Name: Cindy Allman
Where you live: Trinidad and Tobago
Insta handle: @bookofcinz
Current read: Golden Child by Claire Adam
What has been your favorite read of the past year?
I have had so many amazing reads in the last year. It is really hard to narrow down to one, so here are my top three; Becoming by Michelle Obama, She Would Be King by Wayetu Moore and Rising Strong by Brene Brown.
What is one book that you think will (or should) become a classic in the next 30 (or 50) years? Why?
I think John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies should or may become a classic. This book is sweeping, all-encompassing and covers so many topics that I am hoping won’t be relevant in 50 years. However the characters are timeless and it is one of those books that you read and it stays with you for a very long time and for me, that is what makes a classic a classic.
Imagine this. You and a celebrity of your choice are becoming friends. They have asked you for a book rec. Who is the celebrity and what book do you recommend?
Celebrity, I am going to go with Junior Gong (Damian Marley) and by friends, I hope you mean husband. I would recommend A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James but I am not sure how he would feel reading about his father in a historical fiction context. As a back up, I would also recommend Augustown by Kei Miller because this tackles topics that I think he would appreciate.
How do you choose your next read?
Goodreads, Bookstagram, recommendations from friends. I finalize my decision by reading my friends’ reviews on Goodreads. I cannot start a book without going to Goodreads first.
What book meant the most to you as a child?
My collection of fairytales I think meant the most to me as a child. I think that is where I got my love for collection of short stories. I love that I could read about Goldilocks and then Jack and the Beanstalk or Hansel and Gretel. My collection of fairytales is the book I re-read a lot as a child. This memory still brings a smile to my face.
What is your favorite adaptation from book to film, theater, or television? What book do you wish would be adapted?
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, the book and the movie broke me in numerous ways. I’ve only watched this movie once because I cannot bear to watch it another time… my poor heart.
There are so many books I wish would be adapted, I would say The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution by C.L.R. James I think this book covers so much historically I would love to see it brought to life. It was such a difficult book to read but having it adapted will mean a lot more persons will learn some important history lessons
On a more lighter note I would love to see Carola Lovering’s Tell Me Lies or Ottessa Moshfegh’s My Year Of Rest and Relaxation being adapted because I think it would make for great T.V.
What’s the one book everyone loves that you just cannot stand?
Without a doubt The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and that is all I will say on that.
What is your favorite book set in or around the area where you live?
I was born in Jamaica and I currently live in Trinidad and Tobago. Most of my favorite books are set in the Caribbean, if I had to pick two I would go with Dew Angels by Melanie Schwapp and Pain Tree by Olive Senior.
What is one classic you think is not overrated?
The Diary of Anne Frank
If you had to declare yourself an expert in one extremely specific genre, what would it be?
Unreliable woman narrator who cannot seem to stop drinking wine. Her husband is no where to be found, she is usually on a train or by a window trying to figure out her story before she is arrested. Of course, she’s got no real friends.
What is your go-to book recommendation?
Recently it’s been The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne.
What book changed your worldview in some way?
Rising Strong by Brene Brown. This book really put into perspective that we are all on a life’s journey, it taught me that we should all bravely own our stories. Brene Brown documents how we when we fall (which we will) we can rise stronger. This book was the catalyst of me embracing being vulnerable and knowing it doesn’t make me weak, which isn’t how the world views vulnerability.
If you could inhabit the life of one fictional character for a day, who would you choose?
I am going to go with Emily Charlton from When Live Gives You Lululemons. This is purely for superficial reasons, I mean who wouldn’t want to have Miranda on speed dial?
Who do you think is the greatest female author?
Wow, that would be Toni Morrison.
Why reading?
It is not labor intensive, it is pretty low cost (if you have a library card), you have unlimited options on what to read, you get to enjoy and LEARN something and you get to visit places and meet people without leaving your couch.
What’s at the top of your TBR or wish list?
According to Goodreads, it is Lauren Wilkinson’s American Spy.