Review of The Slippery Road.
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saminu Yusuf Helma
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- Latest Review: The Slippery Road. by L. M. Bollers
Review of The Slippery Road.
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Slippery Road." by L. M. Bollers.]
The circumstances of a man’s life can deprive him of many things, but he will retain one: the last of human freedoms - choice, the ability to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
In 1946, Monty, the seventh of nine children, was born to a Black father and a mother of East Indian descent in the then British Guyana, a nation under colonialism, at a time of heightened political and racial tension. Despite losing his job, Monty's father worked very hard to provide for his large family, while their mother, a housewife, did just as much hard work in caring for the family, managing household affairs, and doing housework. To seek greener pastures for himself and his family, Monty’s father, Bolo, decided to move to England. In the process of getting his family settled before he lives, Bolo got duped which resulted in a huge loss, thereby quashing his dreams of leaving for England. Disappointed and mad at himself he took to heavy drinking which affected his health and eventually ended his life.
Though life was tolerable while their breadwinner was alive, it became relentlessly difficult for the entire family upon his death as they found themselves in deep poverty. Monty’s life transitioned into an arduous one where he had to drop out of school at fourteen to take odd jobs and sometimes hard labour just to put food on the table. While these events were taking place in Monty's family, British Guyana at the verge of independence was economically and politically unstable, adding to their difficulties. There were racial clashes giving rise to violence and crime. Encouraged by their ever prayerful mother they all went in search of a better life, determined to overcome poverty.
The Slippery Road by L.M Bollers is an entertaining book because it is a gripping blend of a coming of age story, a journey through history and a celebration of virtue. It is a highly original coming of age story because Bollers supplies us with information about his family and childhood environment with many of the anecdotes stemming from real experiences throughout his childhood. The atmospheric setting of British Guyana in the mid-forties through to the sixties cleverly mirrors the times and struggles and gives the book a historical element. It is divided into three parts: Mother, Wife and Friend. This is to extol the virtues of his mother, a woman who cared so much for her children that when she couldn’t do anything else for them, she would go on her knees to pray. And as they grew, she became a friend to confide in when they needed advice. A wife, who loved her husband in spite of his failings. To the end, their mother was the centre of their lives, the glue that keeps the family together. The book also expounds on the virtues of determination, hard work and resilience by showing how circumstances of an individual’s life do not determine his or her destiny but the individual’s responses to them.
I am particularly captivated by the use of language. Bollers tells his story with a commendably sophisticated simplicity and clarity devoid of the characteristic descriptions in many books that tends to bore some readers. Even though it contains experiences of violence, racism, crime and suffering, there is no conscious effort to paint a vivid picture in the mind of the reader so as to emphasize any of the above mentioned experiences or to evoke certain emotions in the reader by the facility of language. Shakespeare said that “an honest tale speeds best being plainly told”, The Slippery Road by L.M Bollers is a story plainly told.
Being an autobiography, it follows Bollers’ childhood with a considerable degree of accuracy. However, there is what I suppose to be a tendency to mix facts and fiction from the specific dialogues which usually characterizes fiction. The book contains dialogues that seem too precise to be recalled and others that did not take place in the presence of the author. Furthermore, there is very little mention of dates to supply the reader with a cohesive timeline of events which I consider to be important in an autobiography.
By and large, I am happy to give this book a rating of three out of four stars. I did not give it a four because I find the ending somewhat abrupt and sudden. And, even though I find the story highly inspiring, without denigrating or belittling their experiences, I do not find it extraordinary. This maybe due personal preference and not necessarily a commentary on the quality of writing. Lastly, I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with challenges and setbacks in life, seeking inspiration.
******
The Slippery Road.
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The circumstances of a man’s life can deprive him of many things, but he will retain one: the last of human freedoms - choice, the ability to choose one’s attitude in a given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
In 1946, Monty, the seventh of nine children, was born to a Black father and a mother of East Indian descent in the then British Guyana, a nation under colonialism, at a time of heightened political and racial tension. Despite losing his job, Monty's father worked very hard to provide for his large family, while their mother, a housewife, did just as much hard work in caring for the family, managing household affairs, and doing housework. To seek greener pastures for himself and his family, Monty’s father, Bolo, decided to move to England. In the process of getting his family settled before he lives, Bolo got duped which resulted in a huge loss, thereby quashing his dreams of leaving for England. Disappointed and mad at himself he took to heavy drinking which affected his health and eventually ended his life.
Though life was tolerable while their breadwinner was alive, it became relentlessly difficult for the entire family upon his death as they found themselves in deep poverty. Monty’s life transitioned into an arduous one where he had to drop out of school at fourteen to take odd jobs and sometimes hard labour just to put food on the table. While these events were taking place in Monty's family, British Guyana at the verge of independence was economically and politically unstable, adding to their difficulties. There were racial clashes giving rise to violence and crime. Encouraged by their ever prayerful mother they all went in search of a better life, determined to overcome poverty.
The Slippery Road by L.M Bollers is an entertaining book because it is a gripping blend of a coming of age story, a journey through history and a celebration of virtue. It is a highly original coming of age story because Bollers supplies us with information about his family and childhood environment with many of the anecdotes stemming from real experiences throughout his childhood. The atmospheric setting of British Guyana in the mid-forties through to the sixties cleverly mirrors the times and struggles and gives the book a historical element. It is divided into three parts: Mother, Wife and Friend. This is to extol the virtues of his mother, a woman who cared so much for her children that when she couldn’t do anything else for them, she would go on her knees to pray. And as they grew, she became a friend to confide in when they needed advice. A wife, who loved her husband in spite of his failings. To the end, their mother was the centre of their lives, the glue that keeps the family together. The book also expounds on the virtues of determination, hard work and resilience by showing how circumstances of an individual’s life do not determine his or her destiny but the individual’s responses to them.
I am particularly captivated by the use of language. Bollers tells his story with a commendably sophisticated simplicity and clarity devoid of the characteristic descriptions in many books that tends to bore some readers. Even though it contains experiences of violence, racism, crime and suffering, there is no conscious effort to paint a vivid picture in the mind of the reader so as to emphasize any of the above mentioned experiences or to evoke certain emotions in the reader by the facility of language. Shakespeare said that “an honest tale speeds best being plainly told”, The Slippery Road by L.M Bollers is a story plainly told.
Being an autobiography, it follows Bollers’ childhood with a considerable degree of accuracy. However, there is what I suppose to be a tendency to mix facts and fiction from the specific dialogues which usually characterizes fiction. The book contains dialogues that seem too precise to be recalled and others that did not take place in the presence of the author. Furthermore, there is very little mention of dates to supply the reader with a cohesive timeline of events which I consider to be important in an autobiography.
By and large, I am happy to give this book a rating of three out of four stars. I did not give it a four because I find the ending somewhat abrupt and sudden. And, even though I find the story highly inspiring, without denigrating or belittling their experiences, I do not find it extraordinary. This maybe due personal preference and not necessarily a commentary on the quality of writing. Lastly, I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with challenges and setbacks in life, seeking inspiration.
******
The Slippery Road.
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Slippery Road. by L. M. Bollers
