Kim

3.5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews

Summary
An orphaned son of an Irish soldier, raised by an Indian opium seller, agrees to become the helper of a Tibetan lama searching for a mythical river, but also becomes involved with British intelligence gathering.

Review
I first (and last) read Kim about 40 years ago. I recall that I liked it, but wasn't overwhelmed; I liked Kipling's other work better. Now, re-reading as an adult, I'm impressed that I did so well with it. The language is far more dense and allusive than I recall, and in this second reading, I had less patience for it.

Kipling grew up and worked in India, and he's clearly bringing his experiences and contemporary views to bear. There are plenty of stereotypes of Asians and Indians here, but there are also plenty about Britons and Europeans, and often just as unflattering. The impression is affectionate, though – while Kipling may use terms and phrases that we're no longer comfortable with, he's not mocking his stereotypes, just drawing them larger than life.

While there is a plot, the bulk of the book is a series of character sketches or descriptions – the impressions of Kim as he wanders around northern India with his lama. For those looking for an overview of an exotic landscape, I expect it was appealing. To be fair, Kim is a fairly well developed character, and his cohort is varied and fun. However, on this reading, I found the story difficult to engage with. As I've gotten older, I'm often impatient with description, and more interested in emotion; Kim's approach is generally the reverse. In visual terms, it's impressionistic – all color and little structure. The plot, while functional, is clearly intended as a carrier for the settings and characters, and not as an end in itself; it holds together, but doesn't bear too much attention. The characters are the book's strength, and frankly, there's more Kipling could have done here, especially if he'd been willing to go beneath the surface a little. The relationship between Kim and is lama is deep and textured, but it's largely hinted at rather than explored. As an adult, that's where I'd have liked to see the story go. As a child, I imagine that lack didn't bother me.

I didn't remember the book well, and had frankly expected something altogether different. While I first read this as a child, I find it hard to see as a children's book anymore. There's the clever protagonist to identify with, but the language is hard to follow. Then again, I did like it as a child, and we often underestimate children, so perhaps I'm doing that now. All in all, a colorful picture of a bygone India from a character and writer who cross boundaries.

Hell is full of books like these.

This was as strange book for me.
I had looked forward to reading it (perhaps too much) due to its popularity amongst people who are friends and those whose reviews I follow. My enjoyment of the book changed a number of times throughout my reading of it - which took me a bit longer than normal, as I fitted another book or two in between - at those times I wasn't loving it.

Ultimately I enjoyed it a lot. A couple of times on the way I just found myself confused about what was going on, but not motivated enough to go back and reread sections, so I just battled through. Part of that was the archaic language that crept in in places, part of it was probably just the storyline. Yes, there was the dated racism in the writing, but 1901 is not the political correct minefield we tread now.

No plot outline required - there are plenty of others there, done better that I would, and the book summary does a pretty good job anyway.

I did enjoy the characters, although I admit to (still) not really understanding a lot about them from the descriptions given, and the machinations of the Great Game were excellent, but for me, there were not enough of them... was it written with further stories in mind? (OK if someone tells me there are more stories I am going to edit that so as to not look foolish).

Four stars from me.