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valeriebrett's review
I can’t rate this book because so much of it I didn’t understand; for instance, I can’t tell if the book is racist, or self-aware and describing realistically what characters would be like (ie racist) in that time & place. There were aspects that were interesting, such as the adventures and the touching friendship between the Tibetan lama and Kim, but a lot of it I wasn’t exactly sure what was happening. I also don’t understand the time he spent with... Englishmen? I’m not sure? UK people? But he was Irish? I need someone to explain this to me. Also women were spoken of by the characters as a total nuisance but it seemed like maybe Kipling wanted to show that they were actually helpful, but again, not sure. Basically, if this was written contemporarily I’d know what was up, but this book is really old. It uses “thou”!!!
wyvernfriend's review
4.0
This is a book I read many years ago and enjoyed, and I think being a teenager helped my enjoyment. Re-reading as an adult, and with more knowledge of the world changes my view a bit, though a lot of the issues I had were more to do with the era of the book rather than the actual story itself.
Yes there are very few female characters of note. Yes it's a time when the British Raj were in charge in India and one of their major issues was the possible incursion of Russia or France (or Russia and France) from Afghanistan. But still this story of an Irish orphan being trained to do work for the powers that be as part of the Great Game played by people in order to manage the country. His ability to be different people helps the situation immensely.
I must say that as a kid I enjoyed the adventure but now I enjoyed the details and having just read the Skull Mantra the difference in acceptance of Tibetan monks and the casual way in which the imperial system is accepted as being for the "betterment" of the "natives" is an interesting look into the past.
Yes there are very few female characters of note. Yes it's a time when the British Raj were in charge in India and one of their major issues was the possible incursion of Russia or France (or Russia and France) from Afghanistan. But still this story of an Irish orphan being trained to do work for the powers that be as part of the Great Game played by people in order to manage the country. His ability to be different people helps the situation immensely.
I must say that as a kid I enjoyed the adventure but now I enjoyed the details and having just read the Skull Mantra the difference in acceptance of Tibetan monks and the casual way in which the imperial system is accepted as being for the "betterment" of the "natives" is an interesting look into the past.
robindawes's review
5.0
Read it 45 years ago, and just re-read it now ... enjoyed it immensely both times, but for different reasons!
loppear's review
3.0
Good criticism of kings and needless war and hoarding of wealth while many starve and suffer, but the Utopians are all in on just war and debt imperialism, and patriarchal democratic hierarchy and slaves for the unpleasant work (but just criminals and poor immigrants) and to top off the comparison to today, their toilets are made of gold!
e_z's review
4.0
I did not expect this book to be so readable, relevant, or communist. More proposes solving crime by eliminating poverty, expelling individuals who don't support a freedom of religion, and preventing politicians from immediately debating an issue so they defend a well considered position instead of whatever first pops into their head. The introduction undermined how literally we should take his suggestions, so I'm interested to see what my book club will think of his ideas on war and marriage.
kaysal's review
3.0
a very exciting read, but the racism/colonialism puts a damper on my enthusiasm for this book
geertje's review
2.0
An English boy who grew up in India and is called Kim goes on an adventure whilst accompanying a priest who is trying to find a magical river.
MEH. This book really didn’t do much for me. I found it difficult to understand at times. I’m not sure whether it was because of the unfamiliar setting, or whether your average Brit just knows a lot more about India than I do, or whether Kipling just didn’t write this book in an easy to understand way, but either way, I just didn’t feel engrossed. I also feel that for a spy-novel the plot meandered too much. Maybe I’m missing something very important here, but I ultimately found this novel quite forgettable. I only persisted in reading because it is part of the ‘Matilda reading challenge’.
MEH. This book really didn’t do much for me. I found it difficult to understand at times. I’m not sure whether it was because of the unfamiliar setting, or whether your average Brit just knows a lot more about India than I do, or whether Kipling just didn’t write this book in an easy to understand way, but either way, I just didn’t feel engrossed. I also feel that for a spy-novel the plot meandered too much. Maybe I’m missing something very important here, but I ultimately found this novel quite forgettable. I only persisted in reading because it is part of the ‘Matilda reading challenge’.
amino's review
3.0
It wasn't exactly a page turner but it was logical and seemed like something that a lot of thought was put into, which made it all the more interesting. It seems like the kind of book that took decades to put together, starting from the tiniest idea until it finally became a manuscript.
bzedan's review
4.0
I missed Kim when I was reading Kipling as a kid. I really like this, part spy and adventure story, part spiritual quest. There is something soothing about how Kipling writes, and he writes such great and real characters, full of flaws and charm.
thebookishbabbler's review
3.0
Trigger warning - racial slurs
I wasn't sure what to expect going into Kim but I did enjoy what I got. This is a great story about a boy coming into his own. It is steeped in religion with the tiniest hint of politics. As always I loved Rudyard Kipling's flowing narrative but this story didn't stick quite as well as his other books. I sill really enjoyed this book though.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into Kim but I did enjoy what I got. This is a great story about a boy coming into his own. It is steeped in religion with the tiniest hint of politics. As always I loved Rudyard Kipling's flowing narrative but this story didn't stick quite as well as his other books. I sill really enjoyed this book though.