A review of the book Roatan Remembered
“When 15-year-old Romeo was headed to Europe to commence his education, he told his future mother-in-law, Miss Ruth, that he planned to someday marry her five-year-old daughter, Connie.”
An excerpt about a commitment that came true, from one of the many stories in the book Roatan Remembered by Edwina Doyle Willis.
Edwina Doyle Willis first came to Roatán in 1989 and has visited and lived there frequently since then. She is from Kentucky, USA, but has lived in North Carolina for the past six years.
She takes the reader on a journey through time by allowing people to recount stories of the “before times” (before modernization) and to trace how things are now. Over 451 pages, the book offers a unique insight into the history and culture of Roatán, narrated through the voices of those who have lived there for a significant time, from various walks of life. Edwina Willis brings these stories to light with great respect for the contributors. Her language is lively, and the compelling narrative keeps readers engaged. Through her selection of contributors, she has created a rich, multifaceted literary journey that encourages readers to view Roatán in, for some, different and better ways.
Roatan has a diverse culture, with people originating from Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and the author reflects this with great precision. She is showcasing the rapid development from the “before times,” when most places were accessible only by boat, to the era of muddy roads, to the era of paved roads, and how society transforms over time. She also highlights many of the island’s attractions, including some hidden gems. And the bonus is the dictionary of words used in the “Island talk” jargon.
Roatan Remembered is undoubtedly a book about ordinary people living extraordinary lives on the largest island in the Bay Islands archipelago. A work Edwina Willis did to celebrate the lives of the elder natives and to share their enchanting, intriguing, and sometimes surprising stories. It preserves the cultural foundation upon which society is built. Her impressive knowledge of Roatán and its people and places, supported by several locals’ knowledge, is reflected on every page of her book. A must-read!
Roatan Remembered
By Edwina Doyle Willis
Print length: 451 pages
Language: English
Publisher: Bookbaby
Publication date: October 7, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8-3178-1-045-0
You can order and buy this book here:
For media inquiries or additional information, contact the author: edwina.willis1@gmail.com
Additional books by Edwina Doyle Willis:
Midlife Monkeylala: Escape to and from a Tropical Paradise
Real Roatan: A Honduran Orphan’s Hunger for Food, Futbol and Faith
The Wow of His Word: God’s Amazing Handbook for Happiness
Rainbows to Remind Us: Great Character-building Quotations and World Proverbs
The Bless Mark (Young Adult Novel)
From the Fort to the Future: Educating the Children of Kentucky
To Touch the Future: The Educator’s Book of Quotations