Book Review: Patsy

Patsy, by Nicole Dennis-Benn

This is not your stereotypical novel of an impoverished immigrant moving to the United States, working hard, and rising to the top rungs of society, all the while remembering where she came from and keeping in touch with her common-folk heritage.

Far from it.

Rather, it is a far more realistic, if depressing, book about a girl growing up, poor and abused, in the ghetto of Pennyfield, Jamaica, and dreaming of a way out. Cicely, her best friend, has moved to New York City and writes letters about her wonderful life and how they can be together, happily ever after.

The book is well written, moving, and an important profile of immigration. It brings us into a world mostly unknown and unexplored. It's depressing nature comes not from a fear of immigrants, but the fear of being an immigrant -- the fear of not fitting into a new culture, of losing your self-identity, of being a failure in a new world for reasons beyond your control. Patsy sees or experiences all of this, and the book explores her struggles and reactions.

Patsy has several strikes against her as she dreams of leaving Jamaica for a life in Manhattan. One is a five-year-old daughter she doesn't love and cannot connect with. The second is the visa system in her home country, which makes getting a flight to the United States difficult. But eventually she makes it, landing at JFK, ready to meet and renew her love with Cicely.

It's both easy and difficult to judge Patsy. How could a mother leave her child behind, promising to return or send for her, with no intention to do so? How can her dreams be so common yet unrealistic Still, we root for Patsy and respect her decisions, hoping she can find joy and tenderness in Cicely's arms, and success in New York.

Not to give away the tale, but it's not that simple.

We see that Patsy's early life is not grand, and when she gets to New York, the story gets even more depressing. We learn about her sad and lonely life in the city, stuck in menial and degrading jobs, living in tiny, dumpy apartments. Patsy tries, but the Devil's Cold -- her own bouts of depression -- weighs heavily.

We also learn about her daughter's difficulties growing up back in Jamaica, abandoned by her mother, and being raised by her previously absent father, who doesn't understand her.

Dennis-Benn is unflinching it her portrays of the troubles -- and the growth -- of both mother and daughter. Her writing skills are up to telling this difficult yet engrossing tale.