Around the World in Books discussion

Discussion about the Long Song, our September 2014 book starts here.

Just finished The Long Song. I enjoyed the story line, character development and the re-creation of colonial Jamaica including learning about the atrocities that Jamaicans suffered. What I liked least however, is that the story line was not very tight. The author developed the plot over several generations making it difficult to keep track of the characters and difficult to read. However, I would recommend it to those looking to learn more about Jamaican history.

I gave up on this book after about 100 pages. I disliked the characters and found the present day older narrator annoying and disrupting of the story. I couldn't help comparing it to Allende's Island Beneath the Sea which is unfair. I may try to read Small Island still one day.