loved it second or third time around and still think its the best ( )

This was a good story for me, but I can't recall much about it, and do remember Kim's place as a native under a colonialist society. ( )

Couldn't possibly finish this. I felt my life-force ebbing away every time I tried to continue it. ( )

Overall a nice read, moves at a slow pace but two things in particular kept me interested: the immense cultural and linguistic references, and the wider backdrop of the geopolitical 'great game' played in espionage between Great Britain and Russia.

This book has motivated me to check out more literature of the subcontinent, as it really does portray British India in such a fascinating light - a flurry of religious, racial, linguistic and cultural diversity. Coming from a South Asian background myself, it was a genuine pleasure to have understood the myriad of cultural and linguistic references. I've never experienced that from a novel before.

The second thing this book has sparked an interest of is British Intelligence services, both within the context of the Great Game and later conflicts. John Le Carre's novels come to mind.

Of course, I did not read it particularly critically and not being fully aware of Kipling's racial views (apparently it was him who coined the 'White man's burden' phrase?) I can't analyse the book in this fashion. Though there were were some problematic remarks about certain groups, they were never the dominant theme. Hence I am inclined to give the benefit of the doubt and attribute such things to the context of the times. For me, this was easy because I got this book freely from the public domain and nowadays that takes like a century or something. ( )

Adventures of an orphan of an Irish soldier in India during The Great Game (political conflict between Russia and Britain). As the reader follows Kim the culture, people, and religions of India are explored. Kim is able to blend into the setting with ease. It is also a book of espionage of which Kim's life on the streets of India, people he encountered, and schooling has prepared him well. An enjoyable book. ( )