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lauraborkpower's review against another edition
4.0
What James has done with this book -- using first person accounts of multiple characters (alive and dead) to tell a story spanning multiple countries, decades, and plots -- is remarkable. The voices are distinct, though I'm happy I listened to the audiobook for the benefit of listening to different narrators read each character's sections (and for the accents, which I wouldn't have done justice to in my head). I lost the plot a bit when the story moved from Jamaica to New York, but that also may be because I'd taken about a week's break to catch up on some podcasts. It took me a few days to get my momentum back, but once I did it was like I'd never put it down.
The narrators, seven in all, did good work, although I didn't like John John's "Chicago" accent (he was trying too hard) and it was awkward when a reader switched from his/her Jamaican accent to an American one. But the benefit alone of listening to the narrators read the Jamaican curses is worth it. Plus, this audiobook clocks in at twenty-six hours, which means that the physical book is about seven hundred pages. That's a brick of a book, so do yourself a favor and do your reading the weak-armed woman's way.
The narrators, seven in all, did good work, although I didn't like John John's "Chicago" accent (he was trying too hard) and it was awkward when a reader switched from his/her Jamaican accent to an American one. But the benefit alone of listening to the narrators read the Jamaican curses is worth it. Plus, this audiobook clocks in at twenty-six hours, which means that the physical book is about seven hundred pages. That's a brick of a book, so do yourself a favor and do your reading the weak-armed woman's way.
dembat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
rlaurene's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a hard, hard book to get through. In the time I read this, I also read 20 other books on the side, because I could just not focus all my attention on this one.
The thing that got to me was just how dark and bleak and violent it was. It evoked a Jamaica so entrenched in crime that basically everyone was being murdered or shot, and there was seemingly no escape. There was barely a single glimmer of hope, except perhaps in Kimmy's story.
The Jamaican patois for many of the characters didn't actually cause too much of a problem. As with many books written in various dialects, once you're in the rhythm, the language comes fairly naturally. What was difficult was just how many characters there are, with even the character list at the beginning not providing a great deal of assistance. Some character endings are left vague enough that I'm really not sure what happened. I think Nina is the first one that comes to mind here.
It's a book that seems to beg for a second read to fully understand it. But, while a recognise a very well-written and well-structured book, I don't think I'm willing to subject myself to it again.
The thing that got to me was just how dark and bleak and violent it was. It evoked a Jamaica so entrenched in crime that basically everyone was being murdered or shot, and there was seemingly no escape. There was barely a single glimmer of hope, except perhaps in Kimmy's story.
The Jamaican patois for many of the characters didn't actually cause too much of a problem. As with many books written in various dialects, once you're in the rhythm, the language comes fairly naturally. What was difficult was just how many characters there are, with even the character list at the beginning not providing a great deal of assistance. Some character endings are left vague enough that I'm really not sure what happened. I think Nina is the first one that comes to mind here.
It's a book that seems to beg for a second read to fully understand it. But, while a recognise a very well-written and well-structured book, I don't think I'm willing to subject myself to it again.
julesenglish's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
I'll start with the things I loved:
1. A historical fiction on a topic I didn't know much about (cold war politics in Jamaica, Bob Marley's assassination attempt, Gangs in Jamaica and New York in the 80's).
2. Multiple voices: Each chapter is another character's perspective
3. An intricate multi decade story
Things I could have done without:
1. Abject violence for shock: I'm thinking about Demus' murder. Not necessary - Josey's death was just as shocking but less graphic. There is just so much violence.
2. Stream of consciousness - just use normal grammar - it makes it difficult to read
3. No character development: Characters move geography, move in power, and move between the living and the dead but never develop throughout time. What is the point of going through multiple decades if everyone stays stagnate?
1. A historical fiction on a topic I didn't know much about (cold war politics in Jamaica, Bob Marley's assassination attempt, Gangs in Jamaica and New York in the 80's).
2. Multiple voices: Each chapter is another character's perspective
3. An intricate multi decade story
Things I could have done without:
1. Abject violence for shock: I'm thinking about Demus' murder. Not necessary - Josey's death was just as shocking but less graphic. There is just so much violence.
2. Stream of consciousness - just use normal grammar - it makes it difficult to read
3. No character development: Characters move geography, move in power, and move between the living and the dead but never develop throughout time. What is the point of going through multiple decades if everyone stays stagnate?
liter_ely's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
skello's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
ruthie_wk's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I honestly have no clue how people love this book. The entire America arc was unnecessary, Kimmy's POV made zero contribution to the plot (I use this loosely), and it was entirely way too long considering how pointless it all turned out.
I should have DNFd this one.
I should have DNFd this one.
testaroscia's review against another edition
5.0
I had started the paper-book version twice but never got into the rhythm. I was, however, intrigued enough to get the audible version, and then the book opened up and enveloped me completely (probably to the point that i was speaking Jamaican in my head...). The patois on paper had me rushing to find out what it meant. Hearing it, instead, did not afford you the time and thus you just understood the context, absorbed it, and continued surfing the wave of the prose. And wave it is. James' prose is wonderful, the characters are rich, the story convoluted enough to keep you on your toes but ultimately not that consequential that , if you miss a connection, it makes much of a difference to the ride itself. Definitely one of the best books i read this year.
emeraldgarnet's review against another edition
5.0
A riveting work.
Having little familiarity with spoken Jamaican English and even less familiarity with its written form, I found myself having to reread a lot of this book so that I could understand it. Nonetheless, Marlon James' novel is captivating and, at times, funny.
Having little familiarity with spoken Jamaican English and even less familiarity with its written form, I found myself having to reread a lot of this book so that I could understand it. Nonetheless, Marlon James' novel is captivating and, at times, funny.