Skip to main content

My guest post on Peepal Tree Press author, Geoffrey Philip's Blog

http://geoffreyphilp.blogspot.com/search/label/In%20My%20Own%20Words

 In My Own Words...Joanne Gail Johnson
“Nuff Respeck!”
My Caribbean Children’s Books are “Self Organized Learning Environments”
excerpt:


"I heard it said that V.S. Naipaul, in a lecture at U.W.I. during his two million dollar, 2007 visit to Trinidad, responded to a question about Caribbean children’s literature by saying something to this effect: “There is no such thing. Children are in fact not capable of understanding any work which could qualify as literature.”

This amounts to hearsay, I know. But I will address the thought itself and will acknowledge first that the tone of the word “literature” spoken in the mouth of a Nobel Laureate dictates a very capital and intimidating “L.” Even so, I will risk a bit of adventure..."

Read more - click link to Geoffrey's blog, JJ

Comments

Alvin Narine said…
Joanne,
I don't want to be flippant or to even think I have any expertise in Literature. I write and in a general sense it is for MY enjoyment and hopefully my style would please others and encourage them to delve into the thoughts, ideas, or even pictures I am painting with my words. I have read and heard quite a lot of the recognised authors describing and at times even condemning other peoples' works. I have also seen some of those same condemned pieces of literature become best sellers and noted works.
I believe that in writing one must have an appreciation of one's language and utilise it in a manner which comes out as a "Skill", a uniqueness which appeals to a reader.
Anyhow I have learned that many famous authors forget how they began and thrust their 'expertise' on us in a daunting manner projecting their own self aggrandizement.
Alvin
January 26, 2011 at 9:40 PM
Meaningful Books said…
Oh yes - well I did mean it all in jest as well, not that I want to take myself too seriously. I am grateful that my work over the years has sold well and is valued locally and regionally. Thanks so much for taking the time to read and share your thoughts! Blessings, Joanne
January 26, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UP A Tree, With a Good Book...

Think of your young readers this way: up a tree, with a good book and worried that the sixth book in the series marks the end, because then what will he do!  All 6 Island Fiction titles are available as e-books at: https://macmillancaribbeanebooks.com/  or jump to Time Swimmer by Gerald Haussman, one of my all time favorite teen titles: https://macmillancaribbeanebooks.com/timeswimmer.html Or why not kick start August reading with: Night of the Indigo by Michael Holgate which won a Silver Moonbeam Medal for "Teen Spirituality" https://macmillancaribbeanebooks.com/night-of-the-indigo.html Pictured: Battle of the Labyrinth, Percy Jackson Photo credit and copyright: J. Johnson What to read when Percy Jackson comes to an end? Now young Caribbean readers have a series rich in speculative fiction sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism. Check out all 6 titles of the  Caribbean's first-ever teen series with cinematic writing that even reluctant readers will...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Presumed Power of Publishers and Getting Published

Above All, Happy Writing, JJ Diversity Is Not Enough: Race, Power, Publishing “The publishing industry looks a lot like these best-selling teenage dystopias: white and full of people destroying each other to survive.” Click link:  Read article here  before my discussion: I agree that this is apparently so.   Also, I do think the conversation requires more finesse and maturity if we are to break the vicious cycles that enforce limitations. Everything is subject to change including any glass ceiling, especially if we loosen our mass belief in it. Let's narrow this discussion down. It is in being specific that we may be most likely to access universally accurate assessments and solutions. And I will quote the article itself in fact to underscore my point: "By blaming an intangible force, the (publishing industry) absolves itself of any responsibility…" brackets are mine Exchange the words in  brackets and it is easy to see that this sentence ...
2 comments
Read more

A Prequel to Papa Bois: ESCAPE FROM SILK COTTON FOREST

The author's animated readings score big with avid fans.   ESCAPE FROM SILK COTTON FOREST - Francis Escayg "Now that's what I call great writing; but don't take my word for it, read the book and see for yourself." Cherian Gordon, Caribbean Compass Series Editor's Q & A with the author: JJ: I call it a prequel to Papa Bois although its a bit of a "spolier" to what comes in the end, but I do this because I feel so strongly that it's a good thing for Caribbean people to make that  connection. Did you set out to write how Papa Bois came into existence or did it evolve into that? FE : It certainly did evolve into that. And the “spoiler” I think piques the curiosity because many people never thought of this character as having to grow into or to earn the title Papa Bois. It was just accepted that He has always been there, one with everything from the beginning of time. JJ: The Lorax, a Dr. Seuss creation, is ma...
3 comments
Read more