Limbo

"In Limbo, Esther Figueroa deftly navigates between steamy romance, backdoor deals and dangerous plunges into the inferno of Jamaica’s environmental disasters. But the novel’s other side is its tender and evocative celebration of love, friendship, place and belonging.The author (like her heroine) emerges triumphant at the end of this breathtaking limbo dance. Despite its darker themes, the overriding humour and irreverence make for an enjoyable read. Limbo is a page-turner that will make you want to start all over again when you come to the end. In Esther Figueroa’s skilful hands, the tropical paradise is in Limbo but not yet lost. It should evoke in every reader a passionate desire to redeem what is left clinging to the exposed roots."
—Olive Senior, author of Dancing Lessons

"More than a novel or rather what a ‘novel’ cd or shd be – an xQuisitely serious nativist imaginary – composed in ‘standard’ narrative & Jamaica speak & angst & hope & vision, wit and an urgent sense of justice … breathing-till-it-burns – but cool knowledge of her crisis country and its people. Limbo is not just word-saying but a world-saving allegiance to what some people call The Green. Her description of the source of the Martha Brae (witch & river), is one of the most lyric & healing moments in Caribbean literature."
—Kamau Brathwaite, Poet, Professor Emeritus Caribbean Lit/Culture, New York University

"In this brave and witty new novel, Esther Figueroa takes us into the dark side of tourism's uncontrolled development. The work is intelligent, clear-eyed and unforgiving; Figueroa does not avert her gaze - the devastation of land and wildlife is harrowing. Esther's passionate concern for the future of Jamaica and the Caribbean, and ultimately for the future of our planet makes Limbo a landmark work of extraordinary importance."
—Patricia Powell, author of The Pagoda and The Fullness of Everything

"In Limbo, Esther Figueroa deftly navigates between steamy romance, backdoor deals and dangerous plunges into the inferno of Jamaica’s environmental disasters. But the novel’s other side is its tender and evocative celebration of love, friendship, place and belonging.The author (like her heroine) emerges triumphant at the end of this breathtaking limbo dance. Despite its darker themes, the overriding humour and irreverence make for an enjoyable read. Limbo is a page-turner that will make you want to start all over again when you come to the end. In Esther Figueroa’s skilful hands, the tropical paradise is in Limbo but not yet lost. It should evoke in every reader a passionate desire to redeem what is left clinging to the exposed roots."
—Olive Senior, author of Dancing Lessons

"More than a novel or rather what a ‘novel’ cd or shd be – an xQuisitely serious nativist imaginary – composed in ‘standard’ narrative & Jamaica speak & angst & hope & vision, wit and an urgent sense of justice … breathing-till-it-burns – but cool knowledge of her crisis country and its people. Limbo is not just word-saying but a world-saving allegiance to what some people call The Green. Her description of the source of the Martha Brae (witch & river), is one of the most lyric & healing moments in Caribbean literature."
—Kamau Brathwaite, Poet, Professor Emeritus Caribbean Lit/Culture, New York University

"In this brave and witty new novel, Esther Figueroa takes us into the dark side of tourism's uncontrolled development. The work is intelligent, clear-eyed and unforgiving; Figueroa does not avert her gaze - the devastation of land and wildlife is harrowing. Esther's passionate concern for the future of Jamaica and the Caribbean, and ultimately for the future of our planet makes Limbo a landmark work of extraordinary importance."
—Patricia Powell, author of The Pagoda and The Fullness of Everything