Cherie Jones’s cleverly crafted allegory “How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House” recounts the trauma that is all too typical in the lives of Caribbean women and examines the effects of thinking you know better than the woman who created you. The setting of this striking and unvarnished debut book is Baxter Beach, Barbados, where the dual nature of the stunning tropical country is on full display.
The narrative explores misogynistic and abusive generational cycles as well as the hardships faced by oppressed women. Characters endure unspeakable tragedies, such as heartbreaking events, vicious beatings, and incest. The book embraces gloom, highlighting how unforgiving the obstacles its protagonists must overcome are.