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bookish_by_elle's review against another edition
5.0
The Marvellous Equations of the Dread by Marcia Douglas is a multi-dimensional story, mostly set in the island of Jamaica and written in poetic prose. This book follows the lives of several characters and their individual realizations (or revelations) of Zion.
To say that I am fascinated with the way this book is written would be an understatement. The audiobook is read by author Marcia Douglas, and she has, in my opinion, truly presented “a novel in bass riddim”. I am very happy that I first listened to the audiobook because I cannot for a second imagine bringing this book to life with my mental voice in the way that Marcia Douglas has done with this reading. That said, this book may be a tad bit difficult for people who are not familiar with Jamaican and Rastafarian dialect.
Bass riddim aside, I was genuinely interested in seeing the storyline unfold every step of the way. I love the historical context provided in this book and how well researched it is. I was captivated by the non-conforming way she presented Rastafarianism and Zion.
Overall, this book was an entire experience for me and I think it is a brilliantly written masterpiece. I am absolutely ready to pick up a hard copy and read it again!
To say that I am fascinated with the way this book is written would be an understatement. The audiobook is read by author Marcia Douglas, and she has, in my opinion, truly presented “a novel in bass riddim”. I am very happy that I first listened to the audiobook because I cannot for a second imagine bringing this book to life with my mental voice in the way that Marcia Douglas has done with this reading. That said, this book may be a tad bit difficult for people who are not familiar with Jamaican and Rastafarian dialect.
Bass riddim aside, I was genuinely interested in seeing the storyline unfold every step of the way. I love the historical context provided in this book and how well researched it is. I was captivated by the non-conforming way she presented Rastafarianism and Zion.
Overall, this book was an entire experience for me and I think it is a brilliantly written masterpiece. I am absolutely ready to pick up a hard copy and read it again!
miamon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
kaa's review against another edition
5.0
Highly, highly recommend this book, especially as an audiobook. I buy very few audiobooks, but I am glad to own this one, because I am sure that I will return to it again in the future. I don't think one listen was sufficient to understand the stories and messages that Douglas has woven together here, and I certainly want to revisit the beautiful rhythm of her prose the way she reads it out loud. I was completely enthralled by her writing, and fascinated by both the characters and the history being related. A deeply musical book, on every level.
While I loved this book, it isn't personal for me in the same way it may be for Jamaican readers, so I do want to recommend these reviews that talk a little more about why this book is special: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2698501661 and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2957438436
While I loved this book, it isn't personal for me in the same way it may be for Jamaican readers, so I do want to recommend these reviews that talk a little more about why this book is special: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2698501661 and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2957438436
jenelles's review against another edition
4.0
It was the symbolism for me, wow!
I loved the use of Half Way Tree, MUSIC, the girl reading, the numbers 7 and 12, the ring, the cotton tree, the sweeping, etc...LOVED IT.
This was a delightful read, at first I was slightly confused because I wasn’t sure where the book was headed but M.D seamlessly carried us on such a vivid journey with Bob Marley and his death and his journey to finding Zion. It was beautiful. The research done for this book was absolutely brilliant.
It’s a must re-read for me, especially with a greater respect and understanding for the history.
I loved the use of Half Way Tree, MUSIC, the girl reading, the numbers 7 and 12, the ring, the cotton tree, the sweeping, etc...LOVED IT.
This was a delightful read, at first I was slightly confused because I wasn’t sure where the book was headed but M.D seamlessly carried us on such a vivid journey with Bob Marley and his death and his journey to finding Zion. It was beautiful. The research done for this book was absolutely brilliant.
It’s a must re-read for me, especially with a greater respect and understanding for the history.
daniellekat's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
salama_assata's review against another edition
5.0
For me, reading is much more than acquiring new knowledge and stories, it is a journey to decolonizing my understanding of self and nourishing my inner child who did not know that West Indian stories existed outside of VS Naipaul and Anansi stories.
To this end, listening to Marcia Douglas take us on an audio journey in "The Marvellous Equation of the Dread" was the literary equivalent of ginger tea for the soul. Although, I do not tend to revisit books once I have arrived at their final page, from the moment I began "The Marvellous Equations of the Dread" I knew this was a novel I would return to over and over again before I was satisfied that I had received every message that Douglas had laid out.
Douglas' distinct narrative style cannot be missed. Her cadence and riddim imbue an almost spiritual quality into the story so much so that I believe that it would be fundamentally altered if the narrator of the audiobook had been different. Her intonations, her pacing, her singing give a rich quality to the work and impact the reader in such a way that I genuinely felt like I was on the dubside of the world with Bob.
I feel as though this review is incomplete without my thoughts on the plot, the characters, and the themes but what can I say besides that it was all amazing? I am so overwhelmed with love for the experience of hearing this story that I feel it would be a disservice to Douglas to detract from that to discuss story elements that I have not fully absorbed yet. I will undoubtedly be returning to "The Marvellous Equations of the Dread" in both its audio and written form to not only enjoy the experience once again but also to develop my thoughts and my appreciations for the characters, their motivations, and their journeys.
To this end, listening to Marcia Douglas take us on an audio journey in "The Marvellous Equation of the Dread" was the literary equivalent of ginger tea for the soul. Although, I do not tend to revisit books once I have arrived at their final page, from the moment I began "The Marvellous Equations of the Dread" I knew this was a novel I would return to over and over again before I was satisfied that I had received every message that Douglas had laid out.
Douglas' distinct narrative style cannot be missed. Her cadence and riddim imbue an almost spiritual quality into the story so much so that I believe that it would be fundamentally altered if the narrator of the audiobook had been different. Her intonations, her pacing, her singing give a rich quality to the work and impact the reader in such a way that I genuinely felt like I was on the dubside of the world with Bob.
I feel as though this review is incomplete without my thoughts on the plot, the characters, and the themes but what can I say besides that it was all amazing? I am so overwhelmed with love for the experience of hearing this story that I feel it would be a disservice to Douglas to detract from that to discuss story elements that I have not fully absorbed yet. I will undoubtedly be returning to "The Marvellous Equations of the Dread" in both its audio and written form to not only enjoy the experience once again but also to develop my thoughts and my appreciations for the characters, their motivations, and their journeys.
madthoreads's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
amycarrots's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, strange, challenging. I thought I'd never finish because I didn't know if I had what it takes to get through the journey. Worth the effort.
lindsayb's review against another edition
3.0
I really started strong on this. I loved the patois, the Bob Marley duppy thing, the unique formatting, and the Rasta POV often from women (something I've almost NEVER experienced). I still really like this book for that, but for some reason, I stalled about halfway through and never could renew my enthusiasm. Perhaps life has been too crazy this month. It really was charming...I feel like this is one I could return to in the future.
********
Many thanks to New Directions and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
********
Many thanks to New Directions and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
bookishcori's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
Minor: Child death and Miscarriage