Reviews

At the Bottom of the River by Jamaica Kincaid

mayacydney's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced

fionaelin's review

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5.0

I want to write like she writes. To be fair there were quite a lot of reppetitions but i want to write like she does.

hannahchase's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.5

kathrynamonett's review against another edition

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3.0

Sort of an impressionist painting of a novel.

There are feels, obvious images, but in a way distorted, or sloppy, unclear.

Lots of lovely poetics, but I've read other novels that work this way that seemed to work better, somehow.

ingeburge's review against another edition

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2.0

c'est un récit très personnel de son enfance à antigua que jamaica kincaid nous délivre ici, qui a enrichit mes (très pauvres) connaissances sur l'histoire de cette petite île.

bookswithca's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

kissingtinyflowers's review against another edition

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4.0

Definitely gonna reread this soon because I think it's a good basis for a term paper but I haven't had a clear thought yet

2nd read: Forming clearer thoughts

3rd read: I think i'm gonna stop noting down every reread because i might have to do one or two more because the term paper is coming to me like chewed gum. Good stories but not having the best time with them rn 

serialreader's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

larsinio's review against another edition

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3.0

A dense series of stream of consciousness vignettes. The style is entrancing at times and can give a visceral feel to her island environment. It could have been more accessible if the text were broken up more - the majority of the text is one huge paragraph block.

I enjoyed the ones that were punctuated with elements with humor a bit more - but i confess this isnt my particular cup of joe.

laneamagya's review against another edition

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5.0

This is an exquisite little book of short stories, most of which revolve around mother-daughter relationships. Many in the collection were originally published in the New Yorker, and many are reportedly auto-biographical. Most importantly, the stories dance along the line between prose and poetry from the first page, and Kincaid's language is gorgeous and evocative and powerful. I don't think one reading suffices, at least not for me.