A review by thecolourblue
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

challenging dark 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? Yes

4.5

What a magnus opus for James. This book is a decade-spanning, genre-spanning work that drew me into a world that I didn't have a huge amount of knowledge on going in. The book is a challenge to read (not because of the Jamaican patois necessarily, or even the stream-of-consciousness writing style, but because it throws you in the deep-end of an intense, violent and complicated world without waiting for you to catch your breath) but so very much worth it. Even when I thought there was no way the book could end with any sort of satisfying conclusion, James' pulled it back together, balancing every thread and character arc masterfully. The only element I felt kind of fell by the wayside and wasn't fully incorporated into the story was that of the supernatural ghosts, that just seem to exist on the periphery.
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