Kwame Dawes

Bivouac begins with Ferron Morgan driving his father’s body in the back seat of a car to funeral home, his stomach is upset by anxiety, some of it due to grief and some to a strange white Toyota following him. The narrative of the story continues to follow Ferron for some time, while he haphazardly explores why his father died and even more haphazardly pursues relationships with three women. There are interstitial excerpts from his radical father’s writing that seem to be from his last show more days.

One explanation for his father’s death is medical malpractice, a treatment error at the ER after his fall. Another is murder, advanced by his brother and his father’s good friend Feti. The third explanation is suicide, an idea floated by none other than his father and his mother who says his father has been dead for three years–the living death of irrelevance. In a way, it seems that the women, Delores, Mitzie, and Theresa, could be seen as representative of these three options. Delores is so practical she could be the malpractice. Theresa could be the romanticized conspiracy of murder and betrayal. Mitzie could be the choice of ending it all.

But then I wonder if the women represent the choices Jamaica must make, not just Ferron. Delores is the capitalist, rightist turn that led to his father’s despair. The rape that precedes the novel would be very much a reflection of the role of choosing American capitalism and the economic rape that follows. Theresa could represent the hope of African Internationalism with her link to Feti, the ambassador. Mitzie could the true Jamaican choice, the choice of reggae and liberation, making their own way free of the judgment and influence of the capitalist West or the African revolutionaries.

The reason I look for meaning in Ferron’s three relationships beyond the obvious is Bivouac has that kind of rich and luxurious writing that makes you believe there is a purpose to every element of the story. There are three women, three explanations of his father’s death, and three Jamaicas. This seems purposeful.

The book ends with a hallucinatory final chapter with Ferron hearing the beat of Burning Spear, the reggae artist and Africa Internationalist, while visiting his ancestral home and ancestors. It’s more like a play than a narrative, or perhaps a song with pieces sung by different characters, even a bus conductor. It’s wild and poetic and a fitting way to conclude a story that is rich in questions and sparing with answers.

Bivouac will be released on April 2nd. I received an ARC from the publisher through LibraryThing.

Bivouac at Akashic Books
Kwame Dawes author site

★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/03/18/9781617757105/ show less

Set in Jamaica in the 1980’s this is a story of upheaval.

It begins with our protagonist, Ferron, transporting his father’s body to a funeral home. It’s unclear how he died – an accident, a medical mistake, or murder from the right wing party currently in power with a hit list against the former left wing politicians whom Ferron’s father was one.

Ferron is also struggling as a victim of an assault of his own. He was beaten and his fiancé, whom he was unable to protect, was taken show more away and raped. Ferron finds his guilt prevents him from giving his fiancé the support she needs. Was this another political assault or a random event?

I enjoyed the portrait of Jamaica and thought the characterizations were good.

But I found the audio confusing. The story jumps backward and forward in time; many of the chapters begin with writings from Ferron’s father’s journal.

I actually listened to this book twice to try to make better sense of it and the second time through did make it clearer. Perhaps this is one that works better in print than in audio.

3 stars.

I received a copy of the audiobook through LIbraryThing’s Early Reviewers program in exchange for an unbiased review. show less

First of all, it is clear that Kwame Dawes and Chris Albani are doing the good work in promoting African poetry and poets. That said, I think this book would work well in academic libraries or for someone working on a review or retrospective of the state of African poetry. I did enjoy seeing the tonal shift between the early essays versus ten years later, after the chapbooks had been established for a decade.

First off, I have to say how thrilled I am that Kwame Dawes has written a full-length novel! The text is evocative of his wonderful poetry style, and is a joy to read. In addition, this is a first-rate story. I really felt for the character of Ferron as he struggles to come to terms with his father's death, as well as with learning things he never knew about the man before. The author obviously knows his subject matter; everything about the country of Jamaica and the political realities of show more the 80s is incredibly detailed and accurate. I have read a fair bit of historical fiction set much earlier in time, and I enjoyed learning about some of the country's more modern history. Kudos to Dawes for writing an engaging, thought-provoking novel in such beautiful style! show less