A review by seph268
The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This was an exceptionally hard read; the story is gruesome and left me feeling angry, and a lot of grief. It follows a legendary Jamaican slave revolt, and sheds a light on the true nature of slavery in the West Indies. Marlon James tells a story of the struggle for liberation as a Jamaican man himself, using the native language and incorporating geographical and cultural references. 
This is a book that should be read if one is looking into West Indian history, as it references other revolts in other slave holding island colonies. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Body horror, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Genocide, Pregnancy, Death, Misogyny, Gore, Excrement, Classism, Violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Blood, and Racial slurs