Fiction

Love After Love

Love After Love

  • Downloads：8288
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-06 13:52:26
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Ingrid Persaud
  • ISBN：0571356222
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Meet the Ramdin-Chetan family: forged through loneliness， broken by secrets， saved by love。

Irrepressible Betty Ramdin， her shy son Solo and their marvellous lodger， Mr Chetan， form an unconventional household， happy in their differences， as they build a home together。 Home: the place where your navel string is buried， keeping these three safe from an increasingly dangerous world。 Happy and loving they are， until the night when a glass of rum， a heart to heart and a terrible truth explodes the family unit， driving them apart。

Brave and brilliant， steeped in affection， Love After Love asks us to consider what happens at the very brink of human forgiveness， and offers hope to anyone who has loved and lost and has yet to find their way back。

ONE OF STYLIST'S BEST NEW BOOKS FOR 2020

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Reviews

Penny ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2020。 The book is written by a Trinidadian author and is set in Trinidad。 The language is colourful and descriptive。Betty Ramdin is married to Sunil who is violent and abusive when he is drunk。 They have a son， Solo。 Betty is focussed on their son and protecting him from his father’s outbursts。 In a drunken state， Sunil falls down the stairs and dies。 Mr。 Chetan ends up being a lodger in the Ramdin household。 The three forge true friendship。 This happy Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2020。 The book is written by a Trinidadian author and is set in Trinidad。 The language is colourful and descriptive。Betty Ramdin is married to Sunil who is violent and abusive when he is drunk。 They have a son， Solo。 Betty is focussed on their son and protecting him from his father’s outbursts。 In a drunken state， Sunil falls down the stairs and dies。 Mr。 Chetan ends up being a lodger in the Ramdin household。 The three forge true friendship。 This happy situation is blown apart when a rum-fuelled night leads to Betty and Mr。 Chetan revealing more than they probably intend to – Betty pushed her husband down the stairs。 On hearing this Solo decides to leave home and heads off to New York to live with Sunil’s brother。 Mr。 Chetan is a caring person who seems to enjoy the simple things in life: he loves cooking， he has a down to earth approach to life， he treats Solo like a son and he has a great friendship with Betty。 It unfolds that he is homosexual – descriptions of his relationships make you annoyed at how he is being treated。As far as Solo is concerned， the grass is not so green in New York: times are hard and he starts to self-harm。 Mr。 Chetan is murdered and this brings Solo home for the funeral。Not exactly a happy read， but does love win through in the end？ Interesting style of writing with colourful language。 。。。more

Eric ，

This is the first novel or anything by Ingrid Persaud I've read。 What an introduction to her writing。 This story is honestly human。 As the title suggests， the novel is about love， different sorts of love， but love nonetheless。 This is also a story of human perseverance， heartbreak， heartache， and secrets。 As Persaud highlights these big themes， she criticizes aspects of Trinidadian and American society。 As you read how she criticizes these two societies， you feel the weight of injustice and inci This is the first novel or anything by Ingrid Persaud I've read。 What an introduction to her writing。 This story is honestly human。 As the title suggests， the novel is about love， different sorts of love， but love nonetheless。 This is also a story of human perseverance， heartbreak， heartache， and secrets。 As Persaud highlights these big themes， she criticizes aspects of Trinidadian and American society。 As you read how she criticizes these two societies， you feel the weight of injustice and incivility。 In the end， this is a story of redemption even as it comes through hard situations。 This is a fine work of contemporary literature。 。。。more

virginia kelley ，

Very good readDifferent style， loved the culture of Trinidad。 Short read and I think you’re going to like this。 Characters well developed。

Michelle ，

Didn't finish， got to page 53 and decided enough was enough。。 Too many things going on too quickly。 I love the trinny dialect but this isn't done properly so not good or right。。I Actually think it puts trinny culture in a bad light。。 Shame because I was really looking forward to it！！ Didn't finish， got to page 53 and decided enough was enough。。 Too many things going on too quickly。 I love the trinny dialect but this isn't done properly so not good or right。。I Actually think it puts trinny culture in a bad light。。 Shame because I was really looking forward to it！！ 。。。more

Hamida ，

3。7

Ruth Wright ，

It took me quite a few pages to get into the rhythm of the language but once I did I couldn't put it down and found myself itching to get back to it every time I put it down。 I finished it with tears streaming down my face and think it's up there as one of my favourite books of all time。。。。。。 And I read a lot of books！ It took me quite a few pages to get into the rhythm of the language but once I did I couldn't put it down and found myself itching to get back to it every time I put it down。 I finished it with tears streaming down my face and think it's up there as one of my favourite books of all time。。。。。。 And I read a lot of books！ 。。。more

Baje Bookclub - Dawn ，

This was such an amazing story， my goodness。 2 pages of my reading journal filled with notes on this story。 By now you know I am pulled into stories that are real。。。。with everyday issues that can happen to any of us。 It’s a Read Caribbean that allowed me to learn about Trinidad and it’s culture。 My favourite Trini phrase is “hear what”。 Sunil - I couldn’t stand him from Day 1。 He impacted the life of his wife and son so much。 Betty - did she make the right choice？ No， the impact on Solo was too This was such an amazing story， my goodness。 2 pages of my reading journal filled with notes on this story。 By now you know I am pulled into stories that are real。。。。with everyday issues that can happen to any of us。 It’s a Read Caribbean that allowed me to learn about Trinidad and it’s culture。 My favourite Trini phrase is “hear what”。 Sunil - I couldn’t stand him from Day 1。 He impacted the life of his wife and son so much。 Betty - did she make the right choice？ No， the impact on Solo was too great！ For the love of a child right。 Solo - I felt his pain but how he analyze his mom’s actions and ain’t analyze Trevor’s？ Stupse。 Chetan - sweet man rough life。。。。loss！The issues that came out in this book that we have all experienced or know someone that has are self worth， secrets， parenting， strength， self love， loneliness， single life， sacrifices， lifestyles， regrets， adulthood， abuse， dependency， life goals， alcoholism， tradition， religion， violence。 Thank you Ingrid。 。。。more

Charley Scoggins ，

DNF - got quite a way in， and loved finding out about the characters， but couldn’t see where the story was going？ in the end i stopped wanting to pick it up

Rebecca ，

Library book。 So good， set in Trinidad and loved the description of the place。 The lead characters were great and just really well written and enjoyable while being sad and exploring different topics such as homophobia and self harm。 Would definitely recommend。

Marcy ，

I was not prepared for how sad and moving this book was。 I thought it was about unexpected bonds that can create a “family”， and that was so。 I underestimated， however， how dire the circumstances would be for some of the family members。 What were， at times， sweet stories about the three main characters turned into a fairly devastating and tragic novel。

Bruce ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I enjoyed the writing style and the plot moved along very well。 It is a nice easy read。 I was eager to see what happened next。 I felt for the characters and what they were going through， especially Mr Chetan as he hides his homosexuality and deals with dating in a society that doesn't accept him。 Betty is a strong woman and it was good to see her develop her independence。 Solo's story is the most disturbing as begins his cycle of self hurting that ultimately leads to his attempted suicide。 There I enjoyed the writing style and the plot moved along very well。 It is a nice easy read。 I was eager to see what happened next。 I felt for the characters and what they were going through， especially Mr Chetan as he hides his homosexuality and deals with dating in a society that doesn't accept him。 Betty is a strong woman and it was good to see her develop her independence。 Solo's story is the most disturbing as begins his cycle of self hurting that ultimately leads to his attempted suicide。 There is an odd sense of relief when he turns to a BDSM sex worker as a new outlet。 The sad fate for Mr Chetan should have had more impact but it was almost so horrific I didn't cry。 The plot felt like there was a lot of damage but ultimately the characters find acceptance and love and support。 。。。more

Catherine Gibb ，

Lovely book， lovely characters， thoroughly enjoyed it。

Dar ，

A very funny， wise book centred around three-dimensional characters that feel like your own friends。 Then it wrung my heart out！ I really cannot think of another book in which the characters are so stubborn and so true to life。 Painfully so。

Tanya ，

4。5

Sarah Kaupe ，

Totally loved this and couldn't put it down。 A brilliantly told tale。 Totally loved this and couldn't put it down。 A brilliantly told tale。 。。。more

Daniel Hooker ，

Intense and loving portraits of an unconventional family moving in and out of love， with others and with each other

Devon Twitchen ，

I wasn't expecting what I read for sure， it started off pretty strong， and I can see this could trigger some people。 But this was a well written family drama and although it may not be everyone's cup of tea， I enjoyed it。 I wasn't expecting what I read for sure， it started off pretty strong， and I can see this could trigger some people。 But this was a well written family drama and although it may not be everyone's cup of tea， I enjoyed it。 。。。more

Jodi ，

Love After Love is a gorgeous， very moving story about love and family。 And just as there are many kinds of love， so too are there many kinds of family。In rural Trinidad， we follow Betty and her son Solo。 Then comes Mr。 Chetan who starts off as a boarder in their home， but soon becomes a friend and "second father" to Solo。 And， although Chetan is gay， he and Betty develop a very deep love for one another。 Chetan， in fact， finds many kinds of love。 All of this is so beautifully expressed and deve Love After Love is a gorgeous， very moving story about love and family。 And just as there are many kinds of love， so too are there many kinds of family。In rural Trinidad， we follow Betty and her son Solo。 Then comes Mr。 Chetan who starts off as a boarder in their home， but soon becomes a friend and "second father" to Solo。 And， although Chetan is gay， he and Betty develop a very deep love for one another。 Chetan， in fact， finds many kinds of love。 All of this is so beautifully expressed and developed by Trinidadian author Ingrid Persaud。This book - as few others have done - grabbed hold of my heart， wrenched it from my chest， broke it into pieces， and healed it once more。 It's a lovely， unforgettable read and I give it my highest possible recommendation。 ❤️💔❤️💔❤️ 。。。more

Catherine ，

3。5 🤩。 A story of many loves set in Trinidad where abuse poisons one love， prejudice and ignorance another love， and misunderstanding drives a wedge between the parent/child love story。 Vivid descriptions， a pace that keeps you present in the story， characters large and small that ultimately show that love is love， or as the main character repeats， god is love。

Lucy Thompson ，

I expected this book to be happy and pleasant but my life， was I mistaken！ 410 pages of emotions and a range of themes including domestic abuse， mental health， homophobia and of course， love。 You could say that this is a more realistic portrayal of love， and the inevitable heartbreak it leaves us with。 Thoroughly enjoyed and the last 4 pages left me in tears。

Marva ，

Wonderfully rich storytelling。 I read and read and felt so full I figured I must be near the end - I was extremely pleased to find I was only on page 200！ Excellent。

Sophie Bates ，

Excellent story told from the point of view of the three main characters。 Read as a colleague's suggestion for book club - not something that I would usually choose largely because the title makes this sound like bad chic lit。 A lesson in not to judge a book by its cover！ Excellent story told from the point of view of the three main characters。 Read as a colleague's suggestion for book club - not something that I would usually choose largely because the title makes this sound like bad chic lit。 A lesson in not to judge a book by its cover！ 。。。more

Carolyn Drake ，

Ingrid Persaud's novel is a beautiful but sometimes harrowing read， told in the lush and poetic Trinidadian voices of its characters: a mother， Betty; her son， Solo; and their gentle， 'good good' friend， Mr Chetan。 Betty is a strong survivor， whose love for her son burns fiercely and whose life changes for the better after the death of her abusive husband。 Solo is an angry and bewildered teen， struggling to cope with family secrets。 Mr Chetan forms the soulful heart of the book and he will stay Ingrid Persaud's novel is a beautiful but sometimes harrowing read， told in the lush and poetic Trinidadian voices of its characters: a mother， Betty; her son， Solo; and their gentle， 'good good' friend， Mr Chetan。 Betty is a strong survivor， whose love for her son burns fiercely and whose life changes for the better after the death of her abusive husband。 Solo is an angry and bewildered teen， struggling to cope with family secrets。 Mr Chetan forms the soulful heart of the book and he will stay with me。 。。。more

Monica Gallagher ，

Beautifully crafted - engaging story and characters- I really enjoyed it ！

Eileen ，

Plot a bit slow。 Nothing learned about Trinidad。

Bonnie Hoover ，

Decent book but it did not grab me at all。

Valerie ，

This was lovely to listen to - I had no idea so much of Trini food and culture is based on Indian food and culture。 The author did a wonderful job narrating it。 I didn't care for Solo's narrative in the last third of the book， I mostly wanted to tell him to stop being such an idiot。 Mr。 Chetan and Betty are the absolute heart of this story and I loved hearing about their lives。 This was lovely to listen to - I had no idea so much of Trini food and culture is based on Indian food and culture。 The author did a wonderful job narrating it。 I didn't care for Solo's narrative in the last third of the book， I mostly wanted to tell him to stop being such an idiot。 Mr。 Chetan and Betty are the absolute heart of this story and I loved hearing about their lives。 。。。more

Jacqueline Trescott ，

Ingrid Persaud takes a modern family and， through a series of complicated characters， tells us about ties that so many face。 The reader will fight the urge to pick up the phone and talk to Betty， Solo and Mr。Chetan because we know them and want to give them advice about love in all its forms。

Ruth ，

I really enjoyed this book。 It is the story of the lives/relationships of a mother and son and their lodger。 It is set in Trinidad and NY。 It contains many strong story lines - some hard to read， such as the son's mental health problems。 There is a lot of love and some quite graphic sex scenes。 As well as happiness there is a lot of tragedy too。 Its ending is sad but with some hope for the future。 I really enjoyed this book。 It is the story of the lives/relationships of a mother and son and their lodger。 It is set in Trinidad and NY。 It contains many strong story lines - some hard to read， such as the son's mental health problems。 There is a lot of love and some quite graphic sex scenes。 As well as happiness there is a lot of tragedy too。 Its ending is sad but with some hope for the future。 。。。more

Rosemary ，

I listened to the audiobook version of this story after it was recommended on Between the Covers on BBC 2。 I’m glad I got the audiobook as the narration is good and draws you into the story。 I also found it a bit easier to follow the dialect， if I’d read the book I think I would have struggled a bit。This story is told from the perspective of Betty， her son Solo， and lodger and friend Mr Chetan。 Each chapter is told by a different character。 There were some other characters in the book but not to I listened to the audiobook version of this story after it was recommended on Between the Covers on BBC 2。 I’m glad I got the audiobook as the narration is good and draws you into the story。 I also found it a bit easier to follow the dialect， if I’d read the book I think I would have struggled a bit。This story is told from the perspective of Betty， her son Solo， and lodger and friend Mr Chetan。 Each chapter is told by a different character。 There were some other characters in the book but not too many so it meant that the main three were well developed。 It’s set in Trinidad and explores the lives and relationships between the characters。 Betty’s husband is an abusive alcoholic and after his death Mr Chetan moves in as a lodger and becomes like a father figure to Solo。 When Solo is a teenager he overhears a private conversation between his mother and Mr Chetan that makes him flee to New York and sever his relationship with his mother。 Eventually， they are reunited under tragic circumstances。This isn’t my usual genre and I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it。 The characters are interesting and mostly likeable and I found I was quite invested in what was going to happen to them。 Mr Chetan was my favourite character and his inability to be open about his sexuality was sad。 I don’t know much about Trinidad and wasn’t aware of their old fashioned views on homosexuality。 I found the last part of the book really sad yet somehow there was still hope， which is a theme throughout the book。Despite some poignant parts， the book also has humour and the audiobook really helped bring their vibrant personalities to life。I really enjoyed this book and I don’t think I would have chosen it if it hadn’t been recommended。 I could picture the beautiful beaches and sunshine and it was nice to have a bit of escapism。 I’ll definitely look out for more books by this author。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Love After Love

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Love After Love&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Love After Love&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0