Fiction Book of the Month: A Brief History of Seven Killings

You have to read this book. If you read one book all year – make it this one.

It is exciting, pacy, and a real page-turner. It has all the pulse of  (and the dialogue to match) a Tarantino film. It manages to be incredibly smart, but such an enthralling read at the same time.

The electric narrative weaves voices of men and women and ghosts (!) in a sweeping , epic tale of violence and survival.

Listen to the author talk about writing:

A Brief Histtory of Seven Killings begins on the night that a gunman broke into the home of Bob Marley shooting and almost killing Marley, his wife, members of his band and many of their friends. It was a shocking event – but one that Marley survived.

And only two days later, Marley and his wife performed with his band at a charity concert in front of crowds of people.

But ripples were felt, years after the event.

There is only so much I can say – it will never do this astonishing book justice.

Here is Marlon James himself talking about the book:

It is the most exciting thing you will read this year/decade/century (so far). Just read it.