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rlaurene's review against another edition
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?
bethdevlin9's review against another edition
4.75
To be read again, the first time I've felt like that for a very long time
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.
mansikwatra's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 out of 5
Marlon James deserves all the accolades he received for writing 'A Brief History of Seven Killings'. There's crime dramas and then there is 'A Brief History of Seven Killings'. This 688 page book keeps a reader wanting till the end, not because of the plot but for the way it has been written. The story in its gist is a 'gang wars turning political to tear a country and lives apart' plotline but it's the writing and the voices of the characters that steal the show.
.
The books introduces the reader to multiple characters belonging to two Jamaican gangs, pitted against each other to bring their respective affiliated party into power in the upcoming elections. In the middle of all this is the Singer, Bob Marley, who gets entangled in Jamaican politics. Before his famous Smile Jamaica concert in December 1976, some men attempt to kill him and he survives and the repercussions of his survival change the face of Jamaican gangs over the years. Some men fall, some rise and some flee to be free of the dangerous siren that is Jamaica. A Brief History of Killing sets up a political crime play field, which extends to drug trafficking in the US in the 80s and 90s.
.
Written primarily in Jamaican English dialect, this book is not your every day read but all of its 688 pages are worth your time. I had this book sitting on my shelf neglected due to its size and genre but thanks to the availability of its audiobook on my library's app, I dared to pick it up. The audiobook, narrated by multiple narrators in Jamaican English dialect was an immersive experience as I read and listened to this story simultaneously.
.
Marlon James has achieved something phenomenal with this book. The narrative just flows without following a sentence structure, reading like a transcript of someone's deepest thoughts, some simple and some incoherent but carrying weight nonetheless.
There's a paragraph written from the perspective of a man being buried alive and it's the best form of descriptive writing. This novel is a beautiful bouquet of multiple soliloquies
Marlon James deserves all the accolades he received for writing 'A Brief History of Seven Killings'. There's crime dramas and then there is 'A Brief History of Seven Killings'. This 688 page book keeps a reader wanting till the end, not because of the plot but for the way it has been written. The story in its gist is a 'gang wars turning political to tear a country and lives apart' plotline but it's the writing and the voices of the characters that steal the show.
.
The books introduces the reader to multiple characters belonging to two Jamaican gangs, pitted against each other to bring their respective affiliated party into power in the upcoming elections. In the middle of all this is the Singer, Bob Marley, who gets entangled in Jamaican politics. Before his famous Smile Jamaica concert in December 1976, some men attempt to kill him and he survives and the repercussions of his survival change the face of Jamaican gangs over the years. Some men fall, some rise and some flee to be free of the dangerous siren that is Jamaica. A Brief History of Killing sets up a political crime play field, which extends to drug trafficking in the US in the 80s and 90s.
.
Written primarily in Jamaican English dialect, this book is not your every day read but all of its 688 pages are worth your time. I had this book sitting on my shelf neglected due to its size and genre but thanks to the availability of its audiobook on my library's app, I dared to pick it up. The audiobook, narrated by multiple narrators in Jamaican English dialect was an immersive experience as I read and listened to this story simultaneously.
.
Marlon James has achieved something phenomenal with this book. The narrative just flows without following a sentence structure, reading like a transcript of someone's deepest thoughts, some simple and some incoherent but carrying weight nonetheless.
There's a paragraph written from the perspective of a man being buried alive and it's the best form of descriptive writing. This novel is a beautiful bouquet of multiple soliloquies
emily_mad's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0