The island of Antigua is a magical place: growing up there should be a sojourn in paradise for young Annie John. But, as in the basket of green figs carried on her mother's head, there is a snake hidden somewhere within. Annie John begins by adoring her beautiful mother, but inexplicably she comes to hate her. Adolescence takes this brilliant, headstrong girl into open rebellions and secret discoveries - and finally to a crisis of emotions that wrenches her away from her island home. (1997-08-12)
Annie John: A Novel
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"So touching and familiar it could be happening to any of us...and that's exactly the book's strength, its wisdom, its truth" (New York Times Book Review)
"An unaffectedly sumptuous, irresistible writer...thrilling" (Susan Sontag)
"Movingly real...Its poetry is grounded in detail, in the lovingly rendered life of its adolescent heroine" (Washington Post)
"An unaffectedly sumptuous, irresistible writer...thrilling" (Susan Sontag)
"Movingly real...Its poetry is grounded in detail, in the lovingly rendered life of its adolescent heroine" (Washington Post)
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Mikhail
Format:Paperback
I consider Annie as one of or perhaps Kincaid's best written novels. It successfully and succinctly describes the unsettling feelings of a young girl growing up into adulthood, who having lived a life sheltered by her parents, must find a path by herself because her parents could not relate to the transition in her life, a transition that is different from the life her parents were used to. This book brilliantly explored the relationship between a mother and her rapidly maturing daughter and will serve as a helpful story to mothers and daughters the world over. This is one enjoyable , emotional and truthful story you will cherish.Also recommended are: Disciples of Fortune, A Small Place, The Usurper: and Other Stories
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Sofia
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jamaica Kincaid's novel follows Annie John from childhood through her teenage years. Annie John is an intelligent only child, worshipped by her parents, who slowly grows beyond them and her childhood friends. The novel focuses on Annie's relationship with her mother, which goes from adoration to naked hatred as she grows up. Written very much from Annie's viewpoint, the novel explores authority in its various forms; from the classic authority figures of parents and teachers through to the way Annie holds court over her friends.
It's a nicely written book and an easy read, depicting the self-centred and often selfish innocence of youth totally realistically and yet, for me, it just wasn't that appealing a read. Annie John is not a sympathetic character and for all I felt that I was supposed to side with her in her rebelliousness, as she broke free from childhood, this often just felt like being asked to side with a spoilt child's petulance. Additionally, as a portrait of a mother-daughter relationship it is completely one-sided; we never know how her mother really feels about her. It is also somewhat strange that a novel about teenage years runs its entire course without any mention of the opposite sex: Annie's adolescence is marked only by a curiosity about her own changing physical appearance. And then there is the inexplicable weather-related illness which seems neither to forward the plot nor add to the characterisation of either Annie or her parents.
Kincaid writes beautifully about Antigua and its people and creates a very evocative picture of childhood there but for me, I just never really cared about Annie John and that's a key problem in a novel bearing her name.
It's a nicely written book and an easy read, depicting the self-centred and often selfish innocence of youth totally realistically and yet, for me, it just wasn't that appealing a read. Annie John is not a sympathetic character and for all I felt that I was supposed to side with her in her rebelliousness, as she broke free from childhood, this often just felt like being asked to side with a spoilt child's petulance. Additionally, as a portrait of a mother-daughter relationship it is completely one-sided; we never know how her mother really feels about her. It is also somewhat strange that a novel about teenage years runs its entire course without any mention of the opposite sex: Annie's adolescence is marked only by a curiosity about her own changing physical appearance. And then there is the inexplicable weather-related illness which seems neither to forward the plot nor add to the characterisation of either Annie or her parents.
Kincaid writes beautifully about Antigua and its people and creates a very evocative picture of childhood there but for me, I just never really cared about Annie John and that's a key problem in a novel bearing her name.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Paula
Format:Paperback
Fantastic insights into the difficulty of the mother/child seperation from the perspective of the child. Insightful reading for mothers of teenagers.
3.0 out of 5 stars
'I don't see them now the way I used to, and I don't love them now the way I used to'
19 Jun 2013
By sally tarbox
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Enjoyable book, narrated by Annie John, a young girl growing up in a relatively comfortable home in Antigua. In the first chapters, she is in a close and adoring relationship with her mother:
'I just liked to look at her mouth as it opened and closed over words, or as she laughed. How terrible it must be for all the people who had no one to love them so and no one whom they loved so, I thought.'
But as she reaches adolescence, we see her breaking away; no longer the lovely biddable daughter, Annie's thoughts centre on unsuitable friends, lying and stealing, and her feelings for her mother are more akin to hatred:
'My mother turned to face me. We looked at each other, and I could see the frightening black thing leave her to meet the frightening black thing that had left me. They met in the middle and embraced.'
Evocative; brings back memories of my teens!
'I just liked to look at her mouth as it opened and closed over words, or as she laughed. How terrible it must be for all the people who had no one to love them so and no one whom they loved so, I thought.'
But as she reaches adolescence, we see her breaking away; no longer the lovely biddable daughter, Annie's thoughts centre on unsuitable friends, lying and stealing, and her feelings for her mother are more akin to hatred:
'My mother turned to face me. We looked at each other, and I could see the frightening black thing leave her to meet the frightening black thing that had left me. They met in the middle and embraced.'
Evocative; brings back memories of my teens!
5 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A book of wonder. I read the book at one go. Divinely written. Jamaica Kincaid has the most exceptional writing talent, I have ever seen.
A lovely, uplifting novel. A blessing. Food for the soul.
A lovely, uplifting novel. A blessing. Food for the soul.
0 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Annie John" finally arrived, some eight days after the last likely delivery date given. The book is in fair condition.
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