Summer Reading List: 7 New Must Read Caribbean Books in 2023

Caribbean literature spans decades and encompasses a vast range of themes and topics. Because of its rich and diversified area, there are a number of intriguing new novels by Caribbean authors published in 2023. There is something for everyone, from novels to memoirs, short tales to poems.

Today we will be presenting you with the 7 Caribbean authors' must-read works in this blog, books that will enthrall and motivate readers. So, read on because we are positive that there is a book on this list you will find worthy of a read!

1- Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein

A great young author in Caribbean literature will soon release a book called Hungry Ghosts, which is set in Trinidad in the 1940s. The plot centers on two families from very different backgrounds whose lives become entwined after Dalton Changoor's abduction.

The Saroops, a family of three who resides in the dilapidated barracks below the Changoor property, stand in contrast to the Changoors, who enjoy a luxurious lifestyle on their hilltop farm. Hans, Shweta, and their son Krishna, who was born in the barracks, strive against nature and a societal framework intended to keep them in their place. They live in abject poverty and are devoted to their beliefs. The lives of these two families become insidiously entwined as the investigation into Dalton's disappearance progresses, and Hans is persuaded to work as a watchman at the Changoor property.

Hungry Ghosts is a must-read for anybody searching for a potent and touching mystery that will stay with them long after the final page has been turned—a truly moving narrative of heartbreak and beauty.

2- The Gospel According to the New World by Maryse Condé

The Gospel According to the New World, Maryse Condé's most recent book, chronicles the story of Pascal, a newborn born on Easter Sunday who purported to be God's progeny. The story follows Pascal as he moves to a Caribbean community in quest of his roots and mission. Pascal is endowed with extraordinarily attractive features and gray-green eyes that are like the sea. His existence is characterized by events that support the idea that he is divine.

According to the New York Times, Condé is a "giant of literary" who has examined a worldwide perspective of the Black diaspora and centered her writing on Caribbean culture. She has won various awards and recognition in recent years worldwide, including being selected as a finalist for the International Booker Prize in 2023.

The Gospel According to the New World is a combat work, even if it is full of beauty, vivacity, comedy, and strength. Condé writes with clarity and conviction, attesting to the fact that love and solidarity continue to be the most astonishing and life-saving powers in the face of hardship.

3- Suite as Sugar: and Other Stories by Camille Hernández-Ramdwar

The compelling first collection of short tales Suite as Sugar: and Other Stories by Camille Hernández-Ramdwar examines the atrocities of colonial history as well as the protagonists' private and interpersonal pain. The stories are set in many places, including Winnipeg, Toronto, Havana, and Trinidad, and they are infused with the resiliency and pain of the protagonists who, in the absence of elders, regain their connection to the ground.

The characters in this anthology are all diverse types of survivors looking for comfort and guidance. In one tale, a gang of homeless people plans to occupy abandoned condos; in another, a newcomer to a bizarre neighborhood attempts to make sense of the chaos. The title narrative is made up of five interconnected short stories that are set in a Caribbean nation where the ghost of the sugar plantation haunts everyone.

The collection examines how the line separating the living and the dead are blurred and the casual violence of everyday life as viewed through the eyes of an animal, a ghost, or a person. The characters turn to chaos as a solution and take radical action. The tales in Suite as Sugar are evidence of the invisible powers that give the protagonists strength and trauma, and they show the effects of desertion and subsequent loss.

4- The God of Good Looks by Breanne McIvor

The God of Good Looks by Breanne McIvor is a compelling debut novel with comedy, honesty, and realistic characters. Young Trinidadian writer Bianca Bridge has always wanted to write. Yet, social expectations and past blunders have left her pessimistic about her future.

Bianca finds hope when she takes a job with Obadiah Cortland, a tyrant. She'll only achieve her goals by working for his beauty magazine. As she embraces her power and creativity, Bianca discovers Obadiah may not be whom he claims to be. She thinks he's more than his carefully created façade.

The story alternates between Bianca's journal entries and Obadiah's first-person narrative, showing modern Trinidad's severe class divides and the effects of beauty commercialization in a patriarchal culture. Readers find self-discovery, identity, and perseverance as Bianca gets strength from an unusual friend and challenges her ex-lover.

McIvor's crisp, funny, and heartfelt writing makes "The God of Good Looks" captivating. The story addresses prejudice, pride, and masks and urges readers to be themselves.

5- When the Vibe Is Right by Sarah Dass

Tess Crawford feels she has a bright career as a costume designer in "Grandeur," her family's masquerade band. When the band begins to lose members and face competition from other groups, Tess is forced to work with the guy she despises the most.

Tess begins to see a different side to Brandon as they work together to preserve Grandeur, and she begins to reconsider her early impressions of him. During Trinidad's Carnival celebration, Tess and Brandon soon find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind affair. This prompts Tess to question whether everything she thought she knew about herself and her destiny was incorrect.

"Grandeur," set against the vivid backdrop of Trinidad's Carnival, is a lovely and inspiring drama of two individuals discovering unexpected love and passion amid a catastrophe.

6- How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair

Safiya Sinclair's memoir, How to Speak Babylon, details her fight to break away from the repressive patriarchal customs of Rastafari culture that her father, a reggae artist and staunch devotee of the religion, forced on her and her sisters. Sinclair describes in her memoir how her father's fixation with her virginity and his idea that gender would render her morally weak.

Despite her father's efforts to keep Babylon, the corrupting influence of Western culture, at bay, Sinclair's mother gave her and her siblings the gift of books and poetry. This ultimately inspired Sinclair's love of language and became her instrument for breaking free. Unfortunately, Sinclair's father's anxiety and fury escalated as she discovered her voice, resulting in violent fights between them.

How to Speak Babylon is a confrontation with the civilization that nurtured but eventually silenced Sinclair. Using rich lyrical and evocative language, Sinclair examines the history of patriarchy, tradition, and colonialism in Jamaica and their influence on women. This biography is a unique look at the frequently misunderstood Rastafari culture and a universal narrative about a woman discovering her power despite the barriers piled against her.

7- Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo's novel Family Lore is a poignant story of the Marte ladies and their life journey from Santo Domingo to New York City. Flor, the eldest sister, had a remarkable skill that allowed her to anticipate when others would die, prompting her to organize her living wake. As Flor's sisters Matilde, Pastora, and Camila gather to honor her life, they must confront their own secrets and hardships.

Matilde, who has been covering up her husband's adultery for years, is forced to confront the reality of her marriage. Pastora, who is ordinarily reticent, is inspired by Flor's death to address her brothers' difficulties. Camila, the youngest of the sisters, aspires to be free of her sisters' needs. Meanwhile, cousins Ona and Yadi encounter their own obstacles, such as reconciling with a first love who was imprisoned and struggling to have a child.

The narrative takes place over three days leading up to Flor's live wake, tying together the Marte family's past and present. Readers watch the difficulties and successes of these ladies as they negotiate their complicated family relationships and discover their routes ahead via Acevedo's beautiful and emotional words. Family Lore is a moving tribute to the enduring links of family and the tenacity of women.

Sending You Off!

Caribbean literature is continuously developing and expanding. These seven novels by Caribbean authors represent some of the most intriguing and creative works due out in 2023.

The history of Caribbean literature is rich and diverse, reflecting the region's complicated past and present. Caribbean authors' literary works tackle issues such as identity, history, culture, race, and class, among others, and represent the intricacies and complexity of Caribbean society.

This list has something for everyone, whether you're searching for a gripping book, a thought-provoking memoir, or an intriguing short story collection. So pick up a book and immerse yourself in Caribbean literature's vast and diverse world.