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A review by hectaizani
The Book of Night Women by Marlon James
5.0
Marlon James dumped me off on an 18th-century sugar plantation and immersed me in Lilith's story. Lilith was born into slavery, to a teenaged mother raped by a white overseer, and the mother died giving birth. Lilith's story is difficult to assimilate, even though fictional, it is probably depicts actual conditions on a slave plantation. Slaves weren't people, merely possessions, or objects, to be used and abused at a whim. The descriptions were shocking and disgusting and violent and should be required reading instead of the white-washed versions that we receive in American history classes. James also made mention of the white caste system in which certain nationalities (in this case Irish) were considered barely human and little better than blacks and other people of color, another tidbit of history that doesn't get taught.
Among all the violence and degradation we also get a brilliantly told story of Lilith's coming of age as she grows from a teenager into a woman. James' characterizations were absolutely incredible with each character fully formed and relatable. That's not to say that they were likable because many (most) of them weren't but one could easily understand the motivations behind their actions even when those actions were reprehensible or disquieting.
The story is told completely in Jamaican patois which in the audio version is a completely immersive experience. The author doesn't shy away from language and the book is peppered with liberal use of the n-word, and constant references to pussy, cocky, and fucking.
This may be the best if not the most disturbing book that I've read all year. I know it will stay with me for a long time which is the highest praise I can give to an author. I will be adding other works by Marlon James to my TBR list.
Among all the violence and degradation we also get a brilliantly told story of Lilith's coming of age as she grows from a teenager into a woman. James' characterizations were absolutely incredible with each character fully formed and relatable. That's not to say that they were likable because many (most) of them weren't but one could easily understand the motivations behind their actions even when those actions were reprehensible or disquieting.
The story is told completely in Jamaican patois which in the audio version is a completely immersive experience. The author doesn't shy away from language and the book is peppered with liberal use of the n-word, and constant references to pussy, cocky, and fucking.
This may be the best if not the most disturbing book that I've read all year. I know it will stay with me for a long time which is the highest praise I can give to an author. I will be adding other works by Marlon James to my TBR list.