This book forces the reader to move out from their 21 st century bubble and come face to

face with the problems faced by common people on Caribbean islands in the first half of the

20th century. Though this book is a work of fiction, I strongly believe that the stories of

Paulene, Inez, Ma Clarice and more give voice to the struggles of black people, especially

women in those times. The story boldly highlights the themes of misogyny, violence, the

influence of religion, racism, abuse of power, and so many more aspects of daily life in a

colony.

It was also interesting how I could draw parallels between the Caribbean in those days

and the lives of common Indians under the British Empire. I absolutely loved how the

language changes its colours between dialogues and during narration. How I wish more

Indian writers would do it too!

The cryptic chronicles of Paulene Bramble is unforgettable storytelling. It is a book you

will not be able to put down. Readers will journey with the main character as she transcends

her obstacles; Byron–Cox’s words become the lens through which Pauline’s narrative of

trauma, survival, imagination, and wonder becomes their virtual reality. The author does an

incredible job intertwining the physical and the spiritual worlds. Byron–Cox exercises great

care to organize the complexities of the Caribbean experience at its core by using sometimes

offensive, pleasurable, and memorable language. Of course, greed and deception are never far

away. Buckle up!

A New Star in the Literary Sky!!

With the book "The Story of Paulene Bramble," a new star is rising in the literary sky.

The author, Dr. Richard A. Byron-Cox shows with this book that he is writing in the class of

Chinua Achebe, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and James Baldwin. Like them, he gives voice

to the "Wretched of the Earth" (Frantz Fanon), those people Western imperialism has

relegated to the hell of exploitation, slavery, and racism. This is also done through the use of

the Caribbean "English" in the dialogues. In doing so, he is drawing the inner lives of the

protagonists so empathetically in their imposed confusion, their struggle for survival, and

their deeds, both good and bad, that one can slip into them. Often, one's eyes can get moist!

A new literary giant enters the stage here!

Dr Richard A. Byron-Cox’s Story of Paulene Bramble is a gripping history lesson

intertwined with the realities and complexities of life in the earlier days. The characters are so

vivid that we can identify them walking among us! This is another page-turner and should

join other best-sellers in your library!

Item dThis is the story of many people from our countries, from the so-called Third World, who

emigrate from the agricultural fields to the cities and then beyond the seas, seeking the

beloved ambition to live better. How many mixed feelings!!! Paulene dignity is exemplary.

The author clearly portrays the imprints of colonialism with the names of streets, the

buildings, the wounds in the minds of human beings. The reader seems to be in the middle of

the scene, living every moment of life on a Caribbean island. Reading this work, I

remembered Balzac’s Human Comedy, its brilliant description of society, and the philosophy

behind. This is what Byron-Cox does.

The content and style of each sentence show a perfect command of the language and

exquisite imagination. If you want to learn about the life and feelings of people in our

countries, read this magnificent novel.

I am an African, but I identified with the script; I detected echoes of my upbringing. It

reminds me a lot of the book, “In the castle of my skin” by George Lamming. The author is

daring, going where many try to go. It’s a work that cheers one, makes one cry, makes one

hope, shout, sing and a whole plethora of emotions.

I wish to compliment Dr Richard A. Byron-Cox on a book that I believe will have a

lasting impact on those who will be lucky enough to read it. I have read it once, but I think I

will need to read it several times because I want to absorb its full impact.

This book, in my view, aims at issues that are current, such as poverty, gender, race,

equality, retribution, power and greed and gives them historical content. The narrative forces

the reader to consider whether wrongs (evil) are generationally transferrable when the

question is asked in the form of conviction that ‘God was punishing nigger people for

something they had done wrong in the past’ and places that conviction on the belief that ‘the

sins of the parents will follow the children’. The author counters this idea of generationally

transferable evil by the statement that ‘British Imperialism was the Satan that masterminded

all manner of evil’, and ‘all in the interest of perpetuating slavery for the enrichment of the

masters of the empire’, and doing this because ‘them have power’ (chapter7, p135).” It seems

to say that power and evil are entwined??? The holocaust and slavery come to mind!

This book has profoundly touched on serious matters of concern in our world today. I

would recommend it to anyone. It is a ‘must read’.

This book touched all the senses and invoked a real-life experience of the way our former

generations lived. The heroine's challenges are ones any woman could relate to, and the

sisterhood we witness between Paulene and Inez is something we all have and all need. More

than anything though, I was struck by the familiarity of the setting: As a woman born and

bred in the American Jim Crow South, every aspect of this tale resonated with me. The rural

culture, the Christian sensibilities, the hard work, and the underlying triumph in spite of

serious challenges. They showed that black people all over the world not just survived; they

survived in spite of hate, enslavement, and poverty.

This work exposes the fact that even though there was the raw poverty of a people, there

still was an abundance of love and determination. It awakens every emotion. One moment,

you are crying; the next, you are literally laughing out loud. It entertains. It educates. It

challenges you to examine your own existence and be grateful. This book is the real deal. It is

a “Must Read.”

A story that reaches across generations. Richard A. Byron-Cox is a talented writer who

paints a vivid mural of Caribbean life. A story that explores the hardships of poverty and the

difficult choices faced by women in a divided and segregated society.

I read this great piece of work and particularly love how the author builds each character

over time, it gives the sense of wanting more. I am sure my students will be eager to read this

masterpiece.

Richard A. Byron-Cox’s story of Paulene Bramble is a very well-written and absorbing

read. It is painfully familiar- it is indeed our story. Byron-Cox skilfully and subtly reveals the

direct and indirect connections between colonialism, slavery and the abject plight of the

natives on a typical Caribbean island. The slow pacing and smooth unravelling of the story

enable the reader to get into the story more readily. At times a disturbingly painful read,

exploring our emotions, sensibilities and our pain in a real way. This is our reality, our story.

A necessary and worthwhile read.

This is a must-read for anyone with a social conscience. The excellent storytelling

presents a mental visualization that places the reader at the moment, so immersed in the story

that you experience a barrage of emotions, gritting your teeth in anger, almost shedding a tear

of sadness, or laughing because the man was a real 'counou mounou'. This riveting story of

Paulene Bramble evokes every emotion one can possess. It is undoubtedly a must-read.