57 pages • 1 hour read
Gun Island
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Book Brief
313
Novel • Fiction
Bengal, India • Contemporary
2019
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh follows Deen Dutta, a rare books dealer of Bangladeshi descent living in New York, as he embarks on a journey inspired by a Bengali folk legend involving the Gun Merchant and Manasa Devi. His travels connect him with a diverse cast and different cultures, exploring themes of human-nature conflict and the politics of movement. This narrative intertwines past and present through storytelling and historical events.
Mysterious
Informative
Adventurous
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
7,374 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island is lauded for its lush prose and timely exploration of climate change and migration, though some critics find its plot convoluted and character development lacking. The novel's blend of myth and reality is praised for its originality, but pacing issues detract from the overall impact. Suitable for readers interested in ecological and cultural themes.
Who Should Read Gun Island?
Readers who enjoy Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh are typically interested in richly layered narratives that explore themes of migration, climate change, and folklore. Fans of Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior will appreciate Ghosh’s intricate storytelling and environmental consciousness.
7,374 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
313
Novel • Fiction
Bengal, India • Contemporary
2019
Adult
18+ years
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