Alecia McKenzie

A strange, slim book offering a brief peek into the lives of several creative and/or intriguing personalities, McKenzie's work is more a series of vignettes of folks whose lives overlap. The reader starts by getting acquainted with Chris who has gone to his mother's home country of Jamaica to get over the death of his lover, Lidia. He stays at the home of a friend's "auntie" and she soon becomes an even more important character than Chris himself. It is unclear if McKenzie wanted to write show more about life in Jamaica, artists in New York City, or the joys of Paris, but somehow she combines all of these into one short book. What McKenzie does well is introduce characters. The book has plenty from the mysterious Stephen who doesn't know who is mother is to the Jamaican woman who wears a fur coat even on hot Jamaican days, Miss Pretty. The women in the book seem stronger and more real than the male characters do. Leroy, the plumber, seems a bit of a stereotype, and Stephen comes across as a bit unknowable (although that is not strange considering he doesn't really know where he is from or who his family is.) Chris - the character who is the first the reader meets - disappears into painting flowers and eventually seems almost forgettable. Della and Vera are strong, West Indian women, one a talented gardener and the other a gifted seamstress. Feliciane is their sophisticated counterpart, comfortable in NY or Paris, a person of the world. Jasmine is a character who seems thrown in rather capriciously, and although we might like to know more about her life, we learn very little. In short, McKenzie excels at creating characters, but do not expect any real narrative in her book. There is no plot here. Those who read a great deal may argue that plot is not necessary; this book is for those who appreciate character studies, vivid vignettes, and a collage approach to writing. One might say that wondering who Stephen's real mother is could be the main plot, but that would be stretching the book to its seams. The theme of creating family and family being whoever is there to support and sustain comes across strongly. The title might describe the theme of "it takes a village to raise a child." The book is a brief and enjoyable read. It is just that we are left wanting to know more about the characters we have met and wondering if we will ever meet them again. show less

Alecia McKenzie's A Million Aunties is an absolute delight! It will definitely be on my top-ten list for 2020.

The novel looks at the lives of a diverse, but connected group of people: 2 New York-based artists, an art dealer, many Jamaican Auntie and Uncles, and more. The action moves between New York, Jamaica, and Paris and is a smart mix of the humorous and the sobering. Each chapter is narrated in a different voice, which could be distracting, but isn't—thanks to McKenzie's ability to show more write characters that are rich and quirky, and who are attentive to one another.

This is another one where I don't want to write a long review for fear of spoilers. Trust me—if you enjoy character-driven, multicultural fiction, you're going to want to get your hands on this book ASAP.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus; the opinions are my own. show less

So Chris start telling him bout all the museum-dem, while I listening with one ear. I glad to see Chris looking more relax. I worry about him the same way I feel for Stephen. Like we is family. And I thinking: Look at me who never have nobody. And yet all of us here like we on some big family reunion trip. (p.179)

This 'family' is in Paris, exploring the treasures of its art collections. There are nine in the group, connected by love and affection rather than biology, and each of them in one show more way or another is transcending some personal pain.

The catalyst for the trip is Chris's casual remark at a dinner in New York. The blockbuster Monet exhibition had just opened at MOMA, when he said 'I might stop over in France and visit the Monet museums before I go to Italy.' The trip to Italy is to see Lidia's parents—Chris hasn't seen them since Lidia, his wife, was blown up in a terrorist attack.

His good friend and agent and fix-it man Stephen has been the catalyst for Chris's journey to healing. He organises for Chris to go home to Jamaica, where he stays with Miss Della. She could use a little extra money to repair her house which, like all the others in the street, has been damaged by the landslide. Nurtured by comfort food and a light-filled room in which to paint, Chris finds Miss Della's love of plants infectious and although he has never been any good at painting flowers, he begins to do so, in homage to Lidia who was a landscape gardener of public spaces in New York.

Successive chapters are narrated by different characters, each of whom has a story to tell. A story of damage and endurance, and a journey towards acceptance and healing. Reading this just after Noreena Hertz's The Lonely Century is like balm to the soul. There's not a whiff of Pollyanna in A Million Aunties but the novel asserts that all kinds of grief can be assuaged by the love and affection of others. And that families don't need to be connected biologically: it's the love and affection that counts.

There's no pretence that forgiveness is easy.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/04/08/a-million-aunties-by-alecia-mckenzie/ show less

This was a lot of fun. It's told somewhat like a collection of linked stories or anecdotes. A painter goes to a Caribbean island to get-away and concentrate on his work. He takes a room in the home of his agent's aunt. He is drawn into her circle of family, friends, and neighbors.The interactions among this cast of eccentric characters leads to adventures and revelations. Eventually they all end up in Paris. Somehow it all makes sense, sort of.

I'm searching local libraries for more by Alecia show more McKenzie. show less