Rainbow Milk (edició 2020)

The first section in the book in Jamaican vernacular can take a bit of figuring out, but I enjoyed this novel that deals with immigrants/expats torn between trying to fit in and trying to survive in a sometimes hostile country (UK). Because of the emotion and the intensity of the writing, I would surmise that this is an autobiographical fiction. It struck me as something of a mix of Brian Washington's _LOT_ and Garth Greenwell's _What Belongs To You_ - but by all means its own book; unique, provoking. Some might be put off by unrestrained descriptions of sexual encounters, but these definitely add verisimilitude and add to the impact. At times Mendez's writing borders on the overly didactic, but ultimately the diatribes ring true and inform us. This book has brought up a lot for me in terms of people I have known over the years - so very moving overall. ( )

Thematically, an important and interesting look at a young gay black man's experiences in modern Britain. I just couldn't connect with the characters for some reason, and it all left me a little cold. Nonetheless, a bold new voice in fiction. ( )