Jamaican Obsession

A tale inspired by the 1976 attempted assassination of Bob Marley spans decades and continents to explore the experiences of journalists, drug dealers, killers, and ghosts against a backdrop of social and political turmoil.

“In these kaleidoscopic stories of Jamaica and its diaspora we hear many voices at once. All of them convince and sing. All of them shine.”—Zadie Smith An O: The Oprah Magazine “Top 15 Best of the Year” • A Well-Read Black Girl Pick Tenderness and cruelty, loyalty and betrayal, ambition and regret—Alexia Arthurs navigates these tensions to extraordinary effect in her debut collection about Jamaican immigrants and their families back home. Sweeping from close-knit island communities to the streets of New York City and midwestern university towns, these eleven stories form a portrait of a nation, a people, and a way of life. In “Light-Skinned Girls and Kelly Rowlands,” an NYU student befriends a fellow Jamaican whose privileged West Coast upbringing has blinded her to the hard realities of race. In “Mash Up Love,” a twin’s chance sighting of his estranged brother—the prodigal son of the family—stirs up unresolved feelings of resentment. In “Bad Behavior,” a couple leave their wild teenage daughter with her grandmother in Jamaica, hoping the old ways will straighten her out. In “Mermaid River,” a Jamaican teenage boy is reunited with his mother in New York after eight years apart. In “The Ghost of Jia Yi,” a recently murdered student haunts a despairing Jamaican athlete recruited to an Iowa college. And in “Shirley from a Small Place,” a world-famous pop star retreats to her mother’s big new house in Jamaica, which still holds the power to restore something vital. Alexia Arthurs emerges in this vibrant, lyrical, intimate collection as one of fiction’s most dynamic and essential authors. Praise for How to Love a Jamaican “A sublime short-story collection from newcomer Alexia Arthurs that explores, through various characters, a specific strand of the immigrant experience.”—Entertainment Weekly “With its singular mix of psychological precision and sun-kissed lyricism, this dazzling debut marks the emergence of a knockout new voice.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “Gorgeous, tender, heartbreaking stories . . . Arthurs is a witty, perceptive, and generous writer, and this is a book that will last.”—Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties “Vivid and exciting . . . every story rings beautifully true.”—Marie Claire

The Rough Guides series contain full color photos, three maps in one, and arewaterproof and tearproof. They contain thousands of keyed listings and brightnew graphics.

The new full-colour Rough Guide to Jamaica is the ultimate travel guide to the most captivating of Caribbean Islands. In-depth coverage and clear maps will help you discover the best that the island has to offer--from white-sand beaches and rum bars to misty mountains and vibrant towns--while detailed practical information will help you get around. This guide is fully updated with expert information on everything from reggae and street parties to the best coffee and the quietest beaches, plus insider reviews of the best places to stay, eat, and drink for all budgets, all of it brought to life by stunning photography. Whether you want to flop on the beach or explore every corner of the island, the Rough Guide will make sure you make the most of your time in Jamaica.

With complete coverage of Kingston as well as all the major resorts at Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Negril, this "Rough Guide" is the perfect complement to both independent travel and all-inclusive package tours. Comprehensive listings reveal the best places to stay, dine, and catch the funkiest reggae. of color maps & photos.

From diving in the Virgin Islands to Trinidad’s Carnival celebrations, The Rough Guide to the Caribbean explores all the best to see and do in this exotic region. Discover lively capital cities, colonial towns and remote, unspoiled beaches with the essential travellers’ companion. Featuring detailed historical and practical information on the entire region, the guide also has a full-colour introduction with stunning photography, plus over 100 detailed maps covering over 50 islands! There are hundreds of accommodation and restaurant reviews, as well as practical information for countless adventures sports, from scuba-diving off the Cayman Islands to hiking in Trinidad. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to the Caribbean.

That rare thing, an academic study of music that seeks to tie together the strands of the musical text, the industry that produces it, and the audience that gives it meaning... A vital read for anyone interested in the changing nature of popular music production and consumption" - Dr Nathan Wiseman-Trowse, The University of Northampton Popular music entertains, inspires and even empowers, but where did it come from, how is it made, what does it mean, and how does it eventually reach our ears? Tim Wall guides students through the many ways we can analyse music and the music industries, highlighting crucial skills and useful research tips. Taking into account recent changes and developments in the industry, this book outlines the key concepts, offers fresh perspectives and encourages readers to reflect on their own work. Written with clarity, flair and enthusiasm, it covers: Histories of popular music, their traditions and cultural, social, economic and technical factors Industries and institutions, production, new technology, and the entertainment media Musical form, meaning and representation Audiences and consumption. Students′ learning is consolidated through a set of insightful case studies, engaging activities and helpful suggestions for further reading.

"REPI offers a fresh angle on the Rastafari by drawing on underutilized sources such as news stories and colonial records, along with other data such as field notes, interviews and cultural products like screeds and hymns. Charles Price introduces readers to new connections, characters, and events salient to the development of the Rastafari. REPI is a scholarly resource written in a style accessible to a general audience"--