Reviews

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

testaroscia's review against another edition

5.0

Back and fourth between 5 and 4 stars. I am pretty sure that book two follows a different path but i did love the characters enough to want to know how the story continues. If you like rich historical novels this is deeply satisfactory

kathydavie's review against another edition

1.0

Damned irritating book. Difficult to get started with (& read, due to the pidgin Indian slang terms). Fascinating in the middle. Leaves you hanging at the end.

savaging's review against another edition

5.0

This is the first book of a trilogy about the Opium Wars. That's when China attempted to end opium imports and Britain (guided by big corporations) straight-up went to war with them to violently force opium onto their people. Britain called it a war for 'free trade.'

It's a story about all the bad bedfellows: corporations, empire, white supremacy, slavery, free trade, addiction, and war. And all of that could feel very preachy and masculine in someone else's hands. But Ghosh tells a rollicking, swashbuckling, playful and heartfelt story -- that also passes the Bechdel test right away.

I love this kind of novel, where you get to nestle in with a huge cast of characters living through wild, meticulously-researched historical events which are also deeply relevant to today's problems. I'm excited to read the rest of the trilogy.

p.s. Imperialists are Skeksis.

amymco2's review against another edition

adventurous slow-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? No

3.5

utahmomreads's review

5.0

Sea of Poppies is historical fiction that is fresh, unique and absolutely fascinating. Set in India during the opium trade of the nineteenth century, Ghosh breathes each of the many characters that play in this epic--from the inexperienced, American sailor to the runaway Indian widow--to life. The characters' stories are expertly interwoven to culminate in a fantastic, heart-pounding, cliff-ending climax. I'll buy and read the next volume in the trilogy as soon as it is published.

sjhaug's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

rigzin22's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense 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? Yes

4.5

hundredrab's review against another edition

5.0

Based on the fact that this is not the line of cool I usually read, I can't justify any rating I give it. But I liked this book. Not much. But then, I don't like this kind of books much. So I'll just make everyone happy and rate it a four. The sequel is, anyways, now in my to-read list.

bjoern's review against another edition

Too long and beginning was so slow that it took most of my motivation; Might pick it up again in the future

blob99's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

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

1.5