Review 1:
Book review: Folklore given life
published: Sunday | August 24, 2003
Reviewer: Franklene Frater of Jamaica Gleaner Newspaper

IN POST-COLONIAL societies such as Jamaica, attitudes to folklore are often shrouded in misunderstanding and misconceptions. Practitioners, particularly of intuitive medicine, have been historically viewed with suspicion and disdain in "civilised society".

In a departure from this stance, Beresford McLean in his novel Broken Gourds gives a colourful, picturesque, true-to-life, non-romanticised version of life in post-slavery Jamaica. His characters are sharp, distinct, non-political and, therefore, credible.

The work is well written, well researched and imaginative. The vibrant colours on the cover as well as those described in the novel are easily acceptable as they link with the culture the village inherited from their ancestors. One could easily imagine a modern-day Maroon village resembling the mythical one in this story.

THE STORY

Without giving too much away ­ the story begins with members of the Port Maria City Council deciding to commence work on a road modernisation project which would necessitate the demolition of some of the town's historic buildings. This rather neatly leads the town's storyteller to regale, griot-style, both Council members and nearby children of the history of the village and its important buildings.

CHARACTERS

The novel's commentary refers to Broken Gourds as inspirational folklore and it is through his characters that this becomes evident. His major character, Brother Walk is obviously celebrated as McLean shows much of his innocence and purity particularly in his early days. As he gains more prominence, however, he becomes subject to the foibles which apparently naturally attend those in leadership roles.

The author manages, through the major character, to show the genuineness of natural healing, herbal healing, spiritual gifts and the link between the spiritual and medicinal ­ so often discounted in academia and established religion. Despite exposing and examining "home grown" religions positively he is not totally seduced by this view as he creates a character (in the person of Brother Walk) who, like any other megalomaniac, is affected by the power he possesses.

Through supporting characters McLean examines the deeply rooted social divide which still exists in today's Jamaica. "Granny the midwife", Dada the "prophet" and Pastor Hamilton, pastor of the First Baptist Church whose economic survival depended on the village to understand the tensions in that society as the different potential leaders contend for supremacy. Yes

As the story parallels contemporary Jamaica, its pyramid structure is as evident as it was then. The biases among the social elite ­ the pastor, Police Inspector and their wives ­ who, though morally upright, dedicate themselves to whatever it takes to rid themselves of their perceived enemies.

CULTURAL HISTORY

McLean displays a thorough knowledge and appreciation of Jamaica's cultural history. He shows cultural beliefs to be as natural as breathing.

All in all Broken Gourds makes for interesting reading, providing significant detail about Jamaica's culture and history and is a work anyone thirsting for knowledge about their history could benefit from.

Review 2:
Denise's Pieces Fiction Book Reviews from Corvina, CA USA

"Beautifully written. Very well done!"
Albion, a small town in Jamaica, is the focal point of this rich, diverse and very well written novel about the ebbs and tides of the human soul, personified in the people and the roles they play in that very town. The tale begins with the dilapidated remains of an old building and then grows into the story of a town and an Old Man, called Dada, who lived there in the late 1800's. So begins this story of history, culture and relics left behind by those who have gone before us. It is a story of factions, of prejudice and hope… It is the story of human weaknesses and frailties, of greed and deceit. Yet it is also a tale filled with love and compassion, competition and desire. Each character propels the plot forward, though more of the tale revolves around a young man blessed with the gift of healing, and how that young healer somehow manages to turn the entire village upside down, compelling much thought from everyone in the process.

Beautifully written, Broken Gourds is a book rich in the language, customs and history of Jamaica. Powerful characters and lush descriptions of not only the countryside but also the people who inhabit that island enhance the smooth narrative style of author McLean, whose choice of words and gift of storytelling delivers incredible pleasure and an extremely satisfying read. Each character is a treat in and of itself, and offers the reader much thought-provoking opportunities to delve beneath the surface of the narrative and dive into the soul of the writing itself. Very well done!

Review 3:
Rebeccareads from Clallam Bay, WA United States

Exquisitely done! Memorable!
Broken Gourds is a story that empowers the oppressed & fosters harmony & hope; a tale of change & permanence, hate & love, pestilence & peace. Quite simply, a tale about life in a multiethnic community a century ago & in the present.

Broken Gourds is also lyrically written in a language that dances & darts, creating images & memories which, like the city folks who had to stop & hear the story, make the reader stop & linger, fascinated by the telling.

Review 4:
Midwest Book Review from Oregon, WI USA

The eternal struggle of human nature
Set in a small Jamaican farming village, Broken Gourds by Beresford McLean is the deftly written, and engaging story of a lowly healer who seeks to empower the suffering, yet who learns the hard way that with power comes immense temptation and the seven deadly sins. The eternal struggle of human nature and man at war with himself is exquisitely captured in this exotic yet empathetic tale.

Review 5:
Lillian Bogovich, Literature teacher.

Redemption Song
Broken Gourds is a touching metaphor of the human spirit--how we all stumble and rise again, if only we honestly look at ourselves. Brother Walk portrays a classic character who moves from innocence to power, to selfishness, to loss, and finally to wisdom: every hero's journey. Along the way, he is able to empower those around him and leave an entire village with a viable path into the future. It is a glimpse of the hidden Jamaica that still holds all of the magic we in the outside world hope exists in all of our humble attempts at community and progress and love. Beresford McLean writes his novel as if it were poetry, with each line, no matter how much struggle it may express, offering a smile and a light to guide his readers to a place where life just might makes sense. Broken Gourds in many ways reminds me of Achebe's Things Fall Apart, with a twist that shows how a culture is able to survive and laugh and perhaps even grow stronger when it's imperialistic predators have their backs turned. I highly recommend this beautiful, beautiful story of humanity at its sweetest.

Review 6:
Peter Heyrman, Writer

The World in Microcosm
In "Broken Gourds" Beresford McLean has done something many writers never even attempt: he has taken the whole of humanity and put it into an observable context. In the remote Jamaican village of Albion, McLean has created a society of people where sin, goodness, vengeance, and forgiveness commingle, as they do in us all. Somewhere in the depths of it lies the discovery of both self and others. McLean's village gives us a mirror in which to find the essence of humanity. It is well worth the read.

Review 7:
Compulsive Reader from Coleridge, NC. USA

. . . he shows the full circle of life.
Although Mr. McLean's novel is written about a remote village in Jamaica long ago in another time frame the issues of human faults and the corruption that too much power and wealth can cause is still very true today in our society. He brings the full plate of human failings to the table, greed, corruption, adultery, and the act of judging others for the way they look or their social status, and even murder.

Review 8:
Myself (BEVBOOKS) from Kenai, AK

". . .an exciting new voice in contemporary literature . . . a master's touch."
Broken Gourds is an intriguing story of cultural clash and political unrest in a small Jamaican community that is destined to become a folklore classic. McLean is an exciting new voice in contemporary literature who writes with a master's touch. The offbeat characters, and the clash of cultures entwined with the political unrest in this Caribbean paradise provides the central theme in this novel of historical Jamaica. I fell in love with the wretched, deformed Twig who was so dependent on Dada, the wise, loving grandmother, and the other assorted characters of this island Shangri-La.

The metamorphosis of Dada, a 29 year old man who is seemingly an incompetent and possibly mentally handicapped individual, into a spiritual leader; the politically powerful, articulate and charismatic Brother Walk, is a compelling story. The beliefs of the old Ashanti community's ancient culture sometimes clash
with the sophisticated, modern, non-African ideals, and the love and loyalty contrast with the jealously and animosity in the lives of these people. "Ironically," says Mr. McLean, "the very elements that rocked this rustic Jamaican farming village a century ago are still at the core of mankind's search for a sense of self today."

McLean's great imagination, and eloquent prose take you on a journey through the lives of these island denizens that will long remain in your heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling story with it's unexpected twists in the plot that keep you reading long into the night. I hope there is a sequel in Mr. McLean's future....I'll sure watch for it.

Review 9:
Critique Magazine, Broussard, LA

Broken Gourds... "a story about healing, about triumph, about humanity"
In the age of "chick lit, "Broken Gourds is inspirational folklore that readers probably haven't seen in quite some time. The story follows a lowly healer whose mission is to empower the oppressed while fostering harmony and hope within a small Jamaican community. This is a story of humanity-the good and the bad, and what ultimately lies beneath all of that: Love. It is a story of life-today, tomorrow, and yesterday and readers everywhere will recognize that fact.

Victor Rawlings is the narrator of the story and we are introduced to him in the prologue. Wealthy landowners are petitioning the city to modernize the road making the remote Jamaican village of Albion more accessible to tourists and commercial developers. Victor, as spokesman for the villagers, petitions the Port Maria City Council to reconsider the placement of the new road. His reasons are simple: It will destroy historical buildings and crumble the lineage of the Balm Yard and the lives it touched.

Victor wins his first battle and sets up a meeting with city officials. He has much to show them about what is at stake. Quietly, he leads them up the dirt road that leads to Balm Yard, the small Jamaican community that up until now has withstood the bitter winds of time. Balm Yard was the heart of Albion and the heart of Broken Gourds. It is a place of meditation and healing to ant one of African ancestry. But the city officials are not convinced. They look at the building and do not see healing; but instead see despair, dilapidation, and pity. But as readers know, this is always where a real story comes in. To speak the words that people and history cannot. And author Burford McLean takes it from there.

Dada is a social outcast, the lowly son of a farming family. He's dirty, lazy, and without focus, much to the aggravation of his father. He spends his time roaming aimlessly, daydreaming of a future he will never have. His feet are covered with oozing sores and his nose runs constantly. Everyone in the community believes he has and never will amount to anything. His grandmother (Granny) is the only one who shows Dada love. Granny is immersed in the traditions and superstitions of the ancient culture, dispensing herbs and ancient wisdom to the locals. She senses a spirituality in Dada that no one else can see. And slowly, as the story opens, Dada begins to see it for himself. Readers are taken by the hand and lead slowly on a spiritual journey of a man, of a village, of an author.

The transformation of Dada began with a dream. With drums beating. With music that is so enchanting that he follows it and finds himself high in the hills standing before a glistening pool of water. He sees a young girl dressed in African robes holding a highly decorated gourd which she gives to him before she disappears. He fills the gourd with the magical water and heads home. His life will never be the same.

With his touch, Granny is healed from the pain of old age; Twig, the great family friend, is released from the holds of polio and is finally able to walk. It is with these gifts that Dada's true path becomes clear: He must become a preacher and healer for the people of Albion. And with the new path so abundantly clear, his name becomes Brother Walk and the history of this village is changed forever.

He opens the Mission House and Balm Yard for the people and does not charge for his services. As Brother Walk's ministry and prosperity grows, village leaders become jealous and spiteful. Village leaders react to their loss of power and begin to plot revenge against Brother Walk. But this is not where Broken Gourds finds its peak; readers are surprised and read more because of it. With any story of power-in fiction and in real life-greed and lust find their way into the cracks. And spiritual leaders are not immune to such touch. It is not long before Brother Walk remembers his youthful dreams of owning Albion and he succumbs to the temptations that present themselves in many forms. He becomes weak to jealousy and other wicked emotions that make even the best of us human. And that's where the real lessons come in. This is a story about healing, about triumph, about humanity, but it's also the story about the flipside to all of that. It's the story of hate, of adultery, corruption, and the selfishness that sprouts from fear.

Broken Gourds presents lots of twist and turns in a plot that you halfheartedly expected to be banal and predictable. Mr. McLean does a good job of showing readers that good books have a good way of presenting the same old lessons in different shades of humanity. This book makes readers look at things that aren't pretty or comfortable-infidelity, deception, homosexuality, even female genital mutilation. But one thing is for certain: When you finish the last page and close the book, you'll know just what you believe and what you don't. Read it just to prod your own self for what hasn't been turned over in a while.

Review 10:
Caribbean Camera, Toronto, Ontario.

BROKEN GOURDS is a must read in the understanding of and appreciation for the Jamaican society. The pathos and ethos, the sights, sounds and rhythms, nuances and cadences are all testament to the richness of the African-Jamaican experience.

After all, it was the African-Jamaican people who laid the foundation for a rich national culture by retaining their sense of spiritual values, by 'lively up themselves' in a rich culture filled with sympathy and with meandering to 'one love' and a bright future!

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