Review of Kalayla
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_Goldiie1
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- Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
Review of Kalayla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
Kalayla, by Jeannie Nicholas, is a modern fiction that explores the importance of the bond of family, the strength in love, and the reality of Parent-Child relationships. It tells the story of three females, from three generations whose lives have been shaped by their families, and the decisions that have been made by their family members. The author lets us into the minds of women at different stages of womanhood and life, and how the circumstances peculiar to each phase have shaped their thought process. Kalayla - preteen, sassy with a penance for saying exactly what she's thinking without a filter; Maureen - a mother reeling from the loss of her husband and still stung by a harsh decision made by her family; Lena - a woman who understands loss and sadness and is overwhelmed with guilt of her own.
Maureen and Kalayla move into a new apartment in a bid to create a new life after the death of Jamal. Maureen seeks to create a worthwhile bond with her daughter whilst shouldering the burden of a lie that could break them both. Lena is struck by how much Kalayla reminds her of her deceased twins, and Maureen of herself at a younger age and can't seem to convince herself not to intervene. Will they survive this and come out stronger? Will they break under the weight of it all?
Jeannie Nicholas is a terrific writer and this is evidenced in the book. It is immensely interesting and each character has a strong and unique personality.
There are a lot of positive aspects to this book. First, the book is written in the first person narrative, which made the characters more relatable, as I was able to easily put myself in the characters' shoes and visualize the scenes as though I was a part of it. Secondly, I liked how it paid attention to racism without losing sight of the plot. Thirdly, I loved how the author chose dance for Kalayla. Dancing was a contrast to her personality but her instant love and investment in it created a balance and added beauty to the story. I especially liked how everyone got a happy ending. I just love a happy ending! Kalayla gave credibility to the phrase, "We rise by lifting others" as Lena was able to face her past and let go of her guilt by helping Maureen do the same. The author employed the use of contracted word forms in some parts of the book like, 'cept instead of except, and wouldn't've instead of wouldn't have; this gave the book a less formal tone. The dry humor and sarcasm had me laughing to myself all through the book.
On the negative aspects, I wish Kalayla showed a more obvious affection for her mother. Also, the trauma that Clarence suffered as a child did not shed light on the person he grew up to become. These parts left me wanting for more.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars regardless of the negative parts. This is because, the book has an exceptional storyline and also because it created a happy ending without losing sight of reality as seen with Maureen and Mummie in the end. Also, the book appeared to have been professionally edited and I did not notice a single error throughout the book.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy books centered on family life. Readers who are partial to sarcasm and dry humor will find this book quite appealing. However, it may not hold the same appeal to readers who are sensitive to racism or abuse. The book is devoid of sexual scenes, thus, is wholesome for younger readers as well.
Kalayla is a great read and I'm positive that it would motivate a person to take the right steps towards forgiveness and redemption.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Kalayla, by Jeannie Nicholas, is a modern fiction that explores the importance of the bond of family, the strength in love, and the reality of Parent-Child relationships. It tells the story of three females, from three generations whose lives have been shaped by their families, and the decisions that have been made by their family members. The author lets us into the minds of women at different stages of womanhood and life, and how the circumstances peculiar to each phase have shaped their thought process. Kalayla - preteen, sassy with a penance for saying exactly what she's thinking without a filter; Maureen - a mother reeling from the loss of her husband and still stung by a harsh decision made by her family; Lena - a woman who understands loss and sadness and is overwhelmed with guilt of her own.
Maureen and Kalayla move into a new apartment in a bid to create a new life after the death of Jamal. Maureen seeks to create a worthwhile bond with her daughter whilst shouldering the burden of a lie that could break them both. Lena is struck by how much Kalayla reminds her of her deceased twins, and Maureen of herself at a younger age and can't seem to convince herself not to intervene. Will they survive this and come out stronger? Will they break under the weight of it all?
Jeannie Nicholas is a terrific writer and this is evidenced in the book. It is immensely interesting and each character has a strong and unique personality.
There are a lot of positive aspects to this book. First, the book is written in the first person narrative, which made the characters more relatable, as I was able to easily put myself in the characters' shoes and visualize the scenes as though I was a part of it. Secondly, I liked how it paid attention to racism without losing sight of the plot. Thirdly, I loved how the author chose dance for Kalayla. Dancing was a contrast to her personality but her instant love and investment in it created a balance and added beauty to the story. I especially liked how everyone got a happy ending. I just love a happy ending! Kalayla gave credibility to the phrase, "We rise by lifting others" as Lena was able to face her past and let go of her guilt by helping Maureen do the same. The author employed the use of contracted word forms in some parts of the book like, 'cept instead of except, and wouldn't've instead of wouldn't have; this gave the book a less formal tone. The dry humor and sarcasm had me laughing to myself all through the book.
On the negative aspects, I wish Kalayla showed a more obvious affection for her mother. Also, the trauma that Clarence suffered as a child did not shed light on the person he grew up to become. These parts left me wanting for more.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars regardless of the negative parts. This is because, the book has an exceptional storyline and also because it created a happy ending without losing sight of reality as seen with Maureen and Mummie in the end. Also, the book appeared to have been professionally edited and I did not notice a single error throughout the book.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy books centered on family life. Readers who are partial to sarcasm and dry humor will find this book quite appealing. However, it may not hold the same appeal to readers who are sensitive to racism or abuse. The book is devoid of sexual scenes, thus, is wholesome for younger readers as well.
Kalayla is a great read and I'm positive that it would motivate a person to take the right steps towards forgiveness and redemption.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
