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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I’ve been reading this book far longer than the 5 years listed. The world building was intense, the lingo difficult, but I think I appreciate where the trilogy is going. Will I continue? TBD.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
E' un libro imponente, di quelli che inizialmente ti spiazzano, ma pian piano ti avvincono tanto da farti sentire parte della storia.
Nell' India coloniale le vite dei personaggi più disparati si intrecciano e convergono sulla Ibis, una nave adibita al trasporto dei lavoratori migranti (i famigerati coolie) che sarà il cuore e l'anima della vicenda. La trama non è particolarmente intricata o dinamica: di cose ne succedono ma è un romanzo lento, che si prende i suoi tempi in modo da costruire un mondo vivido che prenda forma davanti ai nostri occhi. I protagonisti poi sono tratteggiati con una cura quasi maniacale, di ognuno impariamo a conoscere non solo i pensieri più intimi ma anche il percorso di vita che li ha portati ad essere quello che sono. Non manca infine l'approfondimento storico e sociale, viene alla luce tutta la tracotanza e l'ipocrisia dell'epoca coloniale: i personaggi non sono che pedine sulla schacchiera del capitalismo, sacrificati in nome del profitto (insieme a milioni di altri indigeni senza nome) dai cosiddetti "civilizzatori".
Insomma è un libro complesso, che non sceglie mai la strada più facile e quindi non gioca sui colpi di scena e non diventa retorico o sentimentale, nemmeno quando gli eventi prendono una piega drammatica. Stilisticamente poi non viene mai incontro al lettore, sin dalla prima pagina siamo bersagliati da un lessico particolarissimo, un miscuglio di gergo marinaresco, inglese maccheronico e dialetti indiani. Il disorientamento iniziale però viene ripagato andando avanti nella lettura, perchè questo "rumore di fondo", come lo definisce l'autore, diventa parte integrante della narrazione e contribuisce in maniera notevole all'immersività.
Non avendo mai sentito parlare né dello scrittore né dell'opera (mea culpa) non avevo aspettative di sorta, temevo solo che fosse un po' troppo "esotico" per i miei gusti; invece mi sono trovata davanti ad un'opera monumentale, che con le sue atmosfere suggestive mi ha coinvolto molto più di quanto credessi possibile. Peccato per una prima parte eccessivamente statica, ma una volta entrati nel vivo ho letteralmente divorato le pagine e ora fremo per leggere il secondo volume.
Nell' India coloniale le vite dei personaggi più disparati si intrecciano e convergono sulla Ibis, una nave adibita al trasporto dei lavoratori migranti (i famigerati coolie) che sarà il cuore e l'anima della vicenda. La trama non è particolarmente intricata o dinamica: di cose ne succedono ma è un romanzo lento, che si prende i suoi tempi in modo da costruire un mondo vivido che prenda forma davanti ai nostri occhi. I protagonisti poi sono tratteggiati con una cura quasi maniacale, di ognuno impariamo a conoscere non solo i pensieri più intimi ma anche il percorso di vita che li ha portati ad essere quello che sono. Non manca infine l'approfondimento storico e sociale, viene alla luce tutta la tracotanza e l'ipocrisia dell'epoca coloniale: i personaggi non sono che pedine sulla schacchiera del capitalismo, sacrificati in nome del profitto (insieme a milioni di altri indigeni senza nome) dai cosiddetti "civilizzatori".
Insomma è un libro complesso, che non sceglie mai la strada più facile e quindi non gioca sui colpi di scena e non diventa retorico o sentimentale, nemmeno quando gli eventi prendono una piega drammatica. Stilisticamente poi non viene mai incontro al lettore, sin dalla prima pagina siamo bersagliati da un lessico particolarissimo, un miscuglio di gergo marinaresco, inglese maccheronico e dialetti indiani. Il disorientamento iniziale però viene ripagato andando avanti nella lettura, perchè questo "rumore di fondo", come lo definisce l'autore, diventa parte integrante della narrazione e contribuisce in maniera notevole all'immersività.
Non avendo mai sentito parlare né dello scrittore né dell'opera (mea culpa) non avevo aspettative di sorta, temevo solo che fosse un po' troppo "esotico" per i miei gusti; invece mi sono trovata davanti ad un'opera monumentale, che con le sue atmosfere suggestive mi ha coinvolto molto più di quanto credessi possibile. Peccato per una prima parte eccessivamente statica, ma una volta entrati nel vivo ho letteralmente divorato le pagine e ora fremo per leggere il secondo volume.
Loved this first instalment of the Ibis trilogy. It is probably a 4.5 star book but hey, I am just feeling so reckless today! I am going to read part two again, which I read last year, not knowing it was in a series and am now intrigued to go back to it now I know the background to the story and characters. I really look forward to reading part three, Flood of Fire. There is a lesson here - just do a quick bit of research on any new book you know nothing about! Anyway in this book there are lots of brilliant characters including many hateful Brits who practise a level of hypocrisy that will make your blood boil with anger and rage. It's great!
"No matter how hard the times at home may have been, in the ashes of every past there were a few cinders of memory that glowed with warmth."
Sea of Poppies is the first book of the Ibis Trilogy. Set just before the Opium War, the story revolves around those on-board the the ship, Ibis. That includes a French girl impersonating a native, a woman who ran away from her sati pyre with a man of a lower caste, a zeminder who lost his estate to a British official and is now a prisoner, a Chinese convict, and many more such interesting characters.
Amitav Ghosh has a way of writing which makes you empathize with the character. I could feel immense anguish and grief as I read along. Sea of Poppies isn't one of those fast paced books. The chapters don't end with cliffhangers and it's not a page turner. Rather it is like one of those classics, which are tedious to read. The bare truth is presented in front of us which also makes it difficult to digest. It brings afloat all those feelings which we keep bottled up and dance merrily through life.
But just like the quote I started the post with, inspite of all its atrocities, history has its own warmth. Love, longing and passion, Sea of Poppies bares all of it for us to feel.
Sea of Poppies is the first book of the Ibis Trilogy. Set just before the Opium War, the story revolves around those on-board the the ship, Ibis. That includes a French girl impersonating a native, a woman who ran away from her sati pyre with a man of a lower caste, a zeminder who lost his estate to a British official and is now a prisoner, a Chinese convict, and many more such interesting characters.
Amitav Ghosh has a way of writing which makes you empathize with the character. I could feel immense anguish and grief as I read along. Sea of Poppies isn't one of those fast paced books. The chapters don't end with cliffhangers and it's not a page turner. Rather it is like one of those classics, which are tedious to read. The bare truth is presented in front of us which also makes it difficult to digest. It brings afloat all those feelings which we keep bottled up and dance merrily through life.
But just like the quote I started the post with, inspite of all its atrocities, history has its own warmth. Love, longing and passion, Sea of Poppies bares all of it for us to feel.
Slow paced start to the series. But very well researched on the subject and was a good read.
such a drag at the beginning--ghosh is too eager to demonstrate his research--but became super compelling by the end.
Read this book for a Neo-Victorian/Victorian class and Amitav Ghosh actually came and spoke to us about his trilogy! At first reading this I thought it was alright, but after speaking to Mr. Ghosh I was thoroughly impressed. He has such a wide breadth of knowledge about the period her wrote about and did an extreme amount of research to accurately depict the violence, exploitation, and events depicted of the Opium Wars & its causes and effects on the people of India. He told our class things none of us had ever really known or thought about before. Apparently, many of the large social and industrial institutions and companies we know of were founded from the opium trade. FDR’s family got their money initially from opium trade, as did the HSBC bank. Especially given the opium crisis in America, it’s so interesting to finally understand just how deep rooted America’s opium-influence is! Ghosh has definitely changed my perspective and taught me new things, and I’m excited to read the other two books in his trilogy!
Review-2020 (reread) - 5 stars
I wanted to read the second and third parts of this series and thought I would refresh my memories of this book first. I enjoyed the characters way more this time around. In my first encounter, the tragic parts of this story really overwhelmed me and I missed out on appreciating the humor. But this time around Babu Nobkissin Pander tickled all my funny bones. I highly recommend this series to anyone out there regardless of generic preferences.
Review- 2016 - 4 stars
Read it as part of my literature of contact, comparative lit course. It is remarkable in its lucidity and attention to detail. I can not even imagine the amount of research that goes into writing a book like this. Character developments could definitely have been better but I love Ghosh's rendition of the landscape and his experimentation with the language. The book ended very abruptly, so might as well get a hold of the entire trilogy before you begin this journey.
I wanted to read the second and third parts of this series and thought I would refresh my memories of this book first. I enjoyed the characters way more this time around. In my first encounter, the tragic parts of this story really overwhelmed me and I missed out on appreciating the humor. But this time around Babu Nobkissin Pander tickled all my funny bones. I highly recommend this series to anyone out there regardless of generic preferences.
Review- 2016 - 4 stars
Read it as part of my literature of contact, comparative lit course. It is remarkable in its lucidity and attention to detail. I can not even imagine the amount of research that goes into writing a book like this. Character developments could definitely have been better but I love Ghosh's rendition of the landscape and his experimentation with the language. The book ended very abruptly, so might as well get a hold of the entire trilogy before you begin this journey.
Had a hard time getting past the first few chapters. Didn't finish.