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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
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:
Complicated
I read this book prior to going to see the play next month. I thought I'd read it before but actually I hadn't although I've read about it. I really enjoyed it. It's immediately engaging and has great characters, and tells an important story about the experience of the Windrush generation of West Indian immigrants to Britain during and immediately after World War ll that wasn't widely known at the time of it's publication in 2004. It's still (depressingly) very topical and helps to give a better understanding of the racism and hostility that the first wave of West Indian immigrants faced on their arrival in Britain, providing historical background to the current debates about colonialism and its after effects.
Dynamic characters with excellent development help Andrea Levy to question the readers thoughts about race and prejudice. It’s astonishing how Levy can discuss such a topic while still having many hilarious moments and truly entertaining the reader. I can’t recommend this book enough!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I really liked this book. I was a bit unsure at first but slowly it got a grasp on me that was getting tighter by the page and towards the end I read it with one breath, I didn't want it to finish.
I liked the characters, they could all be my next door neighbours, people I meet everyday at my kids school. They were very well developed, with good and bad moments, with flaws and virtues. They could be real humans. And that, in combination with a good story, is what makes a great book.
The story itself is quite interesting, the pre and post WWII English society, with the not so subtle racism towards the citizens of their colonies, who were obviously good enough to exploit and use and have them fight in the war but not good enough to walk in the pavements of "the mother country", work and live and prosper.
It does show the ugly face of England, that mentality and argument used by the brexit supporters against immigrants. And that ugly face is portrayed brilliantly.
A great book, a worthy winner of the awards that it received.
I liked the characters, they could all be my next door neighbours, people I meet everyday at my kids school. They were very well developed, with good and bad moments, with flaws and virtues. They could be real humans. And that, in combination with a good story, is what makes a great book.
The story itself is quite interesting, the pre and post WWII English society, with the not so subtle racism towards the citizens of their colonies, who were obviously good enough to exploit and use and have them fight in the war but not good enough to walk in the pavements of "the mother country", work and live and prosper.
It does show the ugly face of England, that mentality and argument used by the brexit supporters against immigrants. And that ugly face is portrayed brilliantly.
A great book, a worthy winner of the awards that it received.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, War
I liked this more than Levy's "The Long Song," and its characters felt more fully developed, but not enough to make me feel truly invested in the story. Have been meaning to read this one forever, so now I know.
After persevering through the first part which focused on Hortense, not my favourite character, the narrative greatly improved as we read of Gilbert and Queenie, and the story took some fascinating twists and turns so I couldn't put it down after about page 200 and read right through to the climactic finish. Thoroughly recommend this book!