Jamaica Kincaid

March 10, 2009

Dear Ms. Kincaid,

I recently had the pleasure of attending your speech “Coming of Age in a Small Place” at Claremont McKenna College’s Athenaeum on March 4.  First, I would like to thank you for taking the time to come and speak at the Claremont Colleges.  I’ve been a fan of your work ever since I read Annie John as a freshman in high school.  It truly was an honor to hear you read passages of your writing, and discuss some of your experiences as a fresh writer at The New Yorker.  Your words captivated me, and I enjoyed your presentation very much. 

I have been struck by your style of writing.  You are engaging, clear, and wonderfully insightful.  Further, hearing your words read aloud gave them a different feel; the tone suddenly became more intimate, and psychologically or emotionally clued in.  Your words not only provided a written connection into your thoughts but a verbal one as well; your memories came to life as you read.  I found myself being carried away and entering your world.  Your words transported me from Claremont, California to Antigua, Manhattan, a train, or wherever you happened to be in your tale.  The description of your father, for example, was so meticulous, detail oriented, and well done I feel as if I know him.  The specific details you incorporated in your descriptions, such as your father’s stained fingers from smoking, painted him as a tangible person not some fictional character.  These clear and meticulous details I found make your style of writing incredibly empathetic and relatable.  Further, your ability to express common everyday happenings allows the reader to identify with your writing; yet these occurrences are expressed in a new eloquent fashion.

Instead of feeling intrusive with the insight gained from your writings, I felt connected.  The depiction of your experience of losing your brother was emotionally so painful, and yet captured so eloquently.  I remember you saying, “for it is the end, yet so many things linger” I was particular struck by this.  The language is simple and clear, and yet conveys much.  You allowed the world to experience and feel something truly devastating through your writing, and I think that is quite an accomplishment.  I felt a strong sense of connection in your discussion of death, and your state of pain; a connection that I was able to feel because of the style of your expression.  Your writing connects cross-culturally.  I thought your piece on your brother’s sickness and death was deeply moving and beautiful.

I was particularly fond of your comparisons and cataloging of life in Antigua compared to life in America, such as the detailed description of “early” mornings in Antigua, versus “early” mornings in Manhattan.  The juxtaposition between life on these two islands was pronounced by providing the same form, allowing their differences to shine through; your writing separated the experiences as different in substance, yet united in form.  The “Expense Account” piece was a prime example of the cataloging form being creative, funny and effective.

Additionally, I loved your anecdotes on Wordsworth and Milton.  Likewise, I recently read Paradise Lost and was utterly captivated by Lucifer.  I agree, he’s definitely the most interesting and engaging character.  Your memory of having to write out all of Paradise Lost and memorize Wordsworth poetry then compared to your experiences as a writer of your own words in Manhattan illustrate your growth and strength.  I was thoroughly impressed by all of your experiences, and the means in which you expressed them. 

Thank you so much for coming to speak at the Athenaeum.  I’m truly thankful I had the opportunity to hear you speak, and I look forward to reading more of your work.

Sincerely,

Emma Lord

Scripps College Class of 2010

to	jkincaid@fas.harvard.edu
cc	ssuh@scrippscollege.edu, elord@scrippscollege.edu
date	Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 10:34 PM