Writer revives book on pieces of Jamaica's past

Generally, authors host solo readings when they are promoting a new book or in new territory with an older publication.

Neither was the case two Saturdays ago when Dr Rebecca Tortello read from her book Pieces of the Past: A Stroll Down Jamaica's Memory Lane at Bookland, New Kingston, in a fresh push for a book that was published in late 2006. The Ian Randle publication is a compilation of articles Tortello did for The Gleaner earlier in the decade, starting in 2001.

However, with the boom in social-media use since then, and Jamaica celebrating 50 years of Independence in 2012, coupled with a fresh print run, there are hopes for a new lease on life for Pieces of the Past.

"It had been out of print for some time. It just came back a few months ago," Tortello told The Sunday Gleaner after the reading. She said Ian Randle Publishers has also launched a Facebook page, what with the skyrocketing use of social media. "I think people are more aware of it. We did not get to take advantage of it," Tortello said. She said that there are a lot of readers abroad, as there is email and postal feedback from "all over the world".

Hoping for more readings

In addition to the Bookland reading, Tortello said she hopes to do "more readings and, hopefully, publishing events for Jamaica 50". She pointed out, "I did not do a lot of readings when it came out."

The first article, written as part of the series for The Gleaner, was on Port Royal, Tortello saying, "It started in June and that (the Port Royal of 1692) was a major historical event. This was in keeping with the original concept, that the articles would appear in the same month that the event occurred. Among the more popular pieces are those on the Great Exhibition of 1891 and the Kendal Train Crash in 1957.

Plus, Tortello said, "People like to hear about the people who came. I write about Martin Luther King Jr, Haile Selassie's visit, Ian Fleming, Noel Coward, Errol Flynn ... .

"I think that Jamaica has such a rich history, and I think all of us can benefit from hearing about things and people that impacted who we are today," Tortello said. "And having a grasp of history, you can think holistically about the present."

In addition, it is not a matter of simply someone reading a book like Pieces of the Past without there being some personal analysis. "What you read in a book are facts, but also interpretation of the facts. That is how you get personal meaning from history," Tortello said.