No Telephone to Heaven

By Michelle Cliff

Book Overview

A brilliant Jamaican-American writer takes on the themes of colonialism, race, myth, and political awakening through the experiences of a light-skinned woman named Clare Savage. The story is one of discovery as Clare moves through a variety of settings -- Jamaica, England, America -- and encounters people who affect her search for place and self. The structure of No Telephone to Heaven combines naturalism and lyricism, and traverses space and time, dream and reality, myth and history, reflecting the fragmentation of the protagonist, who nonetheless seeks wholeness and connection. In this deply poetic novel there exist several levels: the world Clare encounters, and a world of which she only gradually becomes aware -- a world of extreme poverty, the real Jamaica, not the Jamaica of the middle class, not the Jamaica of the tourist. And Jamaica -- almost a character in the book -- is described in terms of extraordinary beauty, coexisting with deep human tragedy. The violence that rises out of extreme oppression, the divided loyalties of a colonized person, sexual dividedness, and the dividedness of a person neither white nor black -- all of these are truths that Clare must face. Overarching all the themes in this exceptionally fine novel is the need to become whole, and the decisions and the courage demanded to achieve that wholeness.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679739424
• ISBN13: 9780679739425
• Release Date: March 1989
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 211 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.5" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Great novel about Jamaican for those who like post-colonial issues

Not a straightforward story in time sequence, so if you like Toni Morrison you'll like this. The plot is about a young Jamaican woman's identity crisis--race, sex, class, politics, country--but what intrigued me the most was the very graphic descriptions of the "dungle" where the homeless women and children live, on top of a garbage heap surrounded by fencing, vs. the descriptions of the life of the wealthy in Jamaica, and how little they know about each other. The gap between rich and poor is horrendous,and Cliff does a great job getting into the minds and motivations of the unschooled, illiterate, unknown although everywhere poor. Time period is the 1950's-1980's; during the Manley/Marley years, violent political uprisings and the threat of revolution play an important role. Lots of great symbolism for English professors teaching Caribbean literature too.

Finding Roots

I'm a college student, and I feel quite priveledged to have been assigned this book to read for an English Literature class. Actually, that doesn't really make sense but I love my professor for it. This book totally rips the facade of the tourist's Jamaica, and allows the truth to be seen. It's full of binary relationships, between Clares mother and father, Clare vs Christopher, Harry/Harriet, Afro-caribbean and Afro-American, oppressed and oppressor. It's amazing to see the differences in the racism shown in Clare's time in New York and the racism in Jamaica. I completely identified with Clare's seeking her roots, and feeling like a drifter, untouchable, unfazeable. Get ready to be amazed, to come to terms with your own history and your own roots.

Global issues

No Telephone to Heaven is one of the best cultural novels i have read this year. This non linear novel engulfs the reader in the adventures and struggles of its characters, demonstrating how culture and colonialism can bring people together and at the same time tear them apart. This deeply moving novel tells of the trials and tribulations of the protagonist, Clare and her inner struggle to seek connection and inner peace. It is wonderfully written and poetic. I finished the book in two sittings and highly reccomend it to those who enjoy novels of culture.