I wanted a picture of Jamaica that isn't in books, and certainly not in novels.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
It's too bad for us 'literary' enthusiasts, but it's the truth nevertheless - pictures tell any story more effectively than words.
Caribbean literature only has to be true to itself. It doesn't need colonialism or imperialism. It's always been vibrant.
'Lucky Us' ends with a description of a photograph of the novel's fictional family. I could never get enough of my own family photo albums.
The vast majority of English folk cannot and will not consider a picture as a picture, apart from any story which it may be supposed to tell.
A book makes claims of literary art.
I didn't have picture books - there weren't many around when I was a child.
Now, I had been drawing all this time - especially in France of course - so, when I came back, my father gave me the chance to do a cover for one of the books he published.
Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel prize.
The images from the book you make in your head are always going to be the best images.
I had always wanted to include images in a novel, and with my first book, 'Telex From Cuba,' I made an elaborate website that is basically all images.