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mercabx's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
5.0
"But in another city, another valley, another ghetto, another slum, another favela, another township, another intifada, another war, another birth, somebody is singing Redemption Song, as if the Singer wrote it for no other reason but for this sufferah to sing, shout, whisper, weep, bawl, and scream right here, right now."
ssunier's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
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? It's complicated
5.0
a rich and immersive story about power struggles, violence, and colonialism
shaunwaldie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
swenja's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Rape, Addiction, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Vomit
mikewardevrybdy's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t think I’ve been on an adventure quite like this ever. This book takes on so many viewpoints and builds the characters so well that you stop trying to guess where it’s gonna go and just allow the book to play out. I’ll admit the New York switch was a bit jarring at first but once it gains traction it’s amazing.
olliebee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kdawn999's review against another edition
3.0
I had been itching to read this since it was on the short list for the Man Booker. After it won and I heard a fantastic NPR interview with the author, I dropped everything to read it. What I was promised was a sweeping epic of Biblical proportions. What I've been left with is a feeling of overall indifference. Frankly, there wasn't much to this 700-page story. This is probably because there was too much to too many different stories, and the author opted for a character and voice-driven telling with little plot. I loved this style with The Poisonwood Bible, but in that the perspectives were limited and the characters revealed the angles on one family. Jame's book is much more ambitious, but sadly, the substance is thinned because of that. The best chapters of the book are those narrated by the ghost of an assassinated politician. Those chapters are mesmerizing and brilliant. I wish that idea of ghosts had been a bit more prevalent in the philosophy of this novel as a way to tie its themes together.
If you're reading for the history and Jamaican setting, you won't be disappointed. If you're reading for the craft, this might let you down.
If you're reading for the history and Jamaican setting, you won't be disappointed. If you're reading for the craft, this might let you down.
saheese's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kate_cunningham's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75