Sandy Ground Tales Series: Boat Men by Avenella K. Griffith celebrates Sandy Ground by narrating the story of two boatmen whose ancestry is linked to the village and whose boating endeavours help to nourish the socio-cultural complexion of this village. There are two stories: ‘A Boat Builder’ and ‘A Boat Lover’ and 6 different sections, and 60 pages of beautiful text and imagery. It’s a story book and a catalogue of artwork in pastel colours. No book shelf for this singular piece. Make space for it on the coffee table.
In 26 pages, with mainly no more than two sentences per page and sometimes one sentence, Avenella crafts the boat builder’s tale beginning with David Carty’s life as a youngster learning his trade in Sandy Ground with his “grandfadder and great grandfadder”. We are told of his expeditions through different career paths, misfortune and loss, and then the trek back to the sea from which he built his livelihood.
The second section invites the reader to gaze through the opening of a lifebuoy to view Garfield’s story in pictures. Lest you feel lost at sea, you can anchor your understanding by reading text at the side of the lifebuoy. Avenella depicts a school boy’s dream that was dashed; but, refusing to be daunted, he dreamed up an even bigger dream that took a certain person by surprise: “Gotcha!”.
Do not judge this book by its little size! It overflows with creativity and cultural richness. It swells large with some Anguillian history without being historical. It duffles over into boat racing without talking about boat racing. It relates people’s business without gossiping. There is a lot of vibrancy and texture in how these stories are told. The storyteller’s voice is audible. You can literally hear Avenella speaking the stories – in your head, of course. This is one of its many catches.
Boat Men book pleased this reader very much. This is a 21st century book for children and adults with short attention spans: it’s fun, stimulating (but in right doses), interactive, educational, entertaining and demanding of attentiveness: all the things we expect of a good video. And it asserts its kinship with this tech-driven era in its LOL outbursts. It’s also for the academic and the regular person; the historian or the person who wants to know “how dem get all dem boats?”
Sandy Ground Boat Tales Series: Boat Men is a harmonious mix of details that are so economically woven together. It creatively tells two inspiring stories. The unforced but energised storyteller’s voice; the quick read; the colourful illustrations, line drawings and playful font; the parenthetical humour; the authentic Anguillian speech patterns and dialect; the themes of determination and resilience: the triumph of man against the odds … all these make for a more than satisfying read and appreciative viewing. It’s enthralling, and you will pick it up many times after you would have read it. (It happened to me) …You will want to read it again…to look at it…to reminisce…to remember Bertie and his souvenir shop…to wonder what Anguilla would be like today if David Carty had retired in the post of Director of Tourism…You will want to read it again to be inspired by the power of a dream…You will pick up this book again to be reminded and empowered by its telling that Anguilla’s got talent! Great job, Navene and Carmel on the illustrations! Congratulations, Avenella! You are now a published writer! We look forward to many more Sandy Ground tales!
