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A review by iina
The Lamplighter by Jackie Kay
4.0
I don't usually like reading plays, but I knew Jackie Kay wouldn't let me down.
Thank you to Book Break and Picador for sending me a copy of this book. All opinions my own.
While The Lamplighter is intended to be performed, it was a powerful experience on page, too. What on stage would be a group of women speaking became a chorus of voices on page, echoing around each other and telling their stories in poetic form. Brief at just 87 pages, this was a far more touching reading experience than some much longer books I've read.
Kay's preface to this new edition is also insightful, reflecting on the role of the UK and Scotland especially in slave trade (it was a key slave trading location, and much of the wealth in the country now can be traced back to this time).
Thank you to Book Break and Picador for sending me a copy of this book. All opinions my own.
While The Lamplighter is intended to be performed, it was a powerful experience on page, too. What on stage would be a group of women speaking became a chorus of voices on page, echoing around each other and telling their stories in poetic form. Brief at just 87 pages, this was a far more touching reading experience than some much longer books I've read.
Kay's preface to this new edition is also insightful, reflecting on the role of the UK and Scotland especially in slave trade (it was a key slave trading location, and much of the wealth in the country now can be traced back to this time).