For over a decade, Trinidadian Ryan Bachoo carried a story that refused to be silenced —a tale born out of his love for West Indian literature and shaped by his experiences as a journalist. Now, his debut novel, An Unending Search, has finally emerged—a poignant tale that captures the struggles, dreams, and resilience of life in 1970s Trinidad, marking the arrival of a new voice in Caribbean literature.
Bachoo, a communications professional and journalist from Princes Town in south-central Trinidad, was steeped in storytelling from a young age. His parents encouraged him to read West Indian literature, and he found inspiration in the works of George Lamming, VS Naipaul, Derek Walcott, and Michael Anthony. It was within their narratives that he saw the reflection of his own community.
“As a young boy growing up in south Trinidad, I saw parallels in my own village, my own town, and my own country,” Bachoo said. “I felt my community had a great amount of content to put into a West Indian novel.”
It was this belief that led him to start writing An Unending Search in 2009, even before his foray into journalism. However, completing the novel would prove to be a marathon rather than a sprint.
The first draft was completed in 2014, but financial constraints and self-doubt led Bachoo to shelve the manuscript.
“I didn’t have the money for a copy editor, and I wasn’t sure if the story was good enough to publish,” he admits.
For nearly a decade, the novel remained untouched. Then, in December 2023, he picked it up again. Encouraged by a fresh perspective, he handed it to an editor, only to receive daunting feedback. The book was too long and required significant restructuring. Major parts needed reengineering. For Bachoo, it was like writing an entirely new novel.
“I felt like I had wasted five years writing the first draft,” he confessed. “But I stuck by it.”
Between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., after long hours in the newsroom, he worked tirelessly on the second draft. It was the hardest thing he had ever done, he told Barbados TODAY. But on April 1, 2024, he completed it. Nine months later, An Unending Search was launched on January 18.
An Unending Search follows the journey of Tar, a teenager working in the canefields of South Trinidad. Under the guidance of mentor Uncle Sundar and with the Barbados TODAYopening his mind to global events, Tar aspires to escape poverty and systemic racism. His dreams take him towards New York or London, but his journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation.
Through Tar’s eyes, Bachoo paints a vivid picture of life in late 1970s Trinidad, confronting themes of racism, classism, and social divides. More than just a historical reflection, the novel speaks to a universal human desire—growth, ambition, and the search for something more.
“Ideally, I would like this novel to reinvigorate interest in West Indian literature,” Bachoo said. “Our region may not be a big market like the United States or Europe, but our stories are important, and we cannot wait on anyone else to tell them.”
With the success of An Unending Search, readers have inevitably asked about a sequel or a second novel. But Bachoo remains guarded about his literary future.
“There will be no sequel and as for a second novel—writing is a very private journey. I don’t think any writer needs the distraction of people asking how far along they are.”
For now, his focus is on spreading An Unending Search across the Caribbean—ensuring that the story resonates with those who, like him, have grown up in rural communities with dreams larger than their surroundings.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadosstoday.bb
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