Each day as we count down to the April 18 announcement of the Minnesota Book Awards, we highlight one of the thirty-two finalists. Today we feature 2015 Novel & Short Story finalist Marlon James.
A Dark and Gripping Narrative
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
Published by Riverhead Books
Category Sponsor: Education Minnesota
Described by the New York Times as “raw, dense, violent, scalding, darkly comic, exhilarating and exhausting,” A Brief History of Seven Killings spans three decades and features narration from a varied cast of characters which includes a journalist for Rolling Stone magazine, the CIA station chief in Jamaica, gang members, and a dead politician. Their stories are told with straightforward grit—a style of narration which enhances the Jamaican setting as the alternation among narrators gives the reader both inside and outside perspectives on Jamaican culture and society. James brings his characters vividly to life with an authentic intensity which leaves an indelible impression. The centerpiece of the story stringing all of the narratives together is the 1976 assassination attempt on Bob Marley (referred to in the book simply as “the Singer”). A Brief History of Seven Killings takes readers on a gripping journey seen through the eyes of an intriguing cast of characters.
Author Biography:
Marlon James teaches Creative Writing and English at Macalester College in Saint Paul. His novel, The Book of Night Women, was the winner of the 2010 Dayton Literary Peace Prize and a Minnesota Book Award. His short works of fiction have been published in Esquire, Kingston Noir, and Silent Voices. His non-fiction writing has been published in Granta, The Caribbean Review, and Publisher’s Weekly.
The reviews are in:
“Thrilling, ambitious…Both intense and epic.” – Los Angeles Times
“Brilliantly executed…The novel makes no compromises, but is cruelly and consummately a work of art.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Rendered with virtuosic precision and deep empathy.” – Time
“The way James uses language is amazing…Vigorous, intricate and captivating, A Brief History of Seven Killings is hard to put down.” – Ebony
In the Media:
BBC World interview with Marlon James
Interview with Marlon James on NPR’s All Things Considered
The Friends’ Fireside Podcast with Marlon James
Marlon James on Late Night with Seth Meyers:
Join us at the Awards Gala!
Award winners will be announced at the 27th Annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala on Saturday, April 18 at the historic St. Paul Union Depot. The opening reception begins at 7 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 and are available by visiting www.thefriends.org/gala.
Have you read A Brief History of Seven Killings? What are your thoughts? We welcome your comments!