KimKim
Score Classic
What it's about
Kim is an orphan of an Irish soldier, growing up as a street boy in Lahore, in British India, at home in many languages and religions. He attaches himself to an elderly Tibetan lama searching for a sacred river, and travels with him across India. Along the way he's recruited into the 'Great Game', the spying contest between Britain and Russia.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Modern Library list of the best novels and was voted onto the BBC's Big Read. It's a rich adventure full of love for India.
You'll love it if you liked
The Far Pavilions
A Passage to India
SiddharthaGood to know
It reflects British imperial attitudes, though more complexly than its reputation suggests. The language is dated.
By the numbers
- Readers2 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics80 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #133 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #569 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1965 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Adventurous
If you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Black Boy: A Record of Youth and Childhood
The Killer Angels
The HobbitExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Kim worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Modern Library list of the best novels and was voted onto the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #1,965 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Kim about?
Kim is an orphan of an Irish soldier, growing up as a street boy in Lahore, in British India, at home in many languages and religions. He attaches himself to an elderly Tibetan lama searching for a sacred river, and travels with him across India. Along the way he's recruited into the 'Great Game', the spying contest between Britain and Russia.
How long does it take to read Kim?
About 8 hours (312 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Kim?
If you liked it, try The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye, A Passage to India by E.M. Forster or Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.