Reviews

The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

katebrouns's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

catcrowcandle's review against another edition

I just couldn't get into this! 

theythemsam's review against another edition

4.5

Yes, this is a long ass book but it was so worth it.

This book is very explicit in telling the ways slaves were tortured and treated in back during slave times and at times I literally wanted to cover my ears and eyes to the horrors being spoken aloud, but I respect this retelling of what our ancestors went through. I loved Homer and Lilith’s character and loved the depth of both their characters, especially Homer. Isabel was somewhat annoying but somehow I started feeling for her the way Palace and Lilith felt for her and I feel like I would be like Lilith in a way. The fact that this book didn’t end in a victory for the slave rebellion upset me but made sense and I liked how they brought up Haiti being the first successful Black slave rebellion.

zorawitchin's review against another edition

5.0

Every once in a while I start to think I give out 5-stars like candy, but there’s no other way to describe this book. For a while I’ve been thinking that Marlon James isn’t quite for me because his taste in formatting isn’t the same as mine, but this book is incredible. It was tough and I almost dnf-ed about three times just because it was brutal. 

didiwi's review against another edition

This was an extremely difficult read for me. On a superficial level, the dialect made this book a true challenge. But far worse was the story: this is a very cruel story and nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is left to the imagination. The words that are being used to describe all the abuse, the rape, and every horrible detail are just too much for me.
I had to dnf this book.

jammyreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

4.0

sawcat's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

 Do not give up on this book until you reach Homer and give a portion with Homer a try. And if you are struggling with print, try the audio, Robin Miles is a gem of a narrator. This book is so well written and so loaded that I am still fully processing it after finishing it on the weekend. It is truly complex, and hardly any characters fit a neat category of truly good and truly bad. The novel focuses on the women of this community that is usually lead by men. 

shhchar's review

5.0

Everyone should read this.

katherinechase's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

Extremely difficult read, but absolutely needed. The trauma of generations takes form in this book. This is a real story of slavery, of the demonic evils perpetrated and perpetuated by slave owners. But it is also about the women who, fuelled by their trauma and knowledge that they aren’t what the slave owners say they are, stand up to the violence of whites. 

duygusu's review against another edition

4.0

While we have read about or know about slavery, we can never ever understand the grotesque depravity that whites had against blacks. I felt shame, I felt my heart torn, I felt the light and strength of their soul shining through.. so disturbing yet so eloquent and beautifully written.