Bob Marley, My Son

Cedella Malcom Marley Booker tells a very animated story of her life and upbringing in St. Ann, Jamaica and her triumphs and struggles raising Nesta Robert Marley. She dispels the myth of her relationship with Nesta's father, Noval as wife and husband, especially after Nesta birth. The book carries the reader into a journey and sees Nesta Robert Marley as a young boy growing up in Nine Miles, St. Ann to a young man known to the world as Robert Nesta Marley in Trench Town, Kingston, Jamaica. Only a mother could narrate the humble beginnings to meteoric fame and painful death in May 1981 of her first-born son with such candor.

I read this book in ONE DAY! It is an incredible book! You get such an understanding of Bob Marley (born: Nesta Robert Marley) that you are enveloped into the life of this musical legend! Once you read this book, you know exactly where Bob Marley got his character and his strength--from his mother. Her account of how she watched her son die from cancer is tearjerking and for me was personal, as I saw my mother waste away from cancer. It is truly the greatest and best account of the life of Bob Marley ever written and die-hard Marley fans should own this book at all cost! This literally is as close to Bob Marley anyone will ever get to understanding the man behind the music.

I really enjoyed this book from a perspective of a mother, supporter and oracle sharing her experience, her truths and beliefs with insertions of Jamaican patois about her life and Bob's life. Cedella describes the unique relationship between she and "Captain", a common tale of race, power, and lust in colonial Caribbean. She discusses the trials and tribulations that helped her rear Bob and how her perserverance helped Bob discover his own voice. Cedella was a powerful, vocal and honest woman whose observations of Bob's life gives a compelling spin on how women raise men in the Caribbean and how her technqiues are typical of Displaced African women throughout the globe. For the true Bob Marley spiritual connection, I think this book is vital. Very rarely do we read the perspective of the family especially for Black heroes. All too often peripheral, white, powerful authors are given access to publish print and make money off of our spiritual prophets and artists. I fully support more books like this that tell the tale of Black women, men and children via our experiences, using our language and depicting vivid imagery that can transplant us to their space and time.

This is a compelling book. I agree with the reviewer who said that at the beginning of the book there was more about Cedella and her background than about Bob Marley, but the end justified the means. You get to know and understand Cedella Marley as her son takes her through her journey. Her description of "Nesta's" last months are heart wrenching. Her voice as a mother comes through - I was sobbing at the end. But she added credit where credit is due namely to Chris Blackwell, when all of Marley's "entourage" left after his death, Blackwell remained to ask what was needed and to make sure Cedella would be taken care of for the rest of her life. Not many people are aware of Blackwell's genuine care and concern. As I kept reading throughout the book, I was becoming more aware of how beautifully written her words are and how strong her love is for "Nesta" and all of her family. This is, indeed, a beautiful book and one that belongs in everyone's collection of all that is written about Nesta Robert Marley. Sue Few

if anyone could fully speak on Bob Marley than it's only fitting it's His Mother & this Book gives an interesting take on the Career & Life of Bob Marley from His Mother.very much to the point.

This is a great alternate look into the life of Bob that has never been told in any other book on BOB. BOB had a very special relationship with his mother that lasted his entire life. Mother B lets us into their relationship. A fantastic book that can be read in a day.