Book Review: It Begins With Tears
by Opal Palmer Adisa
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Publication Date: Apr 24, 1997
List Price: Unavailable
Format: Paperback, 137 pages
Classification: Fiction
ISBN13: 9780435989460
Imprint: Heinemann Drama
Publisher: Heinemann Drama
Parent Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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Read a Description of It Begins With Tears
Book Reviewed by Akilah Monifa
From Montego Bay (a.k.a. MoBay), Jamaica to Manhattan with visits in Brooklyn, Kristoff Valley, Jamaica, and Eternal Valley, Opal Palmer Adisa's It Begins With Tears, takes us on a marvelous journey through life. With eighteen characters in the rural village of Kristoff Village, four characters in the city of MoBay, more than nine characters in the Eternal Valley which begins and ends this novel, and references to three other integral characters, Adisa packs a great deal into a small amount of pages. Yet one doesn't feel rushed or short-changed for detail with the massive amount of characters, many of whom are fully developed in this her first novel.
Jamaican roots
The author was born in Jamaica, educated in the United States and worked in both
countries. Known primarily for her poetry and essays, both art forms intersperse
this lush novel taking place primarily in rural Jamaica. With Afrocentrism at the
core of so many novels this decade, it is refreshing to have a piece that is comfortable
with its West African roots via Jamaica without overwhelming you. There is no
mention of dates in this work but some folks do have electricity, cars, indoor plumbing
and telephones. But the concept of time does not have the same importance in Jamaica
as it does in the United States, so it is fitting that we don't know exactly what era we
are dealing with.
We are dealing with communities which value tradition, customs, and
honoring their elders and a strong current of listening to one's voices whether inner or
outside through duppies (ghosts). The resistance to folklore ways is nonexistent in
these communities. The communities are traditionally closed to outsiders but
receptive when one of their own marries and brings his or her spouse to the
community. Such is the case with the principle American character, Angel, married to
Rupert. Angel never knew her roots as she was adopted at birth and unaware of the
adoption until age 12. No information was ever provided about her birth
parents. After the death of her adoptivefather, and when she began questioning her
racial heritage, her adoptive mother responded by abandoning her save financially.
Never feeling at home in her place of birth, Angel welcomes a chance to go to Jamaica to
look for the unknown, but to at least belong.
This sense of belonging eludes many of the characters, even those who are aware of their
roots. There is much confusion especially around Valrie and Arnella whom most folks
including themselves believe to be twins as they were born on the same day, but are
actually cousins. The confusion continues when they share the same man who also
impregnates them both. Arnella, Valrie, and Godfree (their shared man) are not
confused and their situation is fine for them. But they must deal with the mores of
their families and the community at large.
And of course to add to the Peyton Place like environment, we have the return of Monica to
the village. Monica has been pursuing the world's oldest profession and her return
is met by glee from most of the men in the village and gossiping consternation by most of
the women in the village who are insanely jealous of her. Monica's sole female ally,
her godmother, Miss Cotton, one of the elders, cautions her to be discreet in her dealings
with the men folk of the village. Unfortunately Monica fails to heed Miss Cotton's sage
words and is attacked by some of the women in the village. Suffice it to say that
these women start a most unusual fire in Monica's "most private parts."
Healing
Despite the goings on in the village, those of infidelity, secrets, indiscretions, abuse,
and more, the women of the community bond with the formally ostracized Monica and open
their hearts, souls, and secrets in a ritual healing ceremony at the river.
Forgiveness is key in this spiritual
work where no one is perfect and everyone has room for growth regardless of their past.
The keen respect of elders, ancestors, family and community are the glue of this
fabric. With a beauty in the changing of the guard as the elders and healers pass on
and the new generation take their places. Parallel stories also exist in the Eternal
Valley inhabited by Devil, She-Devil and their family as well as God and Sabbath Angel and
their eight children. But as is stated in the title, it does begin with tears and as
is revealed in the wondrous dialect filled pages which unfold, "all life begins and
ends wid tears." But the tears are not always pain-filled, sometimes they are
joy-filled and other times simply a release of emotional secrets that keep us all from
really living. This book is a refreshing addition to the Caribbean Writer Series.