Reviews

At the Bottom of the River, by Jamaica Kincaid

a_shelf_of_books's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

signediza's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

noniesrose's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.5

jdianm's review

challenging dark fast-paced

bodiesinbooks's review

reflective medium-paced

4.25

jeankwemoi's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A

3.5

melodyseestrees's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

bahareads's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

• 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

3.5

a collection of short stories that made me ponder. Jamaica Kincaid starts off with a banger. Girl had me in a grip. It was my favourite story out of the entire collection. Kincaid's writing style is straightforward but also so vague at times. I had to reread some of the stories a few times to grasp what was going on and what was being said. I enjoyed the mother-daughter theme. I love when authors explore complex and complicated family dynamics. What makes it even more enjoyable is when an author pulls from their own story as Kincaid has done. There is a lyrical quality to her writing and an "island" like undertone to it all.

"Placing her arms around me, she drew my head closer and closer to her bosom, until finally I suffocated. I lay on her bosom, breathless, for a time uncountable, until one day, for a reason she has kept to her self, she shook me out and stood me under a tree and I started to breathe again."

dinahrachel's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

5.0

thatothernigeriangirl's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

I really enjoyed the first story ‘Girl’ and ‘What I’ve Been Doing Lately’. I liked how the latter comes back in full circle and the former really details the struggles of womanhood in the way a mother gives her daughter instructions on how to behave — in relation to men. 
Asides from those two, I couldn’t really wrap my head around the style or themes of the other stories.