I thought it interesting that there was a character named Sologon. Alex Haley mentions her in “Roots” as (I think, going by memory here) Sologon the Buffalo Woman, wife of Sundiata. Nice that her name was remembered.
I knew this book was not for me. I do love listening to Marlon James and Jake Morrissey on their podcast, Marlon and Jake Read Dead People. I have a copy of Brief History of Seven Killings. I will go back into your archives to read your review (late comer that I am). I am not sure it is for me either… thanks for your thoughtful review!!
Quickly want to say how much I enjoyed this review, while shielding my eyes from spoilers.
Fantasy and sci-fi genres are comforting pleasures for me, and while this one seems a bit more macho BS than I like—and especially given the inside-cover blurbs—I’m intrigued and will probably read it.
I thought your q "I wonder what the [violence involving women and children] means artistically" was an important one. I need to think about it more, I’m always struck by it. FWIW I‘m a fan of GOT; there was so much craft and artistry in the series, the violence came through for me mostly as a way to express the harshness of that reality versus simply for the sake of violence or prurience alone.
Anyway I’ll probably read this now for fun, and set my expectations appropriately low given your opinion. It can only go up from there!
SPOILER THREAD: If you've read this book and want to discuss it, reply to this thread!
I thought it interesting that there was a character named Sologon. Alex Haley mentions her in “Roots” as (I think, going by memory here) Sologon the Buffalo Woman, wife of Sundiata. Nice that her name was remembered.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the purpose of describing violence in writing, particularly as it pertains to memoir, but in this case fiction. Read this on poetry recently and it resents an interesting perspective. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet-books/2022/04/reading-for-subjectivity
I knew this book was not for me. I do love listening to Marlon James and Jake Morrissey on their podcast, Marlon and Jake Read Dead People. I have a copy of Brief History of Seven Killings. I will go back into your archives to read your review (late comer that I am). I am not sure it is for me either… thanks for your thoughtful review!!
Quickly want to say how much I enjoyed this review, while shielding my eyes from spoilers.
Fantasy and sci-fi genres are comforting pleasures for me, and while this one seems a bit more macho BS than I like—and especially given the inside-cover blurbs—I’m intrigued and will probably read it.
I thought your q "I wonder what the [violence involving women and children] means artistically" was an important one. I need to think about it more, I’m always struck by it. FWIW I‘m a fan of GOT; there was so much craft and artistry in the series, the violence came through for me mostly as a way to express the harshness of that reality versus simply for the sake of violence or prurience alone.
Anyway I’ll probably read this now for fun, and set my expectations appropriately low given your opinion. It can only go up from there!