Augustown

De: Kei Miller

Narrado por: Dona Croll

In the wake of Marlon James' Man Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings, Augustown - set in the backlands of Jamaica - is a magical and haunting novel of one woman's struggle to rise above the brutal vicissitudes of history, race, class, collective memory, violence, and myth.

Ma Taffy may be blind, but she sees everything. So when her great-nephew Kaia comes home from school in tears, what she senses sends a deep fear running through her. While they wait for his mama to come home from work, Ma Taffy recalls the story of the flying preacherman and a great thing that did not happen.

A poor suburban sprawl in the Jamaican heartland, Augustown is a place where many things that should happen don't, and plenty of things that shouldn't happen do. For the story of Kaia leads back to another momentous day in Jamaican history, the birth of the Rastafari, and the desire for a better life.

©2016 Kei Miller (P)2016 Orion Publishing Group

Fantastic

Beautiful writing and amazing narration. The imagery in this book is completely immersive and Dona Croll read it perfectly.

Best book I've read in a long time

This book touched my soul on so many levels. It was beautifully written. It took me through so many emotions, and it's crazy to think that all these events took place in one day. This will forever be one of my favorite books.

Masterpiece 🔥

Book Stats:
368 pages
Genre: Fiction, Caribbean lit, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Format: ebook (Kindle) alongside Audiobook

Themes:
Classism
Garveyites and Rastafarianism
Colonialism
Oppression

“Look, this isn't magic realism. This is not another story about superstitious island people and their primitive beliefs. No. You don't get off that easy. This is a story about people as real as you are, and as real as I once was before I became a bodiless thing floating up here in the sky.

Synopsis:
Set in Augustown, Kingston, Jamaica (a fictionalized version of August Town, a real neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica) the story centers around a single day where Ma Taffy, a blind old woman senses an impeding “autoclaps” (Jamaican patois for disaster or calamity), which is triggered after six year Kai’s dreadlocks are cut off by his teacher. “Some Kind of uprising, some kind of rebellion. Just walk outside and you can feel it in the air”.

My thoughts:
This novel is an absolute masterpiece of literature! Kei Miller is a gifted storyteller! Miller’s caliber of writing is on par with greats such as Toni Morrison. Similarities of nonlinear storyline, fragmented timelines and authentic dialogues and language are evident in Augustown. Miller also delves into folklore/magical realism and confronts social issues paralleling Morrison’s greatest works.
Dealing with themes of post colonialism oppression, systematic racism, and classism, Augustown features a complex web of interconnected characters and overlapping narratives that propels the story into the most epic climax. It’s not just the content and themes of this book that are powerful but Miller’s lyrical and poetic prose that elevates this novel into an outstanding cornerstone of Jamaican/Caribbean literature. The characters are so developed, compelling, and complex that they pull you into their own perspective of how Augustown’s history has shaped them. Augustown is a mind-blowing tapestry of unexpected connections and twists of fate. This novel is so rich, layered and intentional. Favorite read of 2025!

Brilliant Novel

I have Taught Caribbean literature at a university, and I think this is one of the very best new novels from this area. It is one of the best novels I have read this year: beautifully written, with memorable characters, humor, Pathos, tragedy, set in a very rich Caribbean setting. This author is one of the very best. I highly recommend this book. Edward Hower

Compelling story

Beautifully written and read this story brings about just how United we really all are. This tragedy is one that is felt by the reader, takes you to Augustown and beyond into the heavens and makes you question what you do as well as what you don’t do and it’s significance. A must read.

A profound exposé of the August town experience

The voice acting is some of the most incredible I have ever heard.

This novel combines all the elements of Jamaican society with a deeply moving storyline. You can decide how real it is. One of the most enlightening pieces of fiction I have read.

Read yes

Really captures Jamaican culture and struggle against Babylon 👮‍♀️ long but sweet yes yes yes yes

Wow

Brilliant story and brilliant story telling. Tight story and lush immersive prose. Well worth your time

The narrator is incredible

I could feel I am there. An incredible story made by music and so politically astute. Profound study of colonialism and imperialism through a few beautiful people. Thank you.

That was an authentic story. It was on 🇯🇲🙏💞

This story was authentic and told in a manner that's respectful of our history, elders and ways.