57 pages 1 hour read

Amitav Ghosh

Gun Island

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019

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Before You Read

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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.

Reviews & Readership

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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 this

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.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Magical Realism

Indian Literature

Topics

Climate Change

Themes

Natural World: Environment

Natural World: Climate

Emotions/Behavior: Hope