While I was reading Black Shack Alley, I honestly thought this was going to be another cliche novel where a poor kid goes to school, works hard, and has a good life. END OF STORY. But as I kept reading and after I watched the lecture, I realized the author wasn’t really focusing on the […]
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with black shack alley, Joseph Zobel
Hi, everyone!
Just finished reading the Black Shack
Alley, I feel a little sad because of José. I am sad
because in José’s world, the life constrained by structure is sad.M’man Tine
as a perfect example of being constrained by structure, is working as…
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with Joseph Zobel
Hi, everyone!
Just finished reading the Black Shack
Alley, I feel a little sad because of José. I am sad
because in José’s world, the life constrained by structure is sad.M’man Tine
as a perfect example of being constrained by structure, is working as…
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with Joseph Zobel
Joseph Zobel’s Black Shack Alley is a story encompassed with true raw human emotion and the brutalities of life. It was an amazing read, albeit there were heartbreaking moments of inequalities where I felt genuinely sad; Zobel does an incredible job of engaging the reader and evoking emotions. From the very first line, “Whenever the day had […]
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with Generational Trauma, Joseph Zobel
Black Shack Alley by Joseph Zobel was a touching read that had so many unique perspectives on growing up. At the core of this novel, we are taken through Jose’s journey of growing up, which is what we have seen in quite a few of the books we have read so far. However, Jose’s experiences […]
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with Colonialism, education, family, Joseph Zobel, Martinique, race
I really liked this novel and the themes of perseverance throughout. From the start of the book where a younger José despite his circumstances is seen meeting up with his friends and causing a raucous. While I can’t relate completely to his situation, I found myself reminiscing on my own childhood where my own gang […]
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with Joseph Zobel
Joseph Zobel’s ” Black Shack Alley” is a deep and fascinating story that explores the complexities of identity, family, and societal expectations. It is a touching and vivid depiction of life in Martinique. The story follows José, a young child facing the difficulties of puberty in a culture characterized by racial and cultural divisions, amidst […]
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with education, Joseph Zobel, literature, poverty
One thing that was interesting about this novel, similar to the others that we’ve read in this class, is that it is told from a child’s perspective and point of view. I expected that it would be a bit darker in a sense simply because of the fact that it deals with racism and plantations […]
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with childhood, description, Joseph Zobel, M'man Tine, race, racism, setting
Favourite book so far. The first section of the book where José describes the alley was the most impactful to me. There is a strong sense of imagery and I think the setting is very well built. This section is … Continue reading →
Posted in Blogs, Zobel | Tagged with french, Joseph Zobel, M'man Tine, Martinique, Mr. Méduoze, racism
This week’s novel Black Shack Alley by Joseph Zobel talks about the life of the main narrator José who lives with M’man Tine. This novel uses a linear narrative to tell the story of his experiences in Black Shack Alley and pursuing education to address the problem of colonialism, racialization and class inequality. I wanted […]
Posted in Blogs | Tagged with black, education, Joseph Zobel, life, love, race, reality
