Some really gorgeous writing--Kincaid writes in particular about setting in ways that are gorgeous and haunting, and really disorient you in the best of ways. I think I would need to reread this again just to really get a sense of the writing, and really be able to let myself go and enjoy it to a deeper degree. But I really did enjoy it, and I think it's pretty accessible so could also be useful for the classroom for younger people. ( )

This was a very short audiobook on hoopla. Very lyrical and beautiful. I highly advise listening to the audiobook if the option is available. ( )

.75 stars because this improved and wasn't insufferable toward the end.

i really, really don't like her writing. she does a weird repetition thing that just doesn't work at all for me. and long (like pages long) sentences sometimes. it all feels like a mess, and is so uneven and frustrating to read. i think i actually hate it.

which is why the story what have i been doing lately surprised me - it was the same structure and repetition, but used to much better effect. i still wasn't a fan of the writing per say, but she twisted it a bit, which was both a nice change and an unexpected thing for her to do. so i did kind of enjoy that story. and the last, the title story, at the bottom of the river also was nice.

i tried to go into each story with an open mind, so did find those two to be alright, or even enjoyable, but the others, each time, just frustrated me with the language and the writing. i won't give kincaid more than one more shot before i give up on her. ( )

At the bottom of the river by Jamaica Kincaid is a colourful and poetic evocation of the Caribbean. The prose has a thoroughly poetic quality. Rhythmic repetition of sentence patterns and words hints at the rhythms of life, short sentences at a relative simplicity. Beauty is enhanced by detail-rich descriptions of people and the surrounding natural world.

With this work Kincaid completely lives up to her reputation. The book gave me exactly the reading pleasure I was hoping to find. ( )

Short stories that read like poetry. Trance-like, dream-like. Very unique voice. ( )