Cultural Voice

Reviewed by: Monica Minott Till I’m Laid to Rest , Ellis’ third novel ,deals with the social and personal problems connected with poverty and migration to the USA.   The issue of race is understandably highlighted,   and the reader cannot miss the not so obvious consequential damage that was left in the wake of slavery.   However, the writer never attempts to lay the blame at any one doorstep. The novel tells the story of Shirley, who grew up in Central Village, Jamaica.   “Growing up in Central Village made Shirley accustomed to violence.   It was always around her in some form.”   This is the   under-face of Ellis’ tale. He subtly threads this message from the first chapter through the life of Shirley to the last page, where Shirley, a “nice” brown-skinned Jamaican woman, once poised for success, is led handcuffed off the airplane that takes her back to Jamaica, the country she had turned her back on.   She had left Jamaica for a b...

Garfield Ellis, Source: 2 Season Guest House One can only assume that someone's favourite song gives key insight into the frame of mind and the style of that individual. Garfield Ellis, Jamaican writer of 5 books, 3 novels and 2 collections of short stories shared his favourite song with us. Nature Boy - Duane Stephenson  speaks of humanity's losing sight of what is most important to our existence. With lyrics such as  "Millions for guns and bombs, and making trips to Mars, Nature Boy is this your great vision of democracy..." there is a definate sense of holding ourselves accountable for how we act in the world. Garfield Ellis, a positive force in the literary landscape has made it his mission to write the histories of Jamaicans in an effort to provide lasting memories accessible to the world. He focuses on everyday Jamaican life.  At "Love Affair with Literature" hosted by the Department of Literatures at the University of the West Indie...