Book Review : Fictions by Ruel Johnson
[This review was never published but shared with Ruel ] This is Ruel Johnson's second book of short fiction and it claims to be an "interrogation in the lives of Guyana's Generation X. The book has 10 pieces of short fiction which are meant to examine "..issues of racial mistrust, individual alienation, exile and return.." Ruel 's introduction complains of the authenticity of Guyanese literature and criticises those who write from outside of Guyana/the Caribbean and who are regarded as authentic voices of literature. The first piece, CCLE a personal journal is a diary of notes which refer to a trip to Canada. Those who know Ruel would assume that this is an autobiographical piece which made no sense. Rambling notes are entertaining. The descriptions were a bit tedious of places and characters and situations - and the reference to the 'Asian' man was interesting, most Guyanese writing authentically from Guyana would have said 'c...