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A Brief History of Seven Killings

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A Brief History of Seven Killings

By: Marlon James
Narrated by: Robertson Dean, Cherise Boothe, Dwight Bacquie, Ryan Anderson, Jonathan McClain, Robert Younis, Thom Rivera, Various
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About this listen

Winner of the 2015 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

On 3 December 1976, just weeks before Bob Marley was to play the Smile Jamaica Concert to ease political tensions, seven gunmen from West Kingston stormed his house.

Marley survived and went on to perform at the free concert. Not a lot was recorded about the fate of the seven gunmen, but much has been said, whispered and sung about in the streets of West Kingston.

©2014 Marlon James (P)2014 HighBridge Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Scary Thought-Provoking Caribbean

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Critic reviews

"Vast and teeming...a vivid novel that deserves all the praise it has received." ( Sunday Telegraph)
"This seething, hot, violent, action-packed novel is enormous in every sense...the ambition is huge, but [James] pulls it off with huge style, confidence, imagination and wit.... Extraordinary." ( The Times)
"The most original novel I’ve read in years. A haunting, incendiary work." (Irvine Welsh)
All stars
Most relevant  
Well, feel like I have just been through World War 3, but what poetry bedren.

Exhausting but worth it.

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This is a great story but it is let down here by too many generic Caribbean accents. Non Jamaicans may not notice but, to anyone who does know, the errors in pronunciation, inflection and intonation were painful to hear. I very nearly gave up listening as a result.

Great Book! Terrible Accents

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This is a terrific book. My problem was that I couldn't retain everything I needed to, to make full sense. All the readers were good, but again, the range of them was too wide for me.
I was also confused by the constant references to 'the singer'. I initially took this as a reference to Bob Marley, but didn't understand why he wasn't named. Then at one point his name is mentioned, so (in my confusion) I imagined 'the singer' must be someone else. I recall the political shenanigans in Jamaica and the Peace concert, without knowing the ins and outs.
I'd listen to it again if I thought that I might retain more than I already have, but it's so long and my medical condition affects how much I can retain. Maybe you're more fortunate than I am.

Excellent. But too long for me.

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I really enjoy this book It's a shame about some of the Jamaican Some off the accents the author Should have looked for more original Jamaican people who could read the book for him

Very good

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This is a well told story and well written. The language is exquisite in its descriptive ability to capture the moment in vivid colour. The use of separate voices actors for each of the narratives in the book and authentic Jamaican accents is brilliant. I think the people who said there are a range of Jamaican accents are missed the point. When the Americans are recounting their stories they do the accents of the people he’s talking about and that’s when the Jamaican accents sound odd but that’s the point i.e they’re putting on the voice in the way the people do when they are mimicking someone they recounting a story about.

All of this really adds to the authenticity.

I haven’t given it top marks because although it is brilliantly told I didn’t enjoyed the story because of the level of violence. For this reason I didn’t like any of the characters, you lose sympathy for them very quickly and I spent a lot of time wishing for their comeuppance. Not only is it very violent it’s also very graphically sexual in a very brutal/ lack of respect for humanity way- it feels like you’re watching hard core violence porn.

Probably not everyone’s cup of tea - it should definitely have an 18 rating on the book cover. It’s also very long it takes a lot of perseverance to stick out the violence to get to the end. I can see why it won the Booker prize as a literary masterpiece but I felt like I lost a little more faith in humanity having listened to it.

Extremely violent

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A brilliant, absorbing first half to the story that loses its way a little, but overall is still a great read.
Fascinating insight into a period of history I knee little about. The part of story that revolved around 'the singer' was great. Less so, when it focused on drugs.
Writing style, adherence to language, and the performances were great. Some great characters in it, but also some characters that you look back and think they had little point.
Shall be reading up on the analysis, as I'm not sure I understood 100% of the story, but certainly enough to enjoy it.

Fascinating read. Assault on the senses!

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Truely one of the best Audi books I have listened to in a long time. Not normally my genre, but after reading a few reviews I thought I would give it a go and was not disappointed.
This book is really epic. Spanning a period in Jamaicas history from 1966 to the early 90’s. With characters that are really brought to life through out the course of the book.
The narration was superlative. Every single character was so real and believable.
Absolutely highly recommended book.

Epic novel, totally enthralled from start to finish

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This review is for the audible version. Its a long book, but I was entertained throughout. The narrators were excellent bringing the characters to life. It was shocking, entertaining and had some very amusing comedy moments as well. I'm a big fan of narrated novels were accents and the meaning of dialect/patois might be lost if I had just read it. I feel nothing was lost to me in this novel. It also piqued my interest in Jamaican history.

tour de force

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One of the greatest, most important pieces of literature this century - mind blowing

Top rankin' Don of modern literature

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I loved this book. Only one downside and its some of the truly awful attempts at the jamaican accent. Some of it was painful but because the story was so compelling you overlook it. i know it may not happen but that should be corrected.

Great Story!

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