A Brief History of Seven Killings!

[HappydaysArehere]

A Brief History of Seven Killings...by Marlon James won the last Booker Prize. I always send for the final six books from the Book People. I have read four of them but this one is a challenge. Has anyone read it all the way through and is it worth the effort? He writes in the dialect of each character (and there are a lot of them) which is more demanding as well as trying to work out the political and cultural happenings. Please tell me if you have enjoyed this book and I will try to gather the strength to carry on!

[mizu]

Haven't started it yet but have a copy! Was bought it and it has been on my book pile for a while.

Would value an opinion too.

[Fatfreefaff]

I bought it recently for Audible. Does it much more justice. Jamaican dialect sounds better spoken.

[LauraVonSlim]

The first third was challenging, but I found quite engrossing. Middle third- more challenging than engrossing. Last third - I missed two stops on the the train this morning!

[HappydaysArehere]

Right Laura, it sounds as if I should struggle on but just make sure I don't read the last part on a train! Fatfeefaff, I can imagine it is better on audio.
Thanks for replying....got to get on as I have a long road ahead!

[everydayinMK]

I started this because I love my fiction 'real' and particularly stuff based on a true story. However, because the number of characters just kept increasing and increasing (I think there are more than 75 in total) - I really struggled with it. I'd like to say I finished it, but I didn't.

[HappydaysArehere]

I must admit everyday that I am weakening. I am torn between I am probably going to miss something if I don't finish it and life is just too short and there are loads more books to enjoy. If it was shorter I would persist but the thought of it going on and on is putting me off. Still, I am awaiting someone to come on and say it is a worthy winner and well worth the effort. I would add that long books have never put me off before but in this instance it is the content. Thanks for your post.

[OhPudding]

I really enjoyed it - very dark, almost Tarantino-esque novel and well worth ploughing on with the Jamaican patois if you can.

Even better, though, is his novel 'The Book of Night Women'. Still very patois- heavy, but just a beautiful, powerful, important book about slavery in Jamaica in the 18th century. I feel in love with his writing after reading it.

[OhPudding]

*fell in love!

[bigbadbarry]

I was given it for my birthday and it is sitting on my shelf looking at me - I'm feeling a bit intimidated.

[BadSpellaSpellaSpella]

Blimey - like you I also brought the shortlist from the book people - I'll give it a crack later in the year but might start with the Anne Tyler one

[onemouseplace]

I'm about a third of the way through and I'm just starting to enjoy reading it as opposed to just finding it a bit hard work. The dialect isn't bothering me too much now as I've read my way into it and I'm quite enjoying the dark nature of it all.

What I am finding helpful is that the chapters are pretty short, so I can persuade myself to read it in small bursts, which I think is helping.

I think I'll persevere, but definitely chose something lighter for my next book! I've recommended it to DH as well, as I think it is right up his street.

[HappydaysArehere]

Thank you everyone. Like you one mouse, I know my husband will enjoy this. Badspell don't be put off by me. A Little Life is absorbing and well worth a read. Anne Tyler's book is very readable. The Runaways is not bad. It depends if the subject interests you.The Fishermen is almost poetically written and unusual. I haven't tried Satin Island. At the moment I am in the middle of Revelation by C.J. Samson and enjoying his Tudor world. It is a light, entertaining relief but after reading ohpudding I will return again to 7 killings?