Family saga set in Trinidad and Toronto

6th May 2022

Wild Fires by Sophie Jai, family saga set in Trinidad and Toronto.

Wild Fires is a beautifully written and complex family saga set over several decades. The Rampersad family of Indian extraction lived in Trinidad until they emigrated to Canada in the early 1990s. I had not realised (until I looked it up) that 37% of the Trinidadian population is Indian… they came to Trinidad and Tobago as indentured labourers to work on the sugar plantations after the abolition of slavery in 1833. Famines, destruction of indigenous industries and unemployment under the colonial rule had left large chunks of the population in India without food and basic amenities. In the present day, Cassandra, one of the granddaughters of the original Rampersads, is now living in London and working as a freelance copywriter. She is summoned back to Toronto for the funeral following the death of her cousin, Chevy – who had spent most of his adult life not speaking.  She finds her family as dysfunctional as she remembered them. There are many secrets in the past that impact on the present. Cassandra’s mother, Leela, is one of five sisters. Three of her sisters, Cassandra’s aunts, are still alive. Two live in the family house in Toronto, one has flown in from Trinidad for the funeral. Certain subjects (like why Chevy never spoke, or how one of the sisters died) are not spoken about. There is much mystery, intrigue and silence.

Cassandra is determined to find out more about the past, and how it is impacting the present. The aunts are somewhat larger than life – and at least one is a drama queen. The house revolves around their relationships. The story describes Cassandra’s digging and the effect it has on her. The final revelations are dramatic.

Trinidad of 30 or 40 years ago is well described, as it present day Toronto – from the steamy summer days of the Caribbean to the bitter winter cold of Canada. Both countries feel very real.

The background to the story (but hopefully not too much of the detail…) is autobiographical. Sophie Jai was born in Trinidad and brought up there and in Toronto before moving to London. Wild Fires is her debut novel and I believe she is an exciting new talent. I look forward to what comes next.

Tony for the TripFiction team

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