20190201_215059.jpgHappy Tuesday!  Welcome to my stop on the Golden Child blog tour sponsored by TLC Book Tours! Thanks to TLC for the invitation!

About the Book:

A deeply affecting debut novel set in Trinidad, following the lives of a family as they navigate impossible choices about scarcity, loyalty, and love

Rural Trinidad: a brick house on stilts surrounded by bush; a family, quietly surviving, just trying to live a decent life. Clyde, the father, works long, exhausting shifts at the petroleum plant in southern Trinidad; Joy, his wife, looks after the home. Their two sons, thirteen years old, wake early every morning to travel to the capital, Port of Spain, for school. They are twins but nothing alike: Paul has always been considered odd, while Peter is widely believed to be a genius, destined for greatness.

When Paul goes walking in the bush one afternoon and doesn’t come home, Clyde is forced to go looking for him, this child who has caused him endless trouble already, and who he has never really understood. And as the hours turn to days, and Clyde begins to understand Paul’s fate, his world shatters–leaving him faced with a decision no parent should ever have to make.

Like the Trinidadian landscape itself, Golden Child is both beautiful and unsettling; a resoundingly human story of aspiration, betrayal, and love.

My Thoughts:

I was asked to organize a buddy read for this book by Goodreads, and around the same time, I was given the opportunity to join a blog tour. I was all in! Why? Because the first SJP for Hogarth book I read, A Place for Us, is one of the best, most emotional, books I’ve ever read, and I would not miss her next choice. I was not disappointed. I also want to thank all my Goodreads friends, my local friends, and my blogger friends, who joined me for this special read. I read this book with friends in different time zones and countries, and I’m sincerely thankful for the opportunity. 

Golden Child takes place on the island of Trinidad. The Deyalsingh family lives in a rural, remote area of the island, in a brick house on stilts right by the bush. They live a quiet life, one surrounded by family. There’s a mother, father, and two sons, twins, Paul and Peter. Immediately we learn that one is intelligent and successful, while the other is limited cognitively and is “different” in some ways. 

One day Paul goes for a walk in the bush and doesn’t return. Clyde, the father, searches for him to no avail, but thtough his journey, he tells the story of how he has had his hands full with Paul. How he has never understood him, never truly bonded with him. No spoilers here, but Clyde is faced with a desperate decision, one that not only broke my heart, it pulverized it. 

There is an emotional tone throughout the story. I wanted to jump in and talk to Clyde, tell him how to understand Paul better, talk to Paul and tell him he is worthy no matter what people think of him. I felt unsettled and on edge through the book as Clyde searches for Paul, as we wait to find out his fate, as we hope for answers. 

Golden Child is a story of family betrayal, aspiration and yearning for better, and the limits we place on our love. I’ve always been a BIG love kind of person, and it was hard to watch those limits being enforced and observing the ramifications of that in this family. 

Overall, this was deeply affecting book that kept me thinking and honestly aching after the last page. I enjoyed the discussions I had with each of my friends. I learned more about them and about the book through the discussion. This type of book begs to be discussed with friends. It’s too emotional to keep to yourself. 

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. 

About the Author:

Claire Adam was born and raised in Trinidad. She studied Physics at Brown University and later took an M.A. in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. She lives in London. Golden Child is her debut novel.

*****Book Giveaway*****

On Sunday, I’ll have a giveaway up on Instagram- a chance to win a finished copy or an ARC. Thanks to the publisher and TLC for sponsoring the giveaway!

Check out these reviews from some of my blogger and reviewer buddies:

Berit’s Review

Beth’s Review

DeAnn’s Review

Linda’s Review

Jeannie’s Review

Have you read Golden Child, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR