The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Perhaps best summed up as a book that has kept me thinking over a week since I've finished it. A good sign!
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Death of parent, War, Violence, Grief, Death, Colonisation, and Child death
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexism
mmccombs's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Murder, War, Colonisation, Death, and Violence
leo14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Vomit
Moderate: Blood, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Animal death, Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
leabharlady's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, War, Abandonment, Colonisation, Violence, Sexual harassment, Cultural appropriation, and Death
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Colony is a quietly devastating, gorgeously written book about colonization and agency set on a small Irish island during the Troubles. It has lots of layers!
For you if: You like character-driven novels, plus prose that’s poetic and a bit nontraditional.
FULL REVIEW:
After a fair amount of pre-release hype, The Colony was longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize. Having read it, I can confirm that this 100% feels like a Booker book (in a good way), and that it’s going to make for an excellent book club discussion.
The story is set on a small island off Ireland’s coast in 1979, as the Troubles raged on the mainland. The island has been somewhat sheltered from colonization, with its people still living according to their longstanding customs and speaking a traditional form of Irish. But that’s slowly changing. During this summer, two white men come to stay: an English painter named Lloyd, determined to make a name for himself painting the landscape and, eventually, its people; and a French linguist named Masson, determined to make a name for himself as the savior of their language. Throughout, we get short vignettes depicting terrible acts of violence on the mainland.
Although the plot itself is relatively quiet — simmering backdrop of violence notwithstanding — this book does and says a ton as it pertains to not only colonization and saviorism, but also agency (whose choice is it whether people need saving?). I’m particularly excited to discuss the linguist, Masson, with my book club. Without saying too much, he’s the child of a colonizer and a member of a colonized people, making his actions and motivations really fascinating.
But perhaps the most distinctive part about this book is the prose. It’s beautiful, poetic, and a little nontraditional. Magee’s decision to write this way and also not use quotation marks — especially with so many characters being bilingual — blends thought and dialogue in a way that’s effective and affecting but somehow never confusing.
I will say that I guessed how this was going to end (hoping I was wrong), but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. Magee’s purpose here is equal parts clear and moving, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Graphic: Colonisation, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse
yilliun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
And when James’ paintings are left behind broke me. He deserved so much better.
Graphic: Grief, Classism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse
zotty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: War, Colonisation, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Animal death
dwager's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Colonisation, Hate crime, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Mass/school shootings
feebles640's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Domestic abuse, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, and Gun violence
oliviashleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Animal death, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and War