Review by Mys_Trea -- Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
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Mys_Trea
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Review by Mys_Trea -- Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is a story about three somewhat unlikely characters: a young widow, her daughter, and their landlady. Maureen, the white mom, was shunned by her family when she married a black man. After his sudden death, she is faced with the challenging task of raising her curious, feisty and smart daughter, Kalayla. The girl is very independent. She tries her hand at various ways of making some money for herself. Being the loner that she is, Kalayla catches her landlady’s eye as she roams the neighbourhood by herself in her endless pursuits. Lena, the 72-year old neighbour and owner of the building, has her own dark past. She is struck by this spirited girl from their first conversation. The two go on to develop a great friendship.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters had so much personality, I almost wanted to join them for some coffee and cake. Lena, for example, dresses in all black and lives by herself in a fourth-floor apartment. Sad life experiences have made her wise, but she is by no means bitter. I found her to be an easily likable person. The story had a great pace. There was always some new challenge or excitement to keep me on my toes. I had initially thought I would be settling in for a long, somewhat boring book, but instead, I finished it in two days. The story tackles important social issues which are still being faced by so many people on a daily basis. Prejudices such as racism, homophobia and even classism are handled with finesse by the author. She places the reader in the shoes of the character, thus making it easy to empathize with their struggles. Maureen, for example, becomes an indirect victim of racism because she finds herself uprooted from her family. This is because of her parents’ blatant racism and anger at her for not settling down with a man of their preference.
It was difficult to find something negative about this book. One thing I did note was that it would have been lovely for readers of a younger age, like teenagers, to be able to read this book. I cannot recommend that due to the fact that there is some profanity and violence in the story. I personally didn’t mind it, because it showcased the reality of the characters’ world, however, some readers might not feel the same. The style of writing was perfect, as it comes from each characters’ point of view, so it becomes easier to place oneself in their shoes. The editing of the book was exceptional. I did not find a single spelling or grammatical error.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. There was nothing not to like. Getting to know Kalayla was a joy. She is not a typical girl, and it was fascinating to be able to view the world through her eyes. The supporting characters were also intriguing. I respected Maureen’s quiet strength. She had struggles, as any single mom would, but she faced them with dignity and grace. A book written by a woman, showcasing strong female leads is also an absolute winner for me. I am of the opinion that the world could do with a lot more stories told from the perspective of great female writers.
Kalayla is a book that would appeal to lovers of fiction with a hint of drama. There is a smattering of romance as well, which I always appreciate. This book has a universal appeal about it, as it is told from the viewpoint of both young and old. Food lovers will delight in all the scrumptious dishes that are mentioned in the story. I, for example, had a strange craving for an orange and rum cake after reading it. My belief is that ultimately, the major theme of this book is hope. Many people are in short supply of this at the moment, so if you need to slip away and indulge in some good humour, delicious treats, and a great deal of hope, I suggest you give Kalayla a try.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is a story about three somewhat unlikely characters: a young widow, her daughter, and their landlady. Maureen, the white mom, was shunned by her family when she married a black man. After his sudden death, she is faced with the challenging task of raising her curious, feisty and smart daughter, Kalayla. The girl is very independent. She tries her hand at various ways of making some money for herself. Being the loner that she is, Kalayla catches her landlady’s eye as she roams the neighbourhood by herself in her endless pursuits. Lena, the 72-year old neighbour and owner of the building, has her own dark past. She is struck by this spirited girl from their first conversation. The two go on to develop a great friendship.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters had so much personality, I almost wanted to join them for some coffee and cake. Lena, for example, dresses in all black and lives by herself in a fourth-floor apartment. Sad life experiences have made her wise, but she is by no means bitter. I found her to be an easily likable person. The story had a great pace. There was always some new challenge or excitement to keep me on my toes. I had initially thought I would be settling in for a long, somewhat boring book, but instead, I finished it in two days. The story tackles important social issues which are still being faced by so many people on a daily basis. Prejudices such as racism, homophobia and even classism are handled with finesse by the author. She places the reader in the shoes of the character, thus making it easy to empathize with their struggles. Maureen, for example, becomes an indirect victim of racism because she finds herself uprooted from her family. This is because of her parents’ blatant racism and anger at her for not settling down with a man of their preference.
It was difficult to find something negative about this book. One thing I did note was that it would have been lovely for readers of a younger age, like teenagers, to be able to read this book. I cannot recommend that due to the fact that there is some profanity and violence in the story. I personally didn’t mind it, because it showcased the reality of the characters’ world, however, some readers might not feel the same. The style of writing was perfect, as it comes from each characters’ point of view, so it becomes easier to place oneself in their shoes. The editing of the book was exceptional. I did not find a single spelling or grammatical error.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. There was nothing not to like. Getting to know Kalayla was a joy. She is not a typical girl, and it was fascinating to be able to view the world through her eyes. The supporting characters were also intriguing. I respected Maureen’s quiet strength. She had struggles, as any single mom would, but she faced them with dignity and grace. A book written by a woman, showcasing strong female leads is also an absolute winner for me. I am of the opinion that the world could do with a lot more stories told from the perspective of great female writers.
Kalayla is a book that would appeal to lovers of fiction with a hint of drama. There is a smattering of romance as well, which I always appreciate. This book has a universal appeal about it, as it is told from the viewpoint of both young and old. Food lovers will delight in all the scrumptious dishes that are mentioned in the story. I, for example, had a strange craving for an orange and rum cake after reading it. My belief is that ultimately, the major theme of this book is hope. Many people are in short supply of this at the moment, so if you need to slip away and indulge in some good humour, delicious treats, and a great deal of hope, I suggest you give Kalayla a try.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"She remembered who she was.
And then the game changed."
And then the game changed."
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Bradley Shelvie
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- Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
The book is simply lovable. I loved it when I read it a while ago and I'm glad you have too.
Do the things you love and you'll love the things you do 
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
