MY BROTHER

Kincaid's memoir to her brother, Devon Drew, who died of AIDS just over a year ago, extends her heartbreaking loss to listeners. She writes and reads it as a lyric poem. There is almost a refrain, repeated after mention of her mother, or her brother's father. Aspects of Devon's life, the family they shared and the sequence of his dying have an elliptical nature, recurring through the narrative. Kincaid's voice has the syncopation of the West Indies. The crisp, staccato sounds have a sharp edge that makes the words penetrate. As she draws a vivid picture of her native Antigua, emphasizing the colors and the light, the grim waste of Devon's life is infused with sadness. Projecting her mother's sinister force, Kincaid both credits and condemns her ceaseless caring for her children. This is a powerful listening experience. R.F.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB 98]