Ways of Sunlight by Sam Selvon

Ways of Sunlight Reviews

• 
  Cecly Ann

  This is another classic of Trinidad literature. Selvon is all embracing in his narrative. Quinessential Trinidadian.
• 
  Papillon Polyglotte

  Ways of Sunlight" by Samuel Selvon was one of the first Caribbean books I read in secondary school. I remember we also read books set in Britain or the United States and while they were good, there is an intrinsic connection with a book set in the Caribbean, with Caribbean characters and written by a Caribbean author.
  
  So when I picked up my old copy of "Ways of Sunlight" and dusted it off after almost 20 years, I found that the characters and settings were most vivid in my mind. Reading Selvon's ballads was indeed as effortless as following the melody of a calypso. For the first part, set in Trinidad, I felt like I was listening to the older people speak about "long time". When older people start a sentence with "long time" or "long ago", you know that you're entering a different realm. Who knew that some of the most built-up areas that we live in today were once cocoa or sugar estates?  The second part, set in London, reminded me of how West Indians would get together for a lime whether in a bar or with family and narrate the greatest of misfortunes to make them seem like the funniest of stories.
  
  The story that stood out in my mind the most was "Down the Main" which followed Frederick as he went to Venezuela in search for work because after the war, times were very difficult. He was smuggled into the oil-rich Venezuela and ended up in a village that was on the banks of the Orinoco River. When he got there, he was put into contact with a Trinidadian who arranged to have documents his falsified. Doesn't that remind us of a similar situation? I wonder how many of us share a similar link to Venezuela.
• 
  Vivek Persad

  good book need summary
• 
  Celly

  I entertaining book of short stories. I will rate this book 3.5 / 5. It was a fun read especially being a Caribbean person who lives in Trinidad...it is nice to hear stories of the old time days. 🙏My favorite stories were Johnson and the Cascadura, the Village Washer and Brackley and the Bed.
• 
  Sunita

  Life longtime in the Caribbean.
• 
  Louella Mahabir

  Great collection. Sad, funny and so familiar, like stories you hear when relatives get together and talk way into the night.
• 
  Jake Bittle

  I want to go to Trinidad, sounds fun
• 
  Gina Schwartz

  A lovely read from one of my favourite authors.
• 
  Adanna

  This was an enjoyable read! My favourite stories are: Johnson and the Cascadura, Cane is Bitter, The Village Washer, Gussy and the Boss, A Drink of Water, Eraser's Dilemma, Brackley and the Bed, If Winter Comes and The Cricket Match. Each contained characters that made you smile, hurt when they hurt, roll on the floor laughing with their antics and logic. The stories themselves had heart, intrigue, moral dilemmas, lessons etc, making this group of short stories a good read for anyone.
• 
  Marts (Thinker)

  A wonderful rural village tale
• 
  Claire

  Brilliant collection of short stories about Trinidadians at home and in London.
• 
  Борис

  4.5/5 - I've yet to read something by Selvon that is not pure gold. Ways of Sunlight is a fine collection of short fiction, the first half of the stories taking place in Trinidad and the latter in London. Favorites were: Johnson and the Cascadura, The Village Washer, Eraser's Dilemma, and Obeah in the Grove.