Small IslandSmall Island
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1948 Hortense, a proper, ambitious young woman from Jamaica, arrives in London to join her husband, Gilbert, who served in the British air force in the war. Instead of the England she imagined, she finds a single cramped room in the house of Queenie, a white Englishwoman whose own husband hasn't returned from the war. Four narrators tell how their lives came together.
Why it's worth reading
The Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century, and it won the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year. It's funny, warm and sharp about race and empire.
You'll love it if you liked
White Teeth
The Vanishing Half
AmericanahGood to know
It moves back and forth between 1948 and the war years. Racism is depicted directly.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics79 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 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
- #481 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #920 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
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Wolf HallExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Small Island worth reading?
Yes. The Guardian named it one of the best books of the 21st century, and it won the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Book of the Year. It ranks #920 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Small Island about?
In 1948 Hortense, a proper, ambitious young woman from Jamaica, arrives in London to join her husband, Gilbert, who served in the British air force in the war. Instead of the England she imagined, she finds a single cramped room in the house of Queenie, a white Englishwoman whose own husband hasn't returned from the war. Four narrators tell how their lives came together.
How long does it take to read Small Island?
About 11 hours (441 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Small Island won?
Women's Prize for Fiction winner (2004).
What should I read after Small Island?
If you liked it, try White Teeth by Zadie Smith, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett or Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.