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A remarkable debut, bristling with sharp prose and daring originality' Nathan Harris, author of THE SWEETNESS OF WATER And some of the writing, especially when we are meant to understand the jeopardy of Sayon’s position, would not be out of place in a pre GCSE creative writing exercise with too much of a tell-not-show style and some rather clunky formulations. As with “Who They Was” or “Mad and Furious City” (and the book will draw comparisons to both and sits somewhere in the middle of them) one’s ability to appreciate the book will partly correlate with one’s ability to follow the language (which for me was not an issue but I think may well be for others). Sayon has such complexities, someone we feel we can touch, with internal conflicts and a sense of duality, it’s easy to find something to relate to in him, as well as root for him as we continue through the novel. Have you written about Sayon before in previous works? I did not find the religious aspect to be either peachy or to be critical of religion, rather it was an important presence in this man's life, key to his understanding of the world and preached by men with flaws.
An Olive Grove in Ends by Moses McKenzie review - The Guardian
I set the novel in the area I was raised in. So the inspiration is just the area itself, you know, my home is the inspiration. I don’t mean my home as in my literal house. My home, as in my area and then the neighbouring area. I didn’t have to sit down and think about setting and place because that was what I lived. And then I wrote it for my little cousin. Announcing the arrival of a promising 23-year-old author whose work is wise beyond his years' GUARDIAN Cuba put his arms across his little chest and huffed in the manner of a man about to embark upon yet another noble quest. ‘Say no more, g, but if you’re gonna buy it den man’ll help you, init. Dat’s what family’s for.’ An Olive Grove in Ends is published in the UK under the Wildfire imprint of Headline Publishing and in the US by Little, Brown. It was listed as a Guardian Novel of the Year 2022, shortlisted for The Writers’ Guild Best First Novel Award 2023 and, in an influential US review, has been called ‘the most exciting UK debut in years’. And among a tale of a 11-year-old (going on about 21 at least compared to my schooldays) gangster in the making (while also intelligent) Sayon recounting tales of his various schemes and fights what are we to make of the insertion of this sudden passage of exposition
Right from the start, this book highlighted how family driven the story was with the family tree on the cover (genius idea by the way), seeing how Sayon related to different members of his family who had different religions, cultural believes, focus and even different fears. We see him question what it means to be good or bad employing different ideologies, it was just amazing to read!
An Olive Grove in Ends: The dazzling debut novel about love An Olive Grove in Ends: The dazzling debut novel about love
The community and location takes on a life of its own (just as Manderley in Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier does) from the descriptions of the smells, to the people who walk the streets and the slow colonisation of the gentrified neighbourhood by new white business owners. We see Sayon strong feelings about his community and family and how that impacts his decisions and relationships. Aunty Paulette was my mama’s younger sister and she had spent much of her life inside. She wore a fistful of gold rings and one of them chains from Claire’s with the letter ‘P’ in bold italics. Her favourite thing to do was to jam her finger into older men’s chests and tell them that she was twice the man they were. What I love about this is that the violence that is such a big part of his world often dominates similar books, but in this novel it doesn't, the treat of violence is there and there's some very violent scenes, but the focus of the novel is on the society pressures, the relationships and the role of religion and that allows this man to fall in love with a woman, make friends and contrast what they're saying with his family and show how that makes him feel trapped. The difference between where I lived and where I wanted to be living was laughable. I wrung my hands as I walked and comforted myself with the knowledge that I would be rid of the filth soon; all I had to do was remain free.A coming of age story about a man born into a family of drug dealers, and his desire to live a better life and the only avenue he thinks is available to him.
An Olive Grove in Ends By Moses McKenzie | Used - Wob An Olive Grove in Ends By Moses McKenzie | Used - Wob
I belonged to the Hughes family. The infamous Hughes family – known to police and hospital staff across the city. Except in truth, I was a Stewart. It was the name written on my birth certificate, and it was my papa’s name, but I owed it no allegiance.
A rare glimpse into the harsh realities of street life and love in luminous prose, rendered with sensitivity and without sentimentalism. An astonishing debut' Cherie Jones, author of HOW THE ONE-ARMED SISTER SWEEPS HER HOUSE His family was the only one older than mine in the city. We knew each other well and demonstrated our respect through patronage. I gave him an extra tenner each visit and dropped a couple of pounds in the charity box I knew he took a cut from. This book featured in the 2022 version of the influential annual Observer Best Debut Novelist feature (past years have included Natasha Brown, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Douglas Stuart, Sally Rooney and Gail Honeyman among many others). Growing up, Sayon found respite from the chaos of his environment in the love and loyalty of his brother-in-arms, Cuba; in the example of his cousin Hakim, a man once known as the most infamous drug-dealer in their neighbourhood, now a proselytising Muslim; and in the tenderness of his girl, Shona, whose own sense of purpose galvanises Sayon's.
AN OLIVE GROVE IN ENDS | Kirkus Reviews AN OLIVE GROVE IN ENDS | Kirkus Reviews
It’s written so beautifully, I love the characters, I love their interactions with each other, I appreciate how so many of them were flawed but (murder aside I guess) it wasn’t overbearing at all… I don’t know the story just WORKS bro!!!! A remarkable debut, bristling with sharp prose and daring originality’ Nathan Harris, author of THE SWEETNESS OF WATER My mama used to bring me to this house when I wasn’t much older than a toddler. We wouldn’t come inside – she wasn’t as brazen as Cuba and me – we would only drive to the gate, and she would point up at the windows and tell me how she would imagine herself looking out of them when she was but a child herself.Some readers may struggle with the messages this novel sends. There are few repercussions for the lawless behavior exhibited throughout the book. The author poses controversial questions about selling drugs. Life is cheap, with casual murders occurring regularly and mostly without remorse. Although I feel a bit uneasy with the author's point of view on these subjects, I love his honesty about them. It adds to the book's authenticity. Overall, I found An Olive Grove in Ends to be wholly original, and Sayon a unique and fascinating narrator... continued In return, Sayon wants to give the people he loves the world: a house atop a grand hill in the most affluent area of the city, a home in which they can forever find joy and safety. But after an altercation in which a boy is killed, Sayon finds his loyalties torn and his dream of a better life in peril. You know man’s gonna live here someday, cuz,’ I announced. Cuba screwed his face; he didn’t mean to doubt me, but he wasn’t accustomed to dreams. ‘How you gonna buy dis yard, akh? You need white people ps to buy dis – big man ting.’ ‘Don’t watch dat,’ I told him. ‘Man’ll find a way, truss me.’ Cuba is a character the likes of which I’ve never read before. He affects you to your core, especially his reactions to Sayons final piece of news confronting with what actually occurs (no spoilers here)!! She would cycle into Clifton and across the Suspension Bridge just to look at the yard. There were other houses on the road, for it was narrow with many mansions, but it was this one that caught her eye. It was the furthest from the street, she explained, as far from the hustle and bustle as one could get.
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