A review by elsieols
The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

“In the dark with no skin, I can write.”

This book. THIS BOOK. I first read about this book in an academic article for one of my university theory classes, and I am so glad that I looked into it and read it. Because this book is insanely good and FILLED with conversations that people may not be ready to have but need to be had all the same. The flaws and complications and backstories of each character were extremely compelling and interesting, and James did a fantastic job of weaving them all together and pulling the audience into the world of the novel and into a great understanding of the culture of the estate. No character is uncomplicated. No character is purely what many may see as the stereotype of a “good person.” Nothing about this life is nice, and I love how James captured that so perfectly. This is one of my favorite books of all time.