So Many Precious Books, So Little Time: The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey

Thursday, March 8, 2012

The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey

It is the 1950's and Sabine and George Harwood are young newlyweds in England. When George gets the opportunity of a life time from his employer to move to Trinidad, he jumps at the chance. It an opportunity to make much more money than he can in England. Knowing that it is only a three year contract, Sabine agrees and they move.

George instantly falls in love with the life in Trinidad but Sabine is not comfortable there with both the heat and the racial segregation. Sabine however does enjoy riding her green bicycle around the island. In fact, it seems she is the only whiter woman there who rides a bike and becomes well know as the white woman on the green bicycle by the natives.

When a new leader takes over in Trinidad and England withdrawals, many people who came to work there from England return home but not George. He is going to stay the entire three years but promises Sabine they will return to England.

Sabine becomes very interested in the new political leader who give hope to the natives in Trinidad that big changes are coming. However, even getting running water back in the slums doesn't seem to happen. Will there really be change for the people of Trinidad or is it promise of a corrupt political leader?

50 years later George and Sabine are still in Trinidad. George works at the newspaper and Sabine lives what appears to be a comfortable lifestyle. However, with years of resentment coming to a head, will the couple be able to weather the storm?

White Woman on Green Bicycle give the outsider a look into Post-colonial life in Trinidad both for the natives and the British who decide to stay. The reader gets insight into the politics and how the natives live with unique and well fleshed out characters. The writing is magnificent!

5/5

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin for the eGalley.

Also reviewed by:
Devourer of Books

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:01 AM

Labels: Books Read in 2012

9 comments:

This sounds fantastic!!

bermudaonion said... March 8, 2012 at 11:34 AM

This sounds like a really good read and one I hadn't heard of before.

Darlene said... March 8, 2012 at 11:39 AM

It is Kathy and Dar! It was also a finalist for the Orange Prize.

Teddy Rose said... March 8, 2012 at 10:49 PM

It sounds like a great book. I really like the cover, it's one I would pick up in a store to at least read the synopsis. I'm not as familiar with the Orange Prize (UK?), but I'm sure it's a good recommendation!

holdenj said... March 9, 2012 at 6:06 AM

Julia yes, it UK but female authors from all over the world have won it. I don't read books just because they were nominated or won an award. The book just sounded good to me. I loved it!

Teddy Rose said... March 9, 2012 at 4:35 PM

This sounds fantastic! I'd never heard of it before and the title/cover are so intriguing.

Nikki in Niagara said... March 10, 2012 at 12:55 PM

It is Nicola! When I first heard the title I was intrigued. The description is what made me read it though.

Teddy Rose said... March 10, 2012 at 9:36 PM

Sounds wonderful! Thanks --

Patricia said... March 29, 2012 at 5:46 PM

It is Patricia!

Teddy Rose said... April 1, 2012 at 10:06 PM