliefs to be as natural as breathing.
All in all Broken Gourds makes for interesting reading, providing significant detail about Jamaica's culture and history and is a work anyone thirsting for knowledge about their history could benefit from.
