Bombocloth - just one of the Jamaican patois words we encountered for the first time in this prize-winner! March saw Tyneside Book Club members brush up their Jamaican patois by reading the Booker prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings.
It's fair to say all of us struggled with the stream-of-consciousness patois-heavy sections from time-to-time.
Some members found it hard to finish for that reason; but most who did saw lots to admire, including the quality of the writing, the blending of voices, and the chronicling of a fascinating period of recent Caribbean history. A couple were even prepared to use the word "masterpiece". Others, though recognising the quality of the writing, felt less satisfied.
Although there are bursts of humour in the book, and compelling characters, don't hold out for much Jamaican sunshine in this tough but compelling read.
Next month we move into the future with Philip K Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, although apparently the original 1968 novel was set in a futuristic 1992, and the film that followed (Blade Runner) in the not-too distant 2019.
It's fair to say all of us struggled with the stream-of-consciousness patois-heavy sections from time-to-time.
Some members found it hard to finish for that reason; but most who did saw lots to admire, including the quality of the writing, the blending of voices, and the chronicling of a fascinating period of recent Caribbean history. A couple were even prepared to use the word "masterpiece". Others, though recognising the quality of the writing, felt less satisfied.
Although there are bursts of humour in the book, and compelling characters, don't hold out for much Jamaican sunshine in this tough but compelling read.
Next month we move into the future with Philip K Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, although apparently the original 1968 novel was set in a futuristic 1992, and the film that followed (Blade Runner) in the not-too distant 2019.
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