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hattietr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
4.0
rosielazar1's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
achingallover's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was something I really wanted to love, and the research into it and the time period and people it portrayed was something I've not read a fiction book about before and I think it's really important. Unfortunately the pacing was a bit all over the place, some parts were a bit confusing as to where they fit into the narrative, and the characters didn't feel fully developed. Given the length of the book it might have been better to stick with one POV?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
amyjo25's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Sexual violence
joanna_mward's review against another edition
4.0
very enjoyable and a fascinating insight into a period of / perspective on history that I was totally unaware of !
dynamo170's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
An unusual read and a subject I previously knew nothing about.
awellreadlady's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookofcinz's review against another edition
3.0
In Bernardine Evaristo’s introduction to Incomparable World she said, “To my knowledge, Incomparable World, remains the only novel about this specific aspect of Black British History. Indeed, so few novels have been written about the Black presence in these shores before the twentieth century that the field is almost completely wide open for writers to colour in the empty space
Incomparable World was the second book I read in the series that Bernardine Evaristo curated for Black Britain: Writing Back I decided to go with this because of the premise. We meet three former enslaved persons, Buckram, Georgie and William who fought in the Revolutionary War against America. They were promised rewards once they returned to London but that did not happen. These three men returned to London in the 1780s with nothing and must now beg and scrape to make a living.
We are thrust into London life in the 1780s, it is chaotic, ugly, smelly, hard and constantly changing. As a Black Man starting from scratch, life is hard. Buckram is back from spending time in jail, he meets up with his ex-soldiers who seem to be making an ok life for themselves. Buckram struggles to get back on his feet. When William hatches a plan that will take them out of their misery, they all fall for it… will this plan work? How will it change their lives?
This is a tiny novel that packs in A LOT. It also references a place I cannot remember reading, especially from a Black perspective. I also cannot remember reading the experiences, albeit fiction, of Black man that fought in the war for Britain and what their lives turned out to be. I enjoyed getting the heads of the character and historical look at Britain at that time.
I do believe the book could have benefitted from a stronger edit, somethings were a bit over the place and at times I couldn’t place exactly where we were. I also think the plot was fast and then slow in some areas and then wrapped so quickly. I wanted a lot more from the character perspective, each seem to be so unique and I felt we didn’t dive into William’s character enough.
Overall, it is a solid read, just a few missing things which would have made it amazing.
Incomparable World was the second book I read in the series that Bernardine Evaristo curated for Black Britain: Writing Back I decided to go with this because of the premise. We meet three former enslaved persons, Buckram, Georgie and William who fought in the Revolutionary War against America. They were promised rewards once they returned to London but that did not happen. These three men returned to London in the 1780s with nothing and must now beg and scrape to make a living.
We are thrust into London life in the 1780s, it is chaotic, ugly, smelly, hard and constantly changing. As a Black Man starting from scratch, life is hard. Buckram is back from spending time in jail, he meets up with his ex-soldiers who seem to be making an ok life for themselves. Buckram struggles to get back on his feet. When William hatches a plan that will take them out of their misery, they all fall for it… will this plan work? How will it change their lives?
This is a tiny novel that packs in A LOT. It also references a place I cannot remember reading, especially from a Black perspective. I also cannot remember reading the experiences, albeit fiction, of Black man that fought in the war for Britain and what their lives turned out to be. I enjoyed getting the heads of the character and historical look at Britain at that time.
I do believe the book could have benefitted from a stronger edit, somethings were a bit over the place and at times I couldn’t place exactly where we were. I also think the plot was fast and then slow in some areas and then wrapped so quickly. I wanted a lot more from the character perspective, each seem to be so unique and I felt we didn’t dive into William’s character enough.
Overall, it is a solid read, just a few missing things which would have made it amazing.
absolutive's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
This is the only novel I know about former slaves in America who fought with the British in the American Revolution and as a reward were given their freedom in England. What an incomparable world this must have been for these people--men in this book--newly arrived in London. However, this book could have been better. The main characters did not have many redeeming qualities, which is only slightly offset by how their new London treated them and forced them to fight for every scrap of food and tile of roof. There was too much "male gaze" in the novel, as well, and it wasn't really tied up either. I feel that two of the three main characters' stories were just left hanging. But there are many interesting and important moments in the book, from some passages about a Black female school teacher, appearances of real figures such as Olaudah Equaino and Ottobah Cugoano, and the fledgling Black African-American-British community in London.
herewereadforfun's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0