The Counting House

Interestng but not an easy read

Wonderful present for my daughter, great condition of the book, thank you!

A really great (short) read about "Coolie" culture and how the integration between Indian and Black culture formed the foundation of shaping today's Guyana. Indentured servitute- good or bad is a slight step up from slavery, however the conditions were not much better-instead of the physical whip, mainly a mental whip was used in order to entice and then subdue the two main characters into believing that life in Guyana with the promises of gold and lots of money would make life easier. Set in the early 19th century depicts life and culture in India, then in Demerara as the indentured servant in a mixed community (plantation)with Africans, and how the cultures made the most of their plight. Racial differences still divided the two communities but in close and poor quarters, it is easy to see how the two cultures assimilated and have more in common than they do not.An easy and insightful read. For me, a continued exploration into early Caribbean(South american)life, American and Colonial influences on shaping the landscape of today's Guyana and expansion of other cultures affected by slavery and forced servitute- that makes Guyana an interesting mix of beauty, foods, untapped resources, racial tension and confusion that it is today.A recommended read.

Having read and loved David Dabydeen's Coolie Odyssey, I decided to give this novel a try. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed! The Counting House is a poignant tale based on two main characters, Vidia and Rohini, who make their way from India to British Guyana in the 19th Century, seduced by stories of immense riches. The story is based on love, betrayal, race, slavery (both physical and mental) and, ultimately, about freedom. I recommend it highly.