Play Book Tag discussion

So ugly it is beautiful. That is where I have to start my review. What Marlon James accomplishes here makes The Godfather look like a children's book. Using the thriller and crime novel format, speaking from many different perspectives, the violent gang history of Jamaica from the 1960s to 1991 is boldly presented as viciously as living it had to have been. Nothing is held back - whether it be language, bloodshed, racism, misogeny, homophobia, US interference, fear of communism, murder, drugs, reggae, rastafarianism. It's a work of genius, a masterpiece, and was an enormous risk for a writer. It paid off.

Superficially the story revolves around the attempted murder of the Singer, who is in real life Bob Marley, just before a Peace Concert that was an attempt to bring peace between the 2 powerful gangs controlling Kingston just before an election in 1976. To win an election, your party had to win the vote in Kingston. To win the vote in Kingston, you had to be backed by one of the 2 powerful gangs controlling the city. In the lead-up to any election, gang warfare would break out as each tried to weaken the other. Into this picture steps the US via the CIA as well as the Colombian drug cartels. The US, still recovering from the Bay of Pigs, is concerned that Jamaica is ripe to align with Cuba and communism, while the drug cartels are looking to find a new distribution point to the US as the Bahamas are failing them. Add to this toxic violent mix one member of a gang with ambitions beyond controlling Kingston...and you have the broad opening outlines of this crime story that in fact is a history of post-colonial Jamaica.

"Plenty people even in the middle of sufferation going pick the bad they know over the good they can only dream about, because who dream but madman and fool? Sometimes war stop because you forget why you fight, sometimes you tired of warring, sometimes people who dead come back to you in you sleep and you can't remember them name, and sometimes you come to see that who you supposed to fight not even your enemy."

The characters are diverse and often complex. Some are just trying to survive. Others are well-read and well-educated with agendas. Gang leaders can be surprisingly philosophical. Many are just cynical.

"Kill any movement of Jah people and Americans don't have no reason to be 'fraid anymore that we going to turn into Cuba. Me don't know nothing for true, but I'd bet that even some people higher up, maybe people who control coast guard, or immigration or customs or some shit, now all turn a blind eye to certain boat and plane and ship because one man give them Jamaica on a plate in 1980." The US does not come out smelling very good here.

Yet, there are moments of great humor, tenderness, even hope. A moment where a man undoes all he has accomplished in one vicious swoop. One character I had to stop myself from reading ahead to see what happens I was so invested in that character's survival. Considering this a book I had to take a break reading because it was so painful at times - and just hard reading - I actually had tears in my eyes when I read the very last couple of sentences, my heart was so touched.

It is important to note that James creates a huge cast of characters, each and every one of which is a unique voice, often using patois, that you hear as you read, that you immediately recognize when you see it on the page. Many of the principal characters, as well as the gangs themselves and most of the events are based on real people, real gangs, real events. The book is broken into sections, each section named for a song and covering a specific time period. Each section is broken into independent chapters that are told from from one character's perspective and in that character's voice. James never once falters here. He also provides you with a ghost who acts to set the scene and relate events happening outside Jamaica that influence the story told and ease you into the next section.

I would never be able to listen to this on audio, it's so complex and the language so frequently obscene which is far easier to handle on a written page than in the ear. I did find myself googling the Urban Dictionary and various bits of history, even refreshing my recollection of US and World events during the time events were happening in Jamaica, all to inform and enrich my reading.

A Brief History of Seven Killings was epic.

Excellent review!
Even though I have not finished yet, you definitely summed up the basic plot well, especially considering how much is happening.

I keep chipping away at it and hope to finish as soon as I can.

So pleased this was a 5 star review for you.
I can't imagine my current 5 stars will change in the later half.
I love Marlon James' writing and vision.
He is immensely talented.

Meli wrote: "Excellent review!
Even though I have not finished yet, you definitely summed up the basic plot well, especially considering how much is happening.

I keep chipping away at it and hope to finish a..."

I made sure there were no spoilers for you - we have talked about all this in some fashion in our buddy read thread. I just wanted go get this in March for another group's monthly challenge, else I would have waited.

No problem, and much appreciated.
I am so close to "White Lines / Kids in America" (is that the next section?).
Should be smooth sailing from there.

Yes that is and it flies by. Easy reading from there on.