Mainstream Fiction

Roslyn Carrington

Dalfina

1-57566-852-1

April 2003

(4+) Nathasha Brooks-Harris

PLOT SYNOPSIS: 

This poignant, evocative, and masterfully told story follows a young man and woman who embark together on an emotional journey that will bring them joy, heartache, and ultimately, understanding.

REVIEW: 

Mattie Dinkins is a dark-skinned young Trinidadian woman. She is also the illegitimate daughter of Dominic Evers, a popular, very fair-skinned businessman. The two are worlds apart--literally and figuratively--because of their clandestine relationship and their physical distance. Mattie lives in the crowded working class area with her surly grandmother and Dominic lives in the exclusive wealthy area with his haughty wife and family.

Before Mattie's mother passed away, Dominic visited them every Wednesday and turned what should have been a visit from her loving father into something profane. He kept them as the secret family whom he squirreled away on the other side of town. He used her mother to get the things his wife wouldn't give him because although he was the one to die first, she was the one who was dead inside for some reason.

The fact that he denied Mattie on the other six days of the week played very heavily on her mind and ruined her psychologically. His denial hurts her so badly that she feels that she will one day disappear.

But there's a strange twist to this plot on the "good side" of town. The light-skinned, pretty boy Jonah, received everything that Mattie should have as Dominic's daughter. Dominic made Jonah his surrogate son, nurturing him socially and professionally as well as providing him with a first class education in an ultra-expensive private school. Dominic took Jonah into his home and mentored him. The ultimate slap in Mattie's face was when Jonah married Dominic's legitimate daughter, Justice, and was handed the keys to the kingdom that were rightfully hers by blood!

As if dealt a bad hand of cards, the inevitable happens and they meet at Dominic's funeral after he abruptly died at a concert. That meeting fuels a special journey that is emotional, romantic and sad. They change each other's life in ways they never thought possible. Once Dominic is removed from both of their lives can they really live their lives on their own terms.

CANDY DON'T COME IN GREY is crafted nearly to perfection. The characters are well-drawn and rich with emotions, personality traits and quirks that make them interesting. Those things set them apart from each other and endears readers to reading about them and their antics.

Ms. Carrington is at the top of her game in this novel when it comes to craft. She uses language tools well with her use of metaphors. Mattie works in a candy store where there are all sorts of brilliant colors in jars, canisters and containers. The colors are a metaphor for the sweetness that's missing from her life. Another metaphor is the way Carrington uses mirrors as a way of making Mattie confront her being denied and looking deeper than the surface. Those mirrors make her confront her demons.

This novel is set in Trinidad and is written in such a way that cultural tidbits are dropped in, but don't overwhelm the story. The author's smooth storytelling skills come to the forefront because she is able to take readers to Trinidad and recreate that world and pull them in as if they are there. An author who can accomplish that is indeed gifted and it's clear that Carrington falls into that class.

This novel is her best book to date and shows her growth as an author. The plot is fluid and paced just right. Readers will read this book thoroughly and will want to devour every word because this one's just that good. Carrington doesn't disappoint and is sure to gain some new fans who might not be familiar with her work.

This reviewer highly recommends this book to readers who enjoy literary fiction. This book is excellent and deserves to be read!

nathasha@romanceincolor.net (30th March 2003)