The White Woman on the Green Bicycle Audiobook

" The structure of this book was set so that the current story was told first and then the author took you back to when the lead couple met. I didn't like that. After reading what was basically the 'end' of the story, I didn't feel motivated to head back to the future. I did, though, because it was a book group read, but I had to force myself. The female lead, Sabine, came across as a whiny, pouting woman and her husband, George, as a clueless, self-absorbed jerk. Did I care what happened to them? Not so much. The group agreed that the real center of the story was Trinidad. Even so, I still didn't particularly care for this book. "

" I expected this to be an interesting story, but I could only make it through the first 100 pages. I had a really hard time figuring out how I was supposed to perceive the characters, as sometimes the novel presents them in a sympathetic light, but then returns to condemning them, describing them cruelly. Additionally, It is hard for me to understand why George would be upset about Sabine's letters when he has, and still does, physically cheat on her. I didn't make it far enough in the story to figure out if she had a physical relationship with Eric Williams, but even if she did, George would be hypocritical for condemning her for that. Sometimes the novel makes it seem like he genuinely loves her, but then it describes how he finds her ugly in her old age. As I said before, I only made it 100 pages and George's only redeeming quality seems to be that he tries to bring justice to Talbot's attackers, and in the first 100 pages this was the only thing pertaining to the issues of Colonialism the book claimed to tackle. I don't mean to be solely critical of George, Sabine was often annoying, but it seemed she was more straightforward with how she perceived George than he was of her. "

" A must for anyone who has lived in Trinidad "

" The most miserable book I have ever read "

" This is a great story where the setting plays a major role. The characters are both captivated and imprisoned by Trinidad. The book is a suspenseful story full of politics, love, personal growth, friendships and family. "

" Currently on page 130 - desperately trying to finish it in time for reading group - am loving it but can't find enough hours in the day to get it finished! "

" Trinidad "

" A brilliant written depiction of life in Trinidad (if you have lived there it will strike a lot of chords). However, for me the actually story was too thin and I didn't care for the strange intermingling of real life characters in the plot. "

" Ryan bought this for me for Christmas, just after I had bought my own green Schwinn Varsity :) "

" I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It's engrossing... the historical aspect of it kept me reading, but the characters made me want to scream. I couldn't make sense of why anyone acted the way they did, and that made me not like them. "

" imperfect but interesting take on Trinidadian politics. "

" This book was a recommendation to me and I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it and "could feel the pain" of the main character, Sabine. The author really grasped writing "down to earth" characters. "

" Fascinating look at a place and moment in time I knew nothing of. "

" The turmoil of politics in post-colonial Trinidad as seen through the eyes of a reluctant resident, a woman living there because of her husband's career. It's the making and the breaking of their family, over 40 years. "

" It is amazing what we do not know about our world. I did not want to like this book but ended up absorbing every word of it. Such a good writer. "

" Didn't like this one at first, but after a few chapters I really warmed to Roffey's writing. She's very fluid and descriptive and does an amazing and intriguing job of making Trinidad an actual character. The same goes with the blimp in the first section of the book. "

" Amazing backward narrative of a white family in Trinidad. Descriptions are vivid and sensual, making you feel like you are on the Island. "

" An enjoyable read, telling a story of life in Trinidad. The characters could've had a bit more to them, and maybe developed a bit more in the book, but all in all it was an enjoyable book that I found hard to put down. "

" Trinidad through the eyes of a British expat couple from 1956 through 2006. Follows Independence, riots, corruption, and violence. Written in an unusual style, starting in 2006, so the ending is known and the previous years are revealed later. "

" Intriguing. Good characters. "

" Vanessa sent me this book, and I was excited to read it since I'd heard about it before I left the states. Good story, easy read. "

" A sad tale of a reluctant ex-pat in Trinidad. A heady mix of politics, obsession and helplessness. "

" Wonderfully descriptive, this is a book that you lose yourself in! Read in in two sittings and wanted more! (Read Kindle version) "

" I enjoyed this book. There was some excellent historical and cultural information about Trinidad. Very interesting. "

" Currently on page 130 - desperately trying to finish it in time for reading group - am loving it but can't find enough hours in the day to get it finished! "

" A brilliant written depiction of life in Trinidad (if you have lived there it will strike a lot of chords). However, for me the actually story was too thin and I didn't care for the strange intermingling of real life characters in the plot. "

" I loved this book. It was so easy to like these vulnerable and difficult characters. I loved the setting and the way it jumped backwards and forwards in time. Delightful "