THE FIRST REVIEW!

                       

 After much hesitation, I published "Looking Back......the struggle to preserve our freedoms" in November 2015.

This was a Semi-autobiography which was dominated by my activities between 1970 and 1980, first as a PNP activist, then as a JLP activist.

This was the period when my little island was on the verge of a civil war.

The publication got great reviews, but none better than in a humorous 45 minute interview with Cliff Hughes on Nationwide Radio.

Listen to it at;  https://youtu.be/Bye6K9uwmzo.

After that, all copies on the island sold out instantly. However, paperback and kindle versions were still available on Amazon.com at; Amazon.com : looking back by Joan Williams.

When I migrated to the USA, I relaunched it at Pembroke Pines Library in Broward County, Florida, in 2017 (Joan, my views: Florida launch of "Looking back...." (joan-myviews.blogspot.com).

The reviews from the Jamaica Observer, Caribbean Today and Caribbean National Weekly were so good that the book has continued to do very well, especially with Jamaicans living abroad.       

To tell you the truth though, I have not been paying much attention to it, except to glance at the monthly sales logs which Amazon sends me.

Then out of the clear blue sky, about two weeks ago, I got an email from Amazon advising me that the book had been selected to become an audiobook. 

The voice would be done by AI,(Artificial Intelligence) they said. 

To tell the truth, I never visited the link they sent me until I got a follow-up email from them asking me how I felt about the project?

That’s when I finally listened to it on Audible at; LOOKING BACK......... by Joan Williams - Audiobook - Audible.com,  and I could not believe how good it sounded!

I immediately shared the link widely on my blog and was pleasantly surprised that by the following day, a 5-star review was posted on the page.

I have reproduced it below.   

                                     THE REVIEW

“Title: "Looking Back: A Riveting Account of Jamaica's Turbulent Political Years (1970-1994)" by Joan Williams

 

Rating: 5/5

 Joan Williams's "Looking Back" offers a compelling narrative of Jamaica's political upheavals during the crucial years between 1970 and 1994. For readers like yourself, who may have left Jamaica during this period, this book serves as an invaluable window into the tumultuous events that unfolded under the leadership of Michael Manley and Edward Seaga.

 Williams provides a ringside view of Jamaica's political landscape, delving deep into the ideological clashes, social unrest, and economic challenges that gripped the nation. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, she paints a vivid picture of the power struggles between the People's National Party (PNP) under Manley and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) led by Seaga.

 What sets "Looking Back" apart is its ability to offer nuanced insights into the complexities of Jamaican politics. Williams doesn't shy away from addressing the controversies, violence, and human toll that marked this period. Yet, amidst the chaos, she also highlights moments of resilience, community spirit, and the enduring quest for social justice.

 One of the book's strengths lies in its balanced portrayal of key political figures. Rather than resorting to simplistic caricatures, Williams presents Manley and Seaga as multifaceted individuals with distinct visions for Jamaica's future. By exploring their policies, personalities, and legacies, she enables readers to grasp the motivations driving these leaders and the impact of their decisions on the country's trajectory.

 Moreover, "Looking Back" offers valuable lessons for understanding contemporary Jamaican society and politics. Williams skillfully connects past events to present-day realities, illuminating the roots of ongoing social issues and the enduring legacy of this pivotal era.

 In conclusion, "Looking Back" is a must-read for anyone interested in Jamaican history, politics, or society. Joan Williams's engaging prose, thorough research, and insightful analysis make this book a captivating journey through Jamaica's turbulent past. Whether you're a newcomer to Jamaican history or a seasoned observer, "Looking Back" offers fresh perspectives and profound revelations that will leave a lasting impression.

 Everett Smith, Esq.

Law Offices of Everett Algernon Smith, P.A.

POB 8487.

Coral Springs, FL 33075.”

 I am extremely grateful to Amazon for having selected this publication, for such prestigious treatment, for as we are often reminded - “Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.”

 If I can play even a small role in ensuring that Jamaica never again treads that path, it will be well worth it.

 Your feedback is invited; gratestj@gmail.com

 

Thanks Amazon.

It was such a a pleasant surprise when I got an email from my publisher Amazon, saying my autobiography "Looking Back....." had been selected to be converted into an audiobook!

This is link:  https://www.audible.com/pd/LOOKING-BACK-Audiobook/B0CY2MZL4H. 

I listened to it and it sure has been well done using AI. 

This autobiography was written in 2015 but the Florida launch was  in October  2017. (Joan, my views: Florida launch of "Looking back...." (joan-myviews.blogspot.com).

 It has been doing quite well on Amazon as a paperback for years.

 I guess that's why they selected it for the upgrade to an audiobook. 

Thanks Amazon. It's a great listen😊.

Other Links; Joan, my views: Joan Williams, former local host, looks back to go forward (joan-myviews.blogspot.com)

Joan, my views: An excellent book review (joan-myviews.blogspot.com)

Youtube; Joan Williams - YouTube

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=LOOKING+BACK.........%3A+The+Struggle+To+Preserve+Our+Freedoms

It reads like a spy thriller but events written about in this intriguing book really happened in little Jamaica in the 70's where the author, now an outspoken talk show host, was forced to join other courageous, freedom loving activists in the struggle to preserve their freedoms. This was during the era when the cold war raged and Jamaica was caught up in the deadly struggle between the USSR and USA for world domination. During that period Jamaicans actually fought an "undeclared civil war" as political deception/intrigue, the massacre of innocents and even downright treason by a government minister became dangers that had to be overcome as the dominant international spy agencies, the Russian KGB, the Cuban DGI and the American Central American Agency (CIA) assisted their local surrogates to try to dominate Jamaica, then eventually the entire English Speaking Caribbean.

In looking back now, Joan boldly declares that she feels nothing but gratitude to the CIA for their surreptitious assistance to those who were not prepared to capitulate and lose their freedoms to the power hungry Michael Manley regime . She writes “In light of the fact that those who tried to sell out our country to the eastern bloc were armed and financed by the Russian KGB and the Cuban DGI, I reiterate even now, that had the CIA or whichever other US agency not assisted the JLP in the undeclared civil war that raged between 1978 and 1980, the freedoms we accept as normal today would not have been preserved." Her determination to remain a free citizen however, even meant her having to make the ultimate sacrifice of having to send her children away, but this lady reluctantly made the painful decision for she wanted them to enjoy the freedoms she had been accustomed to.

However, as she reviews the terrible economic conditions in Jamaica today compounded by the fact that the country is one of the top 5 "Murder Capitals of the World," Williams wonders out loud if it was all worth the effort? However, since she discovered close relatives in Cuba, she visited that country recently and concluded, “I have visited Cuba four times, including once in 2014 to get acquainted with and spend a few days with some cousins who were born there. Although the natural beauty of that country cannot be totally destroyed, life there is simply intolerable for the residents. And I am not talking about only the lack of freedoms but also how the system makes it impossible for people to advance economically no matter how hard they work. So poverty is pervasive while corruption and prostitution are rampant as people turn to any means necessary to survive. So if it’s the CIA that assisted us to win the battle that saved us from becoming a deprived, browbeaten and hopeless people like the Cubans, I feel nothing but gratitude towards them."

In Looking Back, Williams does not only reminisce about the past however, but more importantly, wonders about the future under what she describes as the “Bastardisation of the Westminster System"  as practiced in Jamaica today. For while Jamaica is theoretically a “democratic” nation,  she reveals how some 25% of their electoral constituencies are tightly controlled by gunmen aligned to senior politicians in the dominant parties, the JLP and PNP. This is what she sadly insists accounts for the fact that Jamaica’s murder rate remains frighteningly high while the young people lose hope.

This is a timely, thought provoking and insightful book which is a “must read” for persons interested in democracy, politics and international affairs.

In Part 2 of this mini- autobiography, Williams shares the torment she went through when her only son was murdered and the surprise possibility she is forced to face since 2014, that he was actually murdered by someone in the Police Force, which is paid by taxpayers to "serve and protect." She also shares some quite hilarious views on family, religion, marijuana and other matters, ensuring that readers are never bored.

https://youtu.be/LvUJXyiJKKM