humansreading's review against another edition
3.0
Some of the stories in this collection didn’t grab me as I thought they would. Only one of the stories really shone for me and that’s “54-46 (That’s My Number)”. I really enjoyed that one. The others were either way over-the-top in terms of the nature of the crimes committed or lacking that oomph.
keeloween's review against another edition
4.0
not gonna lie, Marlon's story absolutely broke me... just knowing this is the reality in Jamaica just ... nonetheless, all the stories are very camptivating.
bookofcinz's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5
Kingston Noir is a collection of short stories, written by Jamaicans, about Jamaicans and is set in Jamaica. The stories erred on the darker more grim side of Jamaica but I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of the stories in this collection. The major stand outs for me were:
Immaculate by Marlon James
Monkey Man by Colin Channer
My Lord by Kwame Dawes
The White Gyal with the Camera by Kei Miller
Leighton Leigh Ann by Thomas Glave
If you are looking for a strong collection of stories, you should get your hand on this.
Kingston Noir is a collection of short stories, written by Jamaicans, about Jamaicans and is set in Jamaica. The stories erred on the darker more grim side of Jamaica but I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of the stories in this collection. The major stand outs for me were:
Immaculate by Marlon James
Monkey Man by Colin Channer
My Lord by Kwame Dawes
The White Gyal with the Camera by Kei Miller
Leighton Leigh Ann by Thomas Glave
If you are looking for a strong collection of stories, you should get your hand on this.
knightreader1988's review against another edition
2.0
Grade: 2.5/5
I wanted to enjoy this collection but it was not for me. Some stories stood out and enabled me to finish the book (because I kept hoping for one more diamond in the rubble) but those were few and far between. Cheers to Kwame Dawes, Marlon James and Kei Miller.
I feel relieved I completed this collection but desperate for the lightest and most whimsical read in existence. Noir, indeed.
I wanted to enjoy this collection but it was not for me. Some stories stood out and enabled me to finish the book (because I kept hoping for one more diamond in the rubble) but those were few and far between. Cheers to Kwame Dawes, Marlon James and Kei Miller.
I feel relieved I completed this collection but desperate for the lightest and most whimsical read in existence. Noir, indeed.
sammisaysread's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
lande4981's review
5.0
#KingstonNoir This is a an amazing set of stories. Some of them were simply stunning not just in execution but in content. As the name suggests, 'Kingston Noir' explores the dark side of the Jamaican city and its people. I both recognised my city and saw it for the first time in these stories. They remind me that I don't read enough Jamaican fiction and that is a situation that needs to be rectified, there are authors here that need not just to be simply read but devoured - such as Patricia Powell who penned the tale "Tomcat Beretta" about a woman out for revenge and justice; or Marlon James who raised very painful memories for me in his story "Immaculate" about the brutal death of a teenage girl and the futility of seeking justice; or Christopher John Farley who relates the story of two brothers and their search for a missing girl in "54-46 (That's My Number"); or the truly truly haunting story of a women who takes the only way she knows out of a twisted and damaging relationship in Leone Ross' "Roll it".
Highly highly recommended.
Highly highly recommended.
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