Fiction

An Island

An Island

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  • Create Date：2021-10-04 09:52:05
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Karen Jennings
  • ISBN：1910688924
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Reviews

Henry Fosdike ，

Never really likeable but always intriguing， An Island is an excellent book to read if you want to feel depressed but also feel， "Hey， at least my life isn't as bad as that guy's！" It's difficult to place the time period of the book， perhaps deliberately so， or where it's really set。 It's an evocative tale but the jump back and forward in time begins to grate after a while， as does the central question plaguing the character throughout。 Well written but not really for me。 Never really likeable but always intriguing， An Island is an excellent book to read if you want to feel depressed but also feel， "Hey， at least my life isn't as bad as that guy's！" It's difficult to place the time period of the book， perhaps deliberately so， or where it's really set。 It's an evocative tale but the jump back and forward in time begins to grate after a while， as does the central question plaguing the character throughout。 Well written but not really for me。 。。。more

Natasha （jouljet） ，

Samuel has lived as the lighthouse keeper on an island off the mainland of an unnamed African nation for so long， the notion of the wider world is now overwhelming。 He's an old man now， living his set， near self-sufficient ways， totally insular from the world present and past。This life was an escape from the ostricisation he created through his choices and actions。 A world he never really found his place in， or any connection or meaning to。 The flashbacks to his life show poverty， hardship， a lo Samuel has lived as the lighthouse keeper on an island off the mainland of an unnamed African nation for so long， the notion of the wider world is now overwhelming。 He's an old man now， living his set， near self-sufficient ways， totally insular from the world present and past。This life was an escape from the ostricisation he created through his choices and actions。 A world he never really found his place in， or any connection or meaning to。 The flashbacks to his life show poverty， hardship， a lost young man easily led into an underworld of violence and fighting for something he only just grasped。Indeed， Samuel's past outlines a time of confused fighting for a cause， and one he got all caught up in with huge consequences。 Fighting against the Dictator， against oppression and within an underworld of violence。Upon the shore of the island washes up a body， although unlike the others， this one is alive。 The man is a refugee from a wrecked boat seeking safety。 Not able to converse in the same language， Samuel develops many inner thoughts and theories about the man， what his actions mean， what the man is thinking。This forms the book's deep allegory around the plight of refugees。 The paranoia of the "other" when we are all seeking safety， a better life， a simple life， and are search of our own freedom。 Assumptions made， without any critical reflection on parallels to our own experiences and actions。This book feels timely as we see people marching on the streets for "freedom" against lockdown and restrictions in place for health measures and safety， when those very marchers would be unlikely to speak up for the freedom and safety of people fleeing real persecution and danger。A book that took some time to acquire after its Booker Prize longlisting， as apparently there had only been 500 copies published originally！ I have also read that the author， Karen Jennings， hadn't yet seen a physical copy of her book around the time of the longlist announcement。 A gem of a read， which is the reward all prize readers are searching for。Read as a longlisted #BookerPrize book - and now， am stunned it didn't make the shortlist。 The Booker-esque book of this year's #BookstagramReadsTheBooker so far！ 。。。more

Siobhan Markwell ，

This is a harrowing account of how living under a dysfunctional， authoritarian regime distorts human relationships。 Our anonymous protagonist has taken shelter， on an unnamed island， from the slings and arrows of arrest， imprisonment on the flimsiest of pretexts， torture， fear of informers and rejection by his former compadres （as a suspected informer）。 Here， he tends a lighthouse， a beacon that saves sailors from the treacherous rocks， just as his self-imposed isolation saves him from the rocks This is a harrowing account of how living under a dysfunctional， authoritarian regime distorts human relationships。 Our anonymous protagonist has taken shelter， on an unnamed island， from the slings and arrows of arrest， imprisonment on the flimsiest of pretexts， torture， fear of informers and rejection by his former compadres （as a suspected informer）。 Here， he tends a lighthouse， a beacon that saves sailors from the treacherous rocks， just as his self-imposed isolation saves him from the rocks of unbearably painful human interaction。 The extent of his alienation from human companionship is hits home when an unknown stranger washes ashore， a rare survivor in an perpetual stream of human flotsam and jetsam that laps the fringes of the island。 He is nursed to health but soon his very presence sparks surges of terror in our lighthouse-man and the reader struggles to decide whether this is evidence of paranoia or a well-founded self-preservation strategy。 The story takes on the tension and tautness of a skilfully constructed thriller。 The novel is nigh-on relentlessly dark but the odd beam of human decency fragments the shade like the beam of the lighthouse itself。 Friends encourage our man to re-engage with society but when he dares he's confronted with the treachery and debasement of his former lover and one-time fellow partisan who has been reduced to prostitution to survive。 We learn that she discarded their child and that he later died of illness no-doubt spawned by neglect。 This is a story for our times as interconnection makes us more aware of the plight of those stricken by authoritarian regimes and we witness the role extremist news channels and social media play in prompting once seemingly stable nations to spiral towards militant ideologies to solve real and perceived problems in the "first" world。 Jennings highlights growing migration as a response to despotism， war， poverty and environmental desecration on a previously unreported and unimagined scale， much， but not all， of it from African nations。 She acknowledges her debt to writers from Africa and reframes the migrant as saviour， something that feels brave and relevant at a time when there's no petrol in UK pumps， food is scarce on British shelves and unaffordable for many。 Her migrant， however， provides not just haulage and farm-labour but a salve for the soul。 。。。more

Claire ，

An Island is a short but complex novel that explores human behaviour and the way we understand the actions of others， as well as complex ideas about colonialism and post-colonialism。 Jennings has mastered the art of slow-burning tension- as this novel tells the story of Samuel the lighthouse keeper and the refugee that washes up on his island shore in the present， and slowly unravels Samuel’s past life on the mainland。 Through these dual narratives， Jennings offers Samuel and the refugee both as An Island is a short but complex novel that explores human behaviour and the way we understand the actions of others， as well as complex ideas about colonialism and post-colonialism。 Jennings has mastered the art of slow-burning tension- as this novel tells the story of Samuel the lighthouse keeper and the refugee that washes up on his island shore in the present， and slowly unravels Samuel’s past life on the mainland。 Through these dual narratives， Jennings offers Samuel and the refugee both as a geopolitical allegory， and as a story about how our actions and choices are all built cumulatively from our complex past experiences。 Stylistically， it’s at once distant， and very interior which I expect will challenge some readers， but I felt ultimately served the kind of story Jennings was trying to tell。 。。。more

Carolyn Drake ，

This tense and bleak allegorical tale packs a lot into its 192 pages。 It tells the story of an old lighthouse-keeper who has lived completely alone on an island for more than two decades。 We learn early on that he buries the bodies of washed up refugees - that it until the latest 'corpse' that washes up turns out to have a pulse。 The wary， tense relationship between the two men is interspersed with the old man's recollections of his activist youth， and the clever structure reveals how the societ This tense and bleak allegorical tale packs a lot into its 192 pages。 It tells the story of an old lighthouse-keeper who has lived completely alone on an island for more than two decades。 We learn early on that he buries the bodies of washed up refugees - that it until the latest 'corpse' that washes up turns out to have a pulse。 The wary， tense relationship between the two men is interspersed with the old man's recollections of his activist youth， and the clever structure reveals how the society he has cut himself off from and has replaced a corrupt government with a 'democratic' regime more brutal and despotic than the one it replaced。 Brutal and poetic。 。。。more

Ronald House ，

An Island is a deeply personal story of a elderly man who has become his own island weaving his past fears and failures with his present。 A taste of all things human painted in all of their complexities。

Paul ，

An imagined island where a lone watchman tends his garden， and tends the lighthouse。 When a stranger washes up on the shore his mind goes back to the traumas of his past， of colonial and post-colonial damage to his African country。 At times allegorical， at times painfully real。 Lots to chew over。

Siân Ferguson ，

I had high expectations for this book because it's on the Booker longlist。 This exceeded my expectations。 It is so beautifully written。 Highly recommend it， although it is indeed a very sad story and probably not something you should read if you're in a difficult emotional space。 I had high expectations for this book because it's on the Booker longlist。 This exceeded my expectations。 It is so beautifully written。 Highly recommend it， although it is indeed a very sad story and probably not something you should read if you're in a difficult emotional space。 。。。more

Rebecca ，

3。5 stars。 This book packs a political punch！ Asks what is courage and what is weakness。 What trauma does to us over a life time。 Deals with isolation and racism。 This is a book that will keep me thinking。

Mansi ，

This book had me gripped throughout。 The book was an old man's account of the trajectory of his own life through that of his country-- its colonisation， independence， failure as a new nation and subsequent dictatorship。 The book was marked with pain emanating from poverty， suppression and isolation。 It also keeps questioning your own sanity as it is filled with paranoia and solitude of the old man。 It is an important book in terms of postcolonial studies and the discussion on migration。 This boo This book had me gripped throughout。 The book was an old man's account of the trajectory of his own life through that of his country-- its colonisation， independence， failure as a new nation and subsequent dictatorship。 The book was marked with pain emanating from poverty， suppression and isolation。 It also keeps questioning your own sanity as it is filled with paranoia and solitude of the old man。 It is an important book in terms of postcolonial studies and the discussion on migration。 This book has so much to offer within less than a hundred pages and is a powerful， politically involved text despite being set around an unnamed country。 This nameless country can thus be assumed to be any country that has gone through the experience of colonisation， freedom， and the poverty and neocolonial fervor that ensues。 。。。more

Shaun ，

Was an entertaining read。 I read it for the heck of it but enjoyed it。 Good short literary novel。 'Old Man and the Island' is what I kept thinking ;） Was an entertaining read。 I read it for the heck of it but enjoyed it。 Good short literary novel。 'Old Man and the Island' is what I kept thinking ;） 。。。more

Mrs J M Ince ，

GoodWasn’t quite sure how this book would end， but not surprised。It made you think about the strains we all go through in life and the effects they have on us。

Olivia Newman ，

A compact， tense novel which I think will linger with me。 The commentary on political issues is wide-ranging， encompassing post-colonial dictatorships， independence movements， refugee crises， and climate change。 By contrast， the prose is pedestrian and efficient， and the focus of the narrative is quite narrow。 There is very little world-building， with only oblique descriptions of the dictator， the poverty suffered by our protagonist， Samuel， and the revolutionary movement in which he becomes ent A compact， tense novel which I think will linger with me。 The commentary on political issues is wide-ranging， encompassing post-colonial dictatorships， independence movements， refugee crises， and climate change。 By contrast， the prose is pedestrian and efficient， and the focus of the narrative is quite narrow。 There is very little world-building， with only oblique descriptions of the dictator， the poverty suffered by our protagonist， Samuel， and the revolutionary movement in which he becomes entangled。The allegory of the man， a refugee who washes up on Samuel's island， and the island itself， is very effective and interesting。 At times I would have appreciated more world-building， but I think the spare approach ultimately builds tension and allows the book to comment in a more general way about our world today。This isn't really my type of book， but I do appreciate what it does and think the themes are pertinent。 。。。more

Ninaminacat ，

Wish this had made the Man Booker shortlistKaren Jennings' "An Island" is not a long book by any means， but short books such as "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and "The Outsider" by Albert Camus often have an impact well above their weight。 In one sense it is the simple tale of a lighthouse keeper， the sole inhabitant of a small island off the coast of an unspecified African country， confronting the difficulties of sharing his home and his land with a person with whom h Wish this had made the Man Booker shortlistKaren Jennings' "An Island" is not a long book by any means， but short books such as "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and "The Outsider" by Albert Camus often have an impact well above their weight。 In one sense it is the simple tale of a lighthouse keeper， the sole inhabitant of a small island off the coast of an unspecified African country， confronting the difficulties of sharing his home and his land with a person with whom he has no common language。 However this is， quite literally， only half the story。 His interactions with the stranger remind him of the past - both his country's past with its change from rule by colonials to a freedom which， "Animal Farm" style， soon becomes another form of oppression - and his own past of political activism， the very factor which has brought him to this lonely existence。 The present on the island and the past on the mainland are cleverly interleaved， so that lighthouse keeper's former life is only slowly revealed and the sense of the tension between the two men （only intensified by the lack of language） builds unremittingly until the superb ending。I am so disappointed that "An Island" hasn't made it from the 2021 Man Booker Prize long list to the shortlist。 An unreserved 5 stars - and I shall be searching for Karen Jennings' earlier works。 。。。more

Catherine ，

Much is packed into this short book， which is both excellent and devastating。 Hard to believe that Jennings struggled to find a publisher。 Kudos to Holling House; small publishers are a treasure。

Andrew Booth ，

One of those stories that just kind of creeps up on you。 A story about angst， anxiety， politics， loneliness， longing， friendship and regret， amongst many other things - it really builds to a peak， just as the main character is becoming overwhelmed。A bit of a hard one to describe， but I enjoyed it a lot。

Kirsten ，

3。5 🌟

Anushka Marri ，

Rating: 3。5/5An Island is a short thriller-ish novel by Karen Jennings that details the solitary life of Samuel on an island as a light-house keeper。 Samuel does everything for himself except for the regular supplies of left-over and unclaimed raw materials that are brought to him。 The book is divided into four days corresponding to four chapters where the author describes how Samuel reacts to a stranger being washed up to the shore。 Now， Samuel is used to dead bodies but this man is alive and b Rating: 3。5/5An Island is a short thriller-ish novel by Karen Jennings that details the solitary life of Samuel on an island as a light-house keeper。 Samuel does everything for himself except for the regular supplies of left-over and unclaimed raw materials that are brought to him。 The book is divided into four days corresponding to four chapters where the author describes how Samuel reacts to a stranger being washed up to the shore。 Now， Samuel is used to dead bodies but this man is alive and breathing but unconscious。 What does a person used to being alone go through when they suddenly face the idea of maybe having company？ The book then describes what goes on in Samuel's mind as he tries to comprehend another human being around him while giving us regular flashbacks into his life before coming to the island。 The writing is absolutely striking。 At under 200 pages and just 4 chapters， the book ensures to give you atleast something to keep reading。 I couldn't find a connection to the past and the present in a few instances and found that the flow of the book was disrupted at times but whenever it did make sense， it made it worth the read。 With bollywood-esque scenes in the ending of chapter 2 and 3 and a surprising turn of events in the end， I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book。 Sure， it had stronger competition to make to the shortlist but very well deserved to be on the longlist。 。。。more

Shona ，

This book is relentlessly grim。 I haven’t seen Hotel Rwanda， but this book gives me the same feels。 （I’m one of those sensitive types。） I couldn’t look away， but I didn’t want to keep looking， either。The Mainland in the book could stand in for many African countries which moved from independence to a dictatorship; it’s never really made clear。 The Island as Samuel’s land is a very clever device， and as Samuel falls apart， the story becomes an examination of history， one man’s place in it， and ho This book is relentlessly grim。 I haven’t seen Hotel Rwanda， but this book gives me the same feels。 （I’m one of those sensitive types。） I couldn’t look away， but I didn’t want to keep looking， either。The Mainland in the book could stand in for many African countries which moved from independence to a dictatorship; it’s never really made clear。 The Island as Samuel’s land is a very clever device， and as Samuel falls apart， the story becomes an examination of history， one man’s place in it， and how it tears him apart。It took me a minute， but the cover is also very clever， and explains the title in a different way — I’ll leave that to you to decipher， because I had fun with it。Because the story is staying with me， I am increasing my rating a little。 I was really upset after reading it， because it is relentlessly violent， not a light read at all， and it’s never pleasant to read about someone’s breakdown; but， this is really well done， and in so few pages！ 。。。more

Angela ，

A claustrophobic read， filled with paranoia and a sense of foreboding。 To kill or be killed？ That was the question hanging over everything。 The after effects of trauma， poverty， violence and loss still haunt the old man - and impact on the present day。 An unforgettable story。

Cathie ，

Sad， thought provoking examination of trauma， loneliness and identity。 Loved the attention to detail very absorbing。

Sophie Sternschuss ，

The story of a lone older man who mans a lighthouse on a secluded island off the coast of Africa（ I think ）。 We get glimpses into his troubled past life and being imprisoned for standing up to the dictator。 One day a refugee washes up on the island and Samuel is suspecting this man wants to kill him or is it just paranoia。 I did enjoy the book but the ending was a little flat for me 。 Yes it built up to one final event but it felt like it could of been expanded on a bit after his had happened。

John Hobson ，

A very enjoyable read， beautifully crafted book in which can smell and taste the setting。 Think Robinson Crusoe when Man Friday turns up as the starting point: a man isolated in his past and in his life as a solitary Lighthouse keeper is confronted with a refugee washed up ashore。 As he goes back through his past and tries to deal with a stranger， a story is revealed of a life half lived。

Jaclyn ，

Jennings manages to compress and contain so much in this slight novel。 When a refugee washes up on the island where recluse Samuel has shut himself away， memories of his personal and political history come flooding in。 This is a powerful book about political turmoil， the enduring legacies of colonialism and what can happen to identity in the face of history。 I’m sorry to see it didn’t make the Booker shortlist especially as it was the only book published by a small press。

Michael Gordon ，

Solitude brokenSamuel is an old man living alone on a rocky island tending the lighthouse。 Released after being imprisoned for many years he cannot cope with crowds and his only interactions are with the crew of the fortnightly delivery boat。 One day a body washes up and Samuel retrieves it from the sea believing the man dead。 There are signs of life and the man revives。 The book investigates the interaction of the two men and there are flashbacks to Daniel's previous life。 Solitude brokenSamuel is an old man living alone on a rocky island tending the lighthouse。 Released after being imprisoned for many years he cannot cope with crowds and his only interactions are with the crew of the fortnightly delivery boat。 One day a body washes up and Samuel retrieves it from the sea believing the man dead。 There are signs of life and the man revives。 The book investigates the interaction of the two men and there are flashbacks to Daniel's previous life。 。。。more

Jonathan Pool ，

For a Booker Prize nominee （long list 2021） I thought this was a lightweight offering， and it failed to make a lasting impression on me。 There is something about lighthouses， and isolation surrounded by a savage sea， that’s evocative。 It’s been written about on numerous occasions， and most notably in 1719 with Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe 。 The protagonist in An Island， Samuel， acquires a （unnamed） companion， and this dynamic is similar to Robinson Crusoe and the arrival of Friday。 Three hund For a Booker Prize nominee （long list 2021） I thought this was a lightweight offering， and it failed to make a lasting impression on me。 There is something about lighthouses， and isolation surrounded by a savage sea， that’s evocative。 It’s been written about on numerous occasions， and most notably in 1719 with Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe 。 The protagonist in An Island， Samuel， acquires a （unnamed） companion， and this dynamic is similar to Robinson Crusoe and the arrival of Friday。 Three hundred years later I expect to get some deeper psychology。Samuel’s reflections are drawn from two sources。 The immediate island life experiences formed from the flotsam and jetsam that turns up。 Samuel cultivates crops， and he conforms to the standard description of a lighthouse keeper- the need to scan the horizon for incipient danger， and to provide refuge if called upon。 This element of the narrative， including Samuel’s absorption in his surroundings， and his response to visitors， both the living and the dead， friendly and hostile， is well portrayed， but unremarkable。The second line of reflection surrounds Samuel’s life before his arrival on the island （he applied for the job）。 This was more captivating as his back story builds up in a series of flash backs。 Samuel lived through the fight for independence from white colonial rule。 The African nation is unnamed。 But its out of the frying pan and into the fire as ‘the General’ becomes ‘the Dictator’， and life for citizens remains one of fear and oppression。 Samuel’s journey from childhood to his old age （he is now in his seventies， and resident on the island for twenty-three years） is marked by personal set-backs as he follows an idealistic path。 A lengthy stretch in prison is his reward for being a part of the newly independent nation， but it’s the primary women in his life， his sister Mary Martha， and wife Meria， that make you wonder if Samuel was just born unlucky。The book throws up some interesting， and obscure， imagery with the collective savagery of hens， and the occasional presence of giant crabs being two examples。 （I haven’t read any Jennings interviews， but I imagine there are some metaphors at work here）。I don’t expect An island to make the Booker shortlist， but overall I thought this was a mildly stimulating quick read。 。。。more

Kim ，

What。。。what did I just read？ I don't even know anymore。 It was interesting and had a unique vibe， but man it did a number on my mind， and I don't know if I fully understand it。 🤔 What。。。what did I just read？ I don't even know anymore。 It was interesting and had a unique vibe， but man it did a number on my mind， and I don't know if I fully understand it。 🤔 。。。more

Bob ，

A relatively engaging （if slightly overlong-feeling） parable that， at least to me， did not come across as the back of the book said as "an intense and powerful novel about guilt and fear， friendship and rejection; about the meaning of home" but rather worked for me as a way to consider again some fairly current topics in 2021: national identity particularly as it relates to the land one sits on， in-fighting， and the perils of us-vs-them。 While it's ably written， this is a slightly strange one fo A relatively engaging （if slightly overlong-feeling） parable that， at least to me， did not come across as the back of the book said as "an intense and powerful novel about guilt and fear， friendship and rejection; about the meaning of home" but rather worked for me as a way to consider again some fairly current topics in 2021: national identity particularly as it relates to the land one sits on， in-fighting， and the perils of us-vs-them。 While it's ably written， this is a slightly strange one for me， as the words that I would use to recommend it are ultimately those that keep me from loving it: "It feels like the best book you were never taught in highschool。" It's clear and thoughtful and engaging， but maybe a little too-on-the-nose in spots （particularly the crab stuff in the end。） Glad I read it though。 。。。more

Gaenor Bagley ，

Such a clever book。 A book that stayed with me and left me reflecting on loneliness， colonialism， power and corruption。It tells the story of Samuel who is living along as a warden on a remote island， where he grows food for himself and tends the lighthouse。 In echos of the current migrant issues in the world a body is washed on the beach。 To his horror， Samuel discovers the body is still alive。 Although he hates the idea of his isolation being invaded， reluctantly he nurses the castaway and shar Such a clever book。 A book that stayed with me and left me reflecting on loneliness， colonialism， power and corruption。It tells the story of Samuel who is living along as a warden on a remote island， where he grows food for himself and tends the lighthouse。 In echos of the current migrant issues in the world a body is washed on the beach。 To his horror， Samuel discovers the body is still alive。 Although he hates the idea of his isolation being invaded， reluctantly he nurses the castaway and shares some of his meagre food。 His hope that he will be sent back to the main land with the boat that brings him supplies is dashed when the castaway insists on Samuel hiding him。 Against his instinct and he can’t stop himself from helping the castaway until the twist at the end。 Samuel is coming to the end of his life and as he tends the island and reflects on the castaway he recalls episodes in his life， when he fought against the corrupt， despotic rulers who took over from colonial rule。 There are echos of a number of African countries in his story。 He falls in love with a member of a dissident grouping and they have a child。 The child， who he leaves with his sister， dies whilst he in prison。 He is arrested having demonstrated against the government， but having spared the life of a government police officer who arrests him。 He spends a long period of time in prison， so much so that he sees prison as his home and is unable to adapt to life outside。 The job on the island is his rescue。I felt a lot of sympathy for Samuel。 A man who was swept along with the fate of his country。 Fate dealt him a hard hand。 Interacting with others presented too many risks for him。 The island was where he could be true to himself。 I found his reaction to the castaway and the dramatic ending real and believable。 I admire Karen Jennings for thinking of a character like Samuel！ 。。。more

Eugene Novikov ，

The best of this year's long-listees so far。 One of those h books about （partially） unnamed characters in an （entirely） unnamed country， but it has a clear thesis and an abundance of compelling and heartbreaking detail laid out in careful， unobtrusive prose。 The best of this year's long-listees so far。 One of those h books about （partially） unnamed characters in an （entirely） unnamed country， but it has a clear thesis and an abundance of compelling and heartbreaking detail laid out in careful， unobtrusive prose。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=An Island

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=An Island&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,An Island&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0