Glenville Lovell's remarkable and interesting way of plotting the story line in each chapter seemed to open up a new thought process as I read. This book captured my attention in numerous ways. Having the experience myself of growing up in a small village, I enjoyed and seemed familiar with the description of some of the places mentioned in the book. Mr. Lovell's skillful and poetic use of language is very refreshing, and I was even more captivated with the use and mix of the dialect, that at times seemed to have taken me back in time to my childhood days. The use of magic and myth, combined with love/love-making, fear, history, insight and triumph indeed revealed a skillfully written story of two young lovers and an entire community whose journey leads to precious insights that connected them to their displaced ancestors to achieved new awakenings and complacency. To fully appreciate and experience this insightful journey - READ FIRE IN THE CANES! Extra-ordinary and brilliant!

Mr. Lovell is an excellent writer and very creative. I love books that takes me to another level, books that make you get into the characters. He took me back to my childhood days sitting on the stoop of my grandmother's house in Sturges watching the monkeys eating the bananas. I also went into Harrison's Cave before it was discovered. I saw the beauty of Monkey Road tenantry.

With this supernatural tale of island magic,love, and history, novelist Glenville Lovell makes a stunning debut in FIRE IN THE CANES. I read this book recently and could not put it down! The author's quiet humor, sharp wit, and ear for language made this story of a young woman's quest for love and identity a memorable experience. Set in an undisclosed Carribean island in the not so distant past, Lovell skillfully weaves the story of a community and how it re-claimed its cultural roots after a young man is mysteriously murdered - leaving magical seeds behind him. Lovell shows the marks of a true craftsman, quietly leading his readers through the heart's rugged terrain, leaving them invigorated, by the novel's end, with a renewed sense of passion and hope. If you enjoy a little history in your fiction, a bit of the supernatural with your "realism," and humor when examining human relationships, then you will enjoy Glenville Lovell's FIRE IN THE CANES.

I PURCHASED THIS BOOK AND ADDED IT TO MY GREAT COLLECTION OF NOVELS BY BLACK AUTHORS.WHEN I OPENED THE PAGES I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.I LOVE THIS STORY,IMIDIATELY I MOVED MYSELF INTO THAT VILLAGE I LIVED THERE FOR THREE DAYS WHILE I READ THIS STORY.
CYAN(A FIREHOUSE OF PASSION)OF COURSE WAS MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER.I IDENTIFIED SO MUCH WITH HER,I FELT HER PAIN AND HER PASSION FOR LIFE.I CRIED AND I WAS ALSO FILL WITH LAUGHTER,SHE WAS SO STRONG AND YET SO VULNERABLE.ALL OF THE CHARACTERS WERE SO REALISTIC .
MR LOVELL SHOWS US A SIDE OF BARBADOS THAT WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A MORE SERIOUS LOOK INTO .THIS BOOK SHOULD BE ON THE SHELF OF EVERY PUBLIC SERVANT IN BARBADOS MOST OF ALL THE PRIME MINISTER.
THANK YOU GLENVILLE LOVELL KEEP TELLING YOUR STORIES WE NEED TO HEAR MORE.

Cyan (also known as Night) grew up in a small seaside village on the island of Barbados with her father, mother and sister. At a very early stage in her life, she is faced with some very unsettling events that re-arranges the family structure and in the process, Cyan is forced to make decisions and deal with issues seemingly far beyond her years. Her character becomes strong-willed and very independent in her thinking and actions. The book is set in Barbados, and has a unique Caribbean flavor - the story is fascinating, that seems to unmistakably transcends the people, culture and politics of the island. It's a cleverly written story that to me reflects the circle of life, decisions and resulting consequences. Song of Night captures this and more! Another excellent read by Glenville Lovell!

Mr. Lovell brings out the real life of a young girl growing up in beautiful Barbados. I felt as thought I knew Cyan personally, she was sassy and real during all of her traumatic adventures. All of the characters were phenomenal. This book made me a laugh and it made me cry. Mr. Lovell also did an excellent job in presenting the facts about Barbados and its problems. I'm waiting for a sequel.

Three years may have passed, but African-American Blades Overstreet remains bitter over the incident that nearly cost him his life and ultimately did cost him his wife. During a bust, an undercover white cop "accidentally" shot police officer Blades, who felt it was a deliberate effort to eliminate a black cop. The brass told him to shut up so he quit and sued. The acrimonious aftertaste and avenging obsession over the subsequent two years led to his wife Anais leaving him to go to California.

Jimmy Lucas once saved Blades' life so he now asks a big favor of Blades. Jimmy wants Blades to help his "Precious" find her long lost father. Warning Jimmy that the debt is now paid, Blades begins making inquiries only he finds a murdered FBI agent during his investigation. Already detested by the NYPD brass and most of its rank and file for failing to live up to its blue color code, Blades finds federal and local law enforcement want to hang his black butt with the crime. He knows he needs to uncover with 200 proof evidence the identity of the real culprit o he will find himself behind bars.

Though containing a powerful condemnation of racism, this exciting urban noir is clearly for those in the audience who appreciate macho males bragging about sexual conquests in between acts of violence. So the question begs itself as to why this suburban female reviewer kept reading in spite of feeling like an outsider. Somehow Blades hooks the reader as an underdog David who the audience follows in hopes he wins the day against entrenched Goliath bureaucracies and regains his love. This work is clearly for specified sub-genre fans that will enjoy Blade's New York City joy ride.

Harriet Klausner