A review by rradujko
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

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

2.0

This one didn't hit it for me. I think James was ambitious in his execution of this concept, and while he may have even pulled it off, it wasn't my particular cup of tea. While the uniqueness of his narrative voice and dreamlike-yet-cutting writing style is without question, the repetitiveness and slow, slow build made it a difficult read. The first third was interesting enough to keep reading, the second was a slog towards the hopefully-more-interesting third, and the third felt like an unfortunate repeat of the second. The amount of confusion that I experienced trying to keep up with the MC's choppy narration was significant, and while James touches on important and difficult themes, I actually think that his particular writing style does them injustice, as what the MC ignores or fails to expound on the reader is also barred from knowing. I almost didn't finish it, but I don't know if seeing it through was any better.
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