We all know that our island is a picturesque place with panoramic views that can rival scenes found anywhere in the world. We also know that we are indeed scenic beyond comparison but with ‘Pieces of Jamaica: Jamrock Edition’, we also recognize that we are truly special. From the first photograph to the closing credits, ‘Pieces of Jamaica’ evokes such intense love, nostalgia and national pride that every Jamaican whether at home or in the Diaspora needs a copy on their coffee table for every time someone asks “What makes your island so great?”
The images, whether photographs or watercolours, are bold, sharp, vivid and radiate the vibrancy that is this piece of the rock in the Caribbean Sea that neither slumbers nor sleeps. There is always something happening in Jamaica whether it be a party, a dance, a domino session or a drink-up with some ‘linkies’ that you haven’t seen for a while. Some of the scenes are iconic places such as Holland Bamboo or Rose Hall Great House while others are little- known locations that capture a unique moment in time. Indeed, ‘Pieces of Jamaica’ offers you peace.
From great houses, churches and statues, to lighthouses, fruit stalls, bars, bridges and town centre clocks;, the compilation is a bonafide page turner with each page capturing a snapshot or moment guaranteed to make one smile or chuckle. Divided into themes and accompanied by catchy captions that provide much needed context and details of little known facts about spaces in time long past and largely forgotten, the book pulls on one’s desire to return to a simpler, gentler period when everyone was your neighbour and there was no needed for grills, alarms and security systems. A time when people were friendly, fair and fiercely loyal. That Jamaica of old that our grandparents grew up in that was conservative yet respected because of what it represented: time honoured traditions.