Reviews

The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon

pearlhannaford's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

radiofreakinastorm's review

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

book_soulsbee's review

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

irishavincentwaterson's review

challenging emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

hannereads's review

funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

kreeesthea's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

nnn's review against another edition

3.5

not using any punctuation is crazy

cc24680's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

elfs29's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

Selvon writes such vivid characters, combined with such perceptive and honest comments on the lives of Caribbean migrants in the 1950s, all centred in London, the amorphous creature of a city that both suppresses and uplifts them. The themes of friendship and community are so heartwarming, the themes of poverty and misery so devastating, that Selvon is able to accurately and compassionately display the varied and complicated lives of the characters, giving power back to them by establishing them as Londoners as they deserve to be.

Sometimes, listening to them, he look in each face, and he feel a great compassion for every one of them, as if he live each one of their lives, one by one, all the strain and stress come to rest on his own shoulders.
"What are you doing Moses? You still thinking of going back home?"

bookish_skies's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75