Books Reviews

Redemption in Indigo – Book Review

By Angela Youngman Sep 17, 2012, 17:35 GMT

"The impish love child of Tutuola and Marquez. Utterly delightful."--Nalo HopkinsonKaren Lord\'s debut novel, which won the prestigious Frank Collymore Literary Prize in Barbados, is an intricately woven tale of adventure, magic, and the power of the human spirit. Paama\'s husband is a fool and a glutton. Bad enough that he followed her to her parents\' home in the village of Makendha, now he\'s disgraced himself by murdering livestock and ...more

Paama has returned to her family after 10 years of marriage to the gluttonous Ansige.  Paama is a master cook who is now tired of her marriage.  Ansige hires a tracker to find her. 

In doing so, it attracts the attention of the Indigo Lord who is also hunting Paama since she has been given his chaos stick. Now he wants it back. Nothing is quite as it seems. 

The resulting elaborate plot involves all kinds of mischief and chaos especially when Paama teaches the Indigo Lord vulnerability. The problems caused by gluttony are brought to life in an interesting and lively fashion. 

The story does raise a smile as you read. It is a different story, one that is not so well known in the West and offers insights into a different culture.  Karen Lord is a promising writer. Her characterization of Paama is a fascinating one, showing a well-developed character.  Fantasy with a moral - yet amoral that is gently put, without being too apparent.