Trinidadian journalist Ryan Bachoo aspires to inspire young authors to create more West Indian literature with his new book titled “An Unending Search”.
Set in the 1970s Trinidad during a period of intense political unrest, this fictional novel follows a young boy named Tar on his journey to improve his living conditions. Bachoo addresses significant societal issues such as racism, classism, and poverty in the Twin Island Republic.
“Tar embodies traits of resilience and transformation. He is constantly searching for something, although he isn’t quite sure what that is. My goal was to create a character who faced the everyday struggles of that era, including finding a job better than the cane fields, seeking stability, and searching for love. Much like those who came after the Windrush generation, he looks beyond the Caribbean to the promised lands of New York and London, where a ‘better life’ awaits. While Tar is not based on any particular person, he is certainly inspired by the experiences of individuals from that time.”
Speaking about his inspiration for writing his first novel, Bachoo emphasized his love for Caribbean literature from a young age.
“As a child, my parents encouraged my siblings and me to read a lot of West Indian literature,” Ryan explained. “From an early age, I was reading the works of authors like Naipaul, Walcott, Lamming, and Selvon, who told stories about our Caribbean villages. An Unending Search” was undoubtedly inspired by Naipaul’s “Miguel Street”, as I found similar characters and stories within my own village, town, and country.”
Ryan believes his novel reflects the experiences of Caribbean youth during a simpler time.
“The aim of the novel is to take the reader, especially those from the Caribbean, back to a time when life was much simpler, and technology was not the dominant force it is today. So far, the feedback from readers has been nostalgic, which I think indicates some success in that regard,” he said.
Despite initially being skeptical about sharing his work, Ryan felt compelled to write.
“I believe this sentiment is common across many villages in the Caribbean. I decided to try my hand at writing my own novel in 2009, not thinking it would ever be good enough to publish. I wrote purely out of passion, not with the intention of seeking publication,” he explained.
Ryan noted that his background in journalism has shaped his exploration of the societal themes presented in the book.
“While some may believe that writing a fictional novel and practicing journalism contradict each other, I found them to be complementary,” he said. “Journalism allowed me to travel to various villages and towns across my country and throughout the Caribbean. As a result, I was able to draw inspiration from the experiences of rural communities in the region. Telling the stories of real people confronting many of the themes you mentioned has greatly influenced my imagination while writing this book.”
When asked how “An Unending Search” contributes to contemporary West Indian literature, Ryan responded, “Many of the world’s literary giants have emerged from this region and have won Nobel Prizes for telling our stories. My aim with this novel is to rekindle interest in Caribbean literature while also inspiring Caribbean writers to share our own narratives. We shouldn’t rely on outsiders to visit our communities and tell our stories. Instead, we need to recognize our small, vibrant towns and villages as rich sources of Caribbean content. These are the same places that writers like Naipaul and Walcott highlighted in their award-winning works. Ultimately, I hope this book changes our perspective on how we view the region.”
The author hopes that readers, particularly those in the Caribbean, can reflect on a nostalgic period in the country’s history through his novel. “For the older generation, I hope this book takes them back to a time of nostalgia—a time now forgotten. I hope it brings back memories. For the younger generation, I hope this book sparks their imagination about a time when the technology they enjoy today didn’t exist and shows them how life was,” he said.
When asked for advice for aspiring Caribbean writers who want to tell their own stories, he responded, “Writing is a very personal journey. Just as you take the protagonist in your story on a personal journey, writing a book should also be a private experience. You don’t need the distractions of people asking for updates or wanting to know what the story is about. When the time is right, the public will know. Until then, keep typing away at your keyboard.”
