Caribbean Chemistry Tales From St Kitts - Softcover

"Charming and vividly evocative - I feel as if I have got to know these islands, and almost to have been there." (Helena Drysdale, author of Strangerland). "Vanier shares moments of his people's life with warmth and generosity." (Amir Taheri, author of The Persian Night). "One sees so many ripples as the story takes us from infancy to lively boyhood to the moral struggles of adolescence. This book should be read by every young West Indian, and, for the middle-aged and elderly, it will revive rich visions of our past." (Jean D'Costa, Professor, University of the West Indies, 1962-1977). "With so many "celebrity" autobiographies doing the rounds, it is interesting to read a well-written and genuine autobiography written without cynicism and with a genuine intention of documenting the colourful experiences the author has had." (Jeff Hughes, Teacher, Bloemfontein). --Review

Ah, to be an embryo again. Vanier's story begins where we all begin: conception. This delightful piece of life writing, set on the Caribbean island of St Kitts, recalls the mischief of Vanier s childhood: sneaking out to the cinema after school hours, throwing stones at a passing car, disastrous experiments involving various acids and a rocket. Is this boy lost in the plain sailing of childhood or can he turn his curiosity into Caribbean Chemistry? This is a story of self-discovery, told candidly in language rich enough to eat: Breadfruit, breadnut, bamboo, lignum vitae, marouba, weedee, and calabash. Funny and engaging, a story about breaking the barriers of identity and finding them again. A rare view of the emigrants tale.