Reviews

Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid

teekay_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

There’s a quote that says

 “Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. They are, however, allowed to change, only it must be a complete change…”

That’s my girl Annie 

ivanainthecity's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

alyssatuininga's review against another edition

emotional informative lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A beautiful coming-of-age story about a young girl growing up in Antigua, Truthfully this is a universal story that could be about just any little girl- friendships, challenges to do what is expected versus what you want to do and most importantly her relationship with her mother and how that changes over her life.  It is beautifully written with deep, well fleshe out characters. 

asacco9642's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

preciousbodle's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

3.0

faintgirl's review against another edition

3.0

I can't think of much to say about this one other than ho-hum. A girls grows up in Antigua, sometimes she likes her mum, but mostly she is desperate to get away from her. She does this by falling for a series of inappropriate friendships, which are nicely detailed in the manner of a teenage girl. But nothing about this book really grabbed me, it was all a bit of a wash.

kirsten0929's review against another edition

4.0

[1985] Notes to self… Coming of age story. Annie John is a fascinating and compelling young character, confident yet confused, difficult and rebellious yet wanting to please, bold yet insecure. I found the story did not flow smoothly, but Annie’s arc and the relationship with her mother shone through anyway. The author keeps us in Annie’s head and we understand her every move, in ways that we don’t understand her mother’s every move. Felt like I was in Antigua the whole time, through the food they ate, the clothes they wore, the way they did their hair, the sea, the weather. Very little story, and what there was didn’t flow, felt a little choppy, but that’s okay. The main character’s growth was interesting and compelling, and the writing and atmosphere kept me in it.

susiethebear's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Periaatteessa tykkäsin kirjasta, kasvutarinasta ja ristiriidoista esim äidin kanssa. Sitten pisti silmään aika suorasukainen suhtautuminen ”tyhmiin” tyttöystäviin, toisaalta ulkopuolisuus ystävien kiinnostusten kohteisiin. Sanoisin, että osittain siis aikansa tuote, -80 luvulta. 
Kirja syttyi ihan uusille leveleille Annie Johnin sairastumisen myötä. Täydellinen rytmin- ja sisällön vaihdos. 
Muutama käännöskukkanen häiritsisi lukemista, samoin kirjoitusvirheet.

mochamuseum's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

Kind of reads like a short story collection 

jotheblackbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0