Guyanese Online

Book Review… Boogie Days by Albert Cumberbatch

Guyanese dance through time hits mark

April 7, 2013 | By KNews |  By Dr. Glenville Ashby

Guyanese native, Albert Cumberbatch, hoists readers on his literary wagon, traversing time in this nostalgic novel. The road is a not always smooth, but through the prism of Rudy, a twelve-year-old, trials never seem adversely impactful. Rudy is a typical teen – adventurous, resourceful with an enviable ability to adapt. Boogie Days wastes little time in sowing Rudy’s experiences in Mackenzie, a suburban mining town in the South American country of Guyana. It is removed culturally from the capital, Georgetown, where Rudy lived with his aunt Vannie before being taking away by his mother.

Cumberbatch captures the rich passage of teenage life, baiting the imagination of readers. A sojourn in Berbice for Rudy is culturally awakening. He learns of the Queh Queh, a traditional African dance performed at weddings, and is imbued with country living – natural, unpretentious and earthy. Boogie Days is poignantly spirited, colourful and whimsical.  Continue reading →