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The Other Side of Paradise

A Memoir

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The Other Side of Paradise

By: Staceyann Chin
Narrated by: Staceyann Chin
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Summary

Staceyann Chin has appeared on television and radio, including The Oprah Winfrey Show , CNN, and PBS, discussing issues of race and sexuality. But it is her extraordinary voice that launched her career as a performer, poet, and activist. Here, she shares her unforgettable story of triumph against all odds in this brave and fiercely candid memoir.

No one knew Staceyann's mother was pregnant until a dangerously small baby was born on the floor of her grandmother's house in Jamaica, on Christmas Day. Staceyann's mother did not want her, and her father was not present. No one, except her grandmother, thought Staceyann would survive. It was her grandmother who nurtured and protected and provided for Staceyann and her older brother in the early years. But when the three were separated, Staceyann was thrust, alone, into an unfamiliar and dysfunctional home in Paradise, Jamaica.

Told with grace, humor, and courage, Chin plumbs tender and unsettling memories as she writes about drifting from one home to the next, coming out as a lesbian, finding the man she believes to be her father, and ultimately, discovering her voice.

©2009 Staceyann Chin (P)2014 Audible Inc. Art & Literature Authors Cultural & Regional Women Witty Inspiring
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Critic reviews

"The listener, especially one who is familiar with Jamaican patois, will be delighted by the author's narration of this true coming-of-age tale.... The quick shifts in the story and Chin's whip-fast delivery put listeners on a roller coaster ride." (AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant
Well written, funnny and inspirational. I really enjoyed the colloquial language interwoven with standard english. Her journey towards self acceptance is admirable. Great listen!! two thumbs up

Amazing story!

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"Shelley Ann's memoir, 'The Other Side of Paradise,' offers a poignant and candid portrayal of her early life in Jamaica. It's an honest account that delves into the raw emotions she experienced growing up, shedding light on the realities faced by children born to parents running from poverty in a society lacking robust social support systems.

Through Shelley Ann's story, readers gain insight into the complexities of navigating a world where kindness coexists with cruelty, where moments of genuine human compassion contrast sharply with the harshness and ignorance prevalent in society. It's a necessary read that exposes the rawness of life's challenges and the resilience required to navigate through them."

Where laws and lack of them create misery and where you see mens abuse of women create real consequences.

A book for law makers to read.

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