Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In Rivers and Forests, Wayne Westphal Barrow’s anthology of original essays leans into Caribbean life. Barrow's memories become a way for him to show wider social attitudes through familiar situations. Getting Older and the Benefits of Gardening follows a retired Barbadian man who slowly withdraws from crowded public spaces after feeling increasingly invisible with age. Caring for his garden teaches him that usefulness still exists through steady attention toward the living things surrounding his home. Coming to Guyana follows a Barbadian immigrant adjusting to Georgetown during the 1990s while political instability reshapes ordinary life. Years spent adapting to shortages gradually replace his outsider assumptions with admiration for Guyanese endurance under uncertain conditions. Christmas: The Mass Without the Christ examines how modern Christmas celebrations have moved away from religious observance toward commercial spectacle. Barrow contrasts his family’s scripture-centered traditions against public celebrations increasingly shaped by consumer culture.

I really love Wayne Westphal Barrow’s Rivers and Forests because Barrow has the wisdom of somebody who has spent years paying close attention, and the calm confidence of a man who understands that everyday habits can say plenty about a community’s history and identity. The essays are written in a simple conversational style, with loads of substantive ideas to think about. This applies whether he is talking about family genealogy or Caribbean television culture. It is nearly impossible to choose a favorite, but as a cricket fan, I have to single out Calypso Cricket: The West Indies and the Global Game. The author deftly connects this sporting tradition with migration and cultural pride, and he does this in a way that is deeply personal and lived. We are right there among the sound of calypso music moving through packed stadiums, and it is inseparable from the dreams of Caribbean families across generations. Readers interested in Caribbean non-fiction, cultural essays, memoir-style writing, or authors like James Baldwin and V. S. Naipaul will absolutely adore this collection. Very highly recommended.