The Meeting Point"This is the first book in Austin Clarke's acclaimed trilogy about a group of West Indian domestics, their friends, lovers, spouses and employers living in Toronto. In rich, exuberant language, the novel illuminates the world of Bernice Leach, a Barbadian woman, working in the infamous 'Canadian Domestic Scheme' as a live-in maid. Oddly situated in the employ of the Burrmanns, a wealthy Jewish-Canadian couple, Bernice becomes privy to some household secrets which serve both she and her friend Dots with cause for amusement and outrage. And when Bernice's sister Estelle comes over, apparently on holiday from Barbados, her stay has first comic, then tragic results."--Goodreads |
From inside the book
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Page 35
... Dots thought , throwing a glance in Bernice's direction . Just then , the telephone rang , and frightened them . Dots's ex- pression said it was the airport calling about Estelle ; perhaps the flight was delayed . But Bernice knew it ...
... Dots thought , throwing a glance in Bernice's direction . Just then , the telephone rang , and frightened them . Dots's ex- pression said it was the airport calling about Estelle ; perhaps the flight was delayed . But Bernice knew it ...
Page 36
... Dots , he is a good man to her , Mr Burrmann is , a damn good man , ' Bernice said , shaking her head from side to side ... Dots's mind . You could hear the snow falling , it was so silent in the room . Dots gathered up her things ; said ...
... Dots , he is a good man to her , Mr Burrmann is , a damn good man , ' Bernice said , shaking her head from side to side ... Dots's mind . You could hear the snow falling , it was so silent in the room . Dots gathered up her things ; said ...
Page 95
... Dots ; and Dots had to wonder whether it was the same person who had said last week , ' Canada , Mississippi ... Dots's lap . Deep inside her , Bernice really felt she could be happier living somewhere else ; maybe even in Harlem ...
... Dots ; and Dots had to wonder whether it was the same person who had said last week , ' Canada , Mississippi ... Dots's lap . Deep inside her , Bernice really felt she could be happier living somewhere else ; maybe even in Harlem ...
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Common terms and phrases
A-Train afternoon Agaffa Agatha ain't arse baby bank Barbados bastard be-Christ Bernice asked Bernice's bitch black woman blasted Bloor Street bout Boysie Cumberbatch Brigitte Brigitte's Burrmann Canada Canadian cause chesterfield child Christ Clotelle coloured coming damn dead death door Dots Dots's dress drink Eaton's Estelle Estelle's eyes face feel felt girl goddamn going gorblummuh hand happen head hear heard hell Henry Holt Renfrew immigration Jesus kiss kitchen knew laughed letter listen Lonnie look Lottie ma'am Mammy Marina Boulevard mind morning mouth never nice night outta Palmerston Boulevard princess telephone remember Rosedale round Ruthie screel sister sitting smiled snow stopped street talking tell Terence thing thought told tonight took Toronto Toronto General Hospital turned voice waiting walking West Indian white woman window women wonder Yorkville