If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery

” It begins with what are you? hollered from the perimeter of your front yard when you’re nine, -younger, probably. You’ll be asked again throughout junior high and high school, then out in the world in strip clubs, in food courts, over the phone, and at various menial jobs. The askers are expectant.  They demand immediate gratification. Their question lifts you slightly off your preadolescent toes, tilting you, not just because you don’t understand it,  but because even if you did understand this question, you wouldn’t yet have an answer.”

So begins In Flux, the first story in If I Survive You, Jonathan Escoffery’s collection of eight interrelated short stories set in Miami and Jamaica.  The stories are centered around Trelawyn, a second generation migrant and his Jamaican family who have migrated to Miami to escape the violence in Jamaica. Except their new adopted country is not very welcoming. 

In the collection, Escoffery masterfully explores various subjects including identity and belonging, race, the migrant experience, rivalry between brothers, and the relationship between fathers and their sons. However, the running theme throughout is identity and belonging whether in the place, family, or communities in which the characters find themselves. 

Although born in America and proud of being American, In Flux, the first story Trelawyn is forced to address the dilemma faced by many second generation migrants who are often rejected by their adopted countries.  He is not quite sure how to deal with the “where are you from question” and is baffled and confused by it because he does not consider himself anything other than American. The story exposes the fallacy of characterising people by race and the colour of their skin. 

Odd Jobs, Independent Living and If I Survive You highlight the plight of migrants, their struggle to survive in unfamiliar and sometimes hostile environments they find themselves in, and the hopelessness of their existence.  In Under the Ackee Tree and Splashdown we meet two sons who are aching to win their fathers’ love but with tragic and disastrous consequences.

I was hooked from the very beginning and did not want to put the book down until I’d finished.  Although the stories grapple with quite difficult and sometimes depressing issues, they are written with such wit and humour, I struggled to put the book down.   I found myself laughing out loud when reading Odd Jobs which opens with:

“The exotic-animals dealer made me kneel on a Caiman’s tail. The reggaeton video producer paid in medianoches. The caterer forced me to serve poolside in glitter and a Speedo. But the gig that saved me after my father kicked me out was Chastity’s. Her Craigslist ad read:

I’ve never had a black eye ……..

…..and I want one. I need bruises for free to project but I

also want to see what it feels like. I don’t need any roiders

here, or knockout just a solid sock in the face. Thanks……..”

The stories zigzag between Jamaica, Miami and the Midwest of America and back and forth in time.  The characters, although not particularly likable, are very well developed. The stories are quite varied. You never know what is coming next, but you are expectant because of Escoffery’s artistic skill of weaving the stories together, and engaging writing style. I particularly enjoyed the variety in narrative voice, with the stories being written in first, second, and third person narrative.

My top three stories were In Flux, Odd Jobs and Independent Living.  I thoroughly enjoyed the collection and would recommend it to both lovers of short stories and novels as it can be read as either.

If you love feel-good books, this is not one for you. If on the other hand, you would  like something a little different, something challenging with a touch of humour, then definitely pick up If I Survive You. 

You can buy If I Survive you from Bookshop.org or Amazon.