Book
River Mumma : a novel / Zalika Reid-Benta.
'River Mumma' is an exhilarating magical realist novel about a millennial Black woman who navigates her quarter-life-crisis while embarking on a quest through the streets of Toronto. It is a homage to Jamaican storytelling by one of the most invigorating voices in Canadian literature. Zalika Reid-Benta lives in Toronto, ON. From the author of 'Frying Plantain', which was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. A Dewey Diva Pick. #diversity.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780735244764 (trade paperback)
- Physical Description: 239 pages : maps ; 23 cm
- Publisher: Toronto, ON : Penguin, 2023.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Friendship > Fiction. Quests (Expeditions) > Fiction. Young women > Fiction. Jamaican Canadians > Fiction. Toronto (Ont.) > Fiction. |
| Genre: | Magic realist fiction. Novels. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | FIC ReidB | 31681010336501 | FICTIONPBK | Available | - |
- Penguin Putnam
"Wholly original, remarkably crafted, and unmatched in voice. I loved this book!ââCherie Dimaline, bestselling author of VenCo and Empire of Wild
Issa Rae's Insecure with a magical realist spin: River Mumma is an exhilarating contemporary fantasy novel about a young Black woman who navigates her quarter-life-crisis while embarking on a mythical quest through the streets of Toronto.
Alicia has been out of grad school for months. She has no career prospects and lives with her mom, who wonât stop texting her macabre news stories and reminders to pick up items from the grocery store.
Then, one evening, the Jamaican water deity, River Mumma, appears to Alicia, telling her that she has twenty-four hours to scour the city for her missing comb.
Alicia doesnât understand why River Mumma would choose her. She canât remember all the legends her relatives told her, unlike her retail co-worker Heaven, who can reel off Jamaican folklore by heart. She doesnât know if her childhood visions have returned, or why she feels a strange connection to her other co-worker Mars. But when the trio are chased down by malevolent spirits called duppies, they realize their tenuous bonds to each other may be their only lifelines. With the clock ticking, Aliciaâs quest through the city broadens into a journey through timeâto find herself and what the river carries.
River Mumma is a powerful portrayal of diasporic identities and a vital examination into ancestral ties. It is a homage to Jamaican storytelling by one of the most invigorating voices in Canadian literature.
