RaveThe New York Journal of BooksHave you ever not wanted a book to end? Were disappointed that the characters are gone from your life? A Million Aunties by Alecia McKenzie is one such novel that makes you yearn for more. Its brilliantly developed characters linger after the story has ended and you wonder how the artists, widowers, adopted and biological sons and aunties are managing. You want to sit with them at the kitchen table, eating fried dumplings and slices of plantain and sipping mint tea or coconut water, and listen to their stories of loss and hope. Get to know them better. Sadness and all ... short yet powerful ... McKenzie creates memories that float like petals in the wind or smash like hard waves against a shore. From Jamaica to America to France ... McKenzie has crafted captivating characters and chapters that hold your attention and with each turn of the page you want to learn more ... Throughout the novel, McKenzie gracefully tackles tough topics such as racism and violence against women ... Despite the novel’s strengths, sometimes it feels like there is too much going on, and this causes the story to lose focus ... Yet the solid character development and brave writing bring you back, and you can’t help but wonder what will happen next in this multilayered and relevant narrative.
