River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta
“Water heals, water nourishes, water has power.”
It took me ages to find time to sit down and actually finish this book, but once I did, I powered through it in 3 HOURS.
This is such a fun and engaging novel that manages to pull you in to an action packed hero’s journey while diving into Jamaican spirituality, themes of colonization, and bold (& relatable) commentary on the role of academia.
I will be sitting with some of the quotes from this novel for awhile.
Set in Toronto, Alicia is a not-so-recent graduate struggling to find her place in the world and come to terms with not being where she wants to be yet in life. When she is called by the deity River Mumma to retrieve a lost (*stolen*) item, she embarks on a quest both in present and all times past - uncovering spiritual gifts, connecting to her ancestry, and deepening friendships along the way.
It’s such a fun read that deals with some big conversations in a way that doesn’t pull you too deep out of the story. It’s also the type of novel where you want to stop and google more about things that are mentioned.
I love books that are multi-lingual as a form of linguistic activism and while it is not necessarily another language - the slang and dialects used in the novel are key to the way you read it.
Loved it. Learned from it. Will be reflecting further on it.
& last but not least, I highly recommend it! ❤️
Reading Journal Questions
How did you feel about the dialogue in the novel?
What spiritual elements in this novel surprised you?
How did the commentary on the education system & academia sit with you? Do you feel similarly or do you disagree?
Let's think about water. What movements are there in your local area that are working towards water protection?
In cultures across the world, there are significant connections between deities and natural elements. Are there any similar deities in your own culture? If not - are there any you feel interested in or connected to?
