Deen Datta, a dealer of rare books and not renown for being an adventurer, suddenly finds his life taking an unexpected and not very comfortable turn when he pays a visit to a mysterious island in the Sundarbans, a mangrove area in the delta of the Bay of Bengal. He has become fascinated by the story of a man called the Gun Merchant. His curiosity is rewarded by a visit to the temple on Gun Island where a series of strange events are initiated in which Deen begins a voyage of discovery that takes him from his adopted home of America to the watery world of the historically cosmopolitan Venice.

Gun Island is not only about Deen taking himself right out of his comfort zone, but also the story of refugees both ancient and modern, as well as man’s effect on the environment and wildlife. It is about the dangers and trials refugees must face in their journey to safety and a new life and the cost of not considering our planet sympathetically.

At times the way the story is written feels as if the hand of the late W G Sebald is at work, because of the way Deen relates his tale, slipping between real-life and ancient and modern stories. Indeed, if I had not known this was a work of fiction, I would have thought Deen a real person who weaves interesting historical asides into the main narrative of his voyage of discovery across continents. At other times there is the feel of something otherworldly or surreal in the style of a dreamy modern fairy tale, which all hangs together in one smooth narrative.

It is not so much that Deen is a man of action and direction, but more that he is a tentative explorer whose curiosity means he must follow each thread to its conclusion. Along the way he has some timely encounters and advice, both real and supernatural.

In all Gun Island is a very satisfying novel to read and an enjoyable adventure to curl up with.

Gun Island is a contemporary novel worth savouring rather than devouring, and as we travel seamlessly between times and continents we are treated to an epic adventure of immense breadth and depth. Encompassing a range of themes including important and prevalent topical issues such as climate change, the refugee crisis and the influx of migrants flowing through Europe looking for a better, safer life, Ghosh holds a mirror up to ourselves for us to see the dire state we currently find ourselves in. It's an exquisitely written exploration of myth, legend, history, magic and folklore set against the struggle for identity and finding a place in the world you feel as though you belong, and Ghosh contrasts the characters personal struggles against those of the wider world.

The cast of characters are so beautifully painted that each comes alive on the page, and we journey with main protagonist Bengali-American Deen whilst he attempts to discover himself. It is a vivid and richly-imagined piece and I found it rather moving and poignant as well as thoroughly absorbing and engaging from beginning to end. Although it points out the serious problems that places our world at the brink of collapse Ghosh also shows that there is reason to be hopeful. This is an entertaining read with lots to say on the state of the world we inhabit and is both illuminating and thought-provoking. A superb and highly ambitious book! Many thanks to John Murray for an ARC.

A fascinating mix of folklore, legend, refugee crises and climate change. Modern problems entwined with mythology. Richly descriptive and a great read.

‘”The legend is filled with secrets and if you don’t know their meaning it’s impossible to understand.” And then he added: “But some day, when the time is right, someone will understand it and who knows? For them it may open up a world we cannot see.”’

Approaching his late fifties, rare books dealer Dinanath Datta – known as Deen – is, quite frankly, a bit of a downer, moping about over his failed love life and generally being gloomy. From friends, he learns of the legend of the Gun Merchant and the existence of a mysterious shrine in his native Bengal. The shrine is on an island called Bonduk-dwip, translated as Gun Island. Deen is encouraged to visit the island and from then on everything goes a bit off-piste. His adventures involve his friend Piya, with whom a romance may perhaps be possible; the two young men Tipu and Rafi, who embody the migrant spirit; and Cinta, a renowned scholar and long-time acquaintance who helps Deen explore the riddle of the Gun Merchant legend. Travelling across the globe, from New York to Bengal, from Venice to Los Angeles, this is an intelligent, beautifully written book that confronts many of today’s current crises: migrants, global warming and man-made pollution, and mankind’s connection – or lack of – with Nature.

Fittingly, for a book about a legend, it is itself a very meta kind of novel: there are stories within stories, as characters reveal their past (usually prefaced by: ‘it’s a long story’). At one point Deen, a lover of books, of course, reflects back on his childhood fondness for novels: ‘how can any reality match the worlds that exist only in books?’ This aspect of the novel is an interesting one, as Ghosh muses constantly on legends, stories and myths, and the importance they have in individual and cultural identity. But, what it means for this particular novel is that it all felt a little unsure of its own identity; what begins as a fascinating look at the Gun Merchant legend, and how it possibly came about – it transpires that the name of the island shrine could actually mean something else entirely – suddenly becomes a Dan Brownesque chase across the globe, complete with symbols and codes to decipher. There are pretty unbelievable coincidences throughout the book, as Deen just happens to be passing a particular place and bumps into someone he knows, or when he shouts out for help when he and Cinta are in danger, the voice that responds just happens to speak Bangla and, lo and behold, is someone else he has previously met. Tipu, having been bitten by a snake, suddenly starts getting visions and exchanges cryptic messages with Deen…I’m afraid by this point I was getting a little frustrated.

As the book drives towards its climax – a boat chase involving a migrant ship in which all the main characters converge – there are extraordinary, almost supernatural omens and events that suddenly shift the novel into a whole other dimension. And when the book itself directs attention to these events – as characters exclaim ‘I’ve never seen anything like this’ – it all gets a little heavy-handed. Suddenly we are delivered a sermon on global politics, migration and society that felt, well, exactly that: preachy. And then…the end. Just like that. A bit of a damp squib, leaving this particular reader a little vexed at the abruptness.

I am a huge fan of Amitav Ghosh, and the concept of the novel and its examination of myths and stories in modern culture and society was a strong one, but as it developed I felt the book lost its way, tried to become both a code-busting, globe-trotting thriller and a critique of Western attitudes to migrants and climate change, and in doing so lost its impetus. The writing is excellent, but the central character of Deen is a bit of a wet blanket, to be honest, more passive than active. Frustrating is the word I would use for my reaction to finishing this – it could have been so much more, so just an average 3 stars, I’m afraid.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

I am truly saddened that this book turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. I've been fascinated by the myths and mythology explored in the first 2/3 of the book. I've enjoyed reading about the Sundarbans and life in this magical part of India/Bangladesh. I even loved the parts about Venice and its history. But sadly, I felt the supra-natural/fantastic was elevated to a level of reality that in mind is not actually possible. And on top of that, some of his socio-political theories dipped into conspiracy territory. So while I've been mesmerized by so many aspects, and I've learnt so much, overall I just couldn't accept the stretch into miraculous nor was I "impressed" with the "white race" conspiracy.

It started with a single phrase: 'Bonduki Sadagar' meaning 'gun merchant'. Rare book dealer and Indian folklore expert, Deen, is Bengali but lives mainly in Brooklyn. He is approached at a party by a relative who turns Deen's understanding of a folk tale of this name on its head. His research to find out more introduces him to Piya, a fellow Bengali-American, who tells him her memories of learning of the story in the aftermath of a devastating cyclone in Bengal in 1970. This leads him to several other people with their own slant on the tale of Bonduki Sadagar.. Superb narrative plotting ensures the story flows swiftly between continents and time-frames. A true adventure, encompassing many important events of the 20th century.

This is a beautifully written book which is interesting. I did struggle in places to keep reading. The book is intriguing though.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A thought provoking novel which is to be savoured, not rushed.
Although on the surface an uncomplicated story, the author has managed to encompass many themes and issues.
This book is ideal for discussion, I cannot wait for my book club to meet so I can recommend it for our following meeting.

Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh
Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh is a fascinating mixture of folklore, legend, climate change, the refugee crisis and other problems which beset the modern world. Here current issues are interwoven with mystical stories of the past. The story revolves around Deen a dealer in rare books who feels he is becoming a relic of the past. He is looking for his place in the world and finds his belief systems turned on their head. He finds the answers he has been searching for through encounters with a variety of people from many backgrounds in places as far flung as America, India and Italy.
I found the interconnection between Bengali and Venetian mythologies riveting and the linking of global problems with individual issues was extremely well realized. It is an unusual mix of magical and everyday events. An enjoyable read which is ultimately uplifting. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Gosh, I’m glad I’m not in charge of filing this book into a category, because it’s very hard to classify. Deen is a rare book dealer who splits his time between Brooklyn and Kolkata. It’s while back in Kolkata that a relative tells him of a folklore tale and a temple visited long, long ago. Thus commences what I guess you could call Deen’s quest to understand the tale of the Gun Merchant and Gun Island, which takes him to remote parts of India and ultimately to Venice. It’s more than a quest story though, it brings in issues of our age such as climate change and migration, all wrapped in a mix of realism and the supernatural. Ultimately, hard to pin down as a book but nevertheless a very enjoyable read and one I was sad to finish.

A beautifully written, richly descriptive novel from Amitav Ghosh, of history, of legends, magic and folklore, environmentalism and our place in a world consumed by turbulence, endangered by global climate change. The contemporary world with its problems of migration, refugees, and Fortress Europe, and the personal search for identity, faced by so many, are encapsulated within the vibrant narrative and its colourful diversity of characters, and the life changing adventurous journey through a myriad of locations, of the middle aged protagonist, Deen Data. Deen is a New York dealer of rare books, with a Bengali background, feeling a sense of dissonance, feeling he is neither at home where he lives nor as part of the Indian Bengali community. His world and belief system is turned upside down as he is exposed to encounters with the likes of Piya, Tipu, and the Venetian Cinta, and opened to connections with an ancient history and mythologies, and of all their interconnections that link to him and who he is.

This is a story that could have missed its mark with the emphasis on climate change and environmentalism, but Ghosh sidesteps this by focusing on the micro level, making the characters come alive in the circumstances they find themselves in and the scenarios and dilemmas they face. This is a moving story of a search for identity, history, folklore and a world with desperately troubling issues, yet Ghosh interconnects and invigorates everything, the past with the present, the individual with the world, and leaves us with hope. A brilliant and thought provoking read. Many thanks to John Murray Press for an ARC.

Gun Island spans space and time, presenting a world on the brink of increasing change, and the exploration of faith and hope through folklore and legend.

I’ve enjoyed every Amitav Ghosh book I’ve read, so I was very excited to obtain an Arc for GUN ISLAND.

Much of this thriller is centred around places I’ve been to in India with wonderful details about life there, the effect of climate change, immigration and technology. It moves to other places, New York, Oregon, Venice and Bangladesh while keeping the theme resonant.

The story mixes Bengali myths and reality with a slow burn plot that still kept me gripped until the climax. The story follows Deen, an antique book seller, as he navigates a world that is more magical than he first thought. Perhaps some of the minor characters and their connections could have been fleshed out more, but these are minor grumbles of an outstanding novel.

Deem is a great character – a ‘coconut’ who feels out of place in New York, yet doesn’t fit in as Bengali in India. His story of history and belonging and heritage will stay with me for some time.

The Ibis Trilogy remains amongst my favourite novels of all time and I suspect that I was not alone in hoping that Amitav Ghosh would turn it into a Quartet and tie up some loose ends. However besides being an outstanding author, Mr Ghosh is also a hugely committed environmentalist and has chosen instead to produce a fiction which I believe is loosely based on a series of lectures he gave to a Berlin conference. He clearly believes that issues such as the refugee crisis and people trafficking are inextricably linked to the devastating impact of climate change in poorer areas of the planet in Africa and Asia and he has taken this as his starting point for a highly original but immensely satisfying novel.

There is always a danger that a novel based around huge, complex challenges will end up as a polemic but AG is such a wonderful storyteller that he avoids falling into this trap and simply allows the themes and issues to weave their way into the basic story of a rather boring middle-aged man who almost unwittingly, embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As such, I never felt I was being preached to, but instead was simply swept along by a powerful story which spanned the planet.

The book was not without faults. I found some of the ‘magical’ elements jarred, there were a few too many coincidences and I would like to have seen more space given to fleshing out the characters and motivations of some of the key characters.

However, these are minor grumbles. This is an exceptional novel by an author at the very height of his powers and is thoroughly recommended.

I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers, John Murray, for an ARC in return for an honest review

This book has an unusual setting,in Venice and Bengal which us used to advantage by the author. The timing of the story flows effortlessly from romantic times to the reality of modern issues such as immigration which is handled superbly, The rather idealists c central character is aided in his journey by two very different women. He is prone to take magical stories too seriously but his belief that all is planned and for a purpose is proved to be right. The is book us beautifully written with much that is mystical as well as contemporary. It is not a book with a storyline designed to stop you putting the book down but is instead written in a style to be studied and savoured.

When I started reading the book, initially, I did not realize that the story had begun. It felt more like the author was talking about his own life. When there seemed to be some discrepancy about the narrator's background with that of the author's I realized my mistake. The story is of a 'Deen' who works with antique books. He is in India for a yearly holiday and that holiday is coming to an end. He runs into a relative who in turn asks him to visit an older lady with a tale to tell. This story sets him off on an adventure that will span a few years a lot more countries. At the heart of this story are the emotional status of refugees and the concept of borders. The rest of it is a historical tale with a bit of magic and suspension of normal rationality. This would where Tipu comes in. He is a kid who seems to know too much for his own good.

Dinanath and all the people he encounters help him make his way through the labyrinth of information provided to him. Some of the means that this information gets to him involves visions and help from probably other-worldly sources. The only thing that was off was Piya and their whole interaction seemed rushed, to say the least. The most energetic and informed was Cinta, a Venetian who provides much of the data that the story actually needs to proceed and continues to act as a catalyst at every stage. It reminded me of another of his series' that I started but never finished. This is like a treasure map without an actual treasure at the end of it, but the journey to the end being the point. 

I would recommend this book to those people who like adventures that bring back a story from centuries ago and the retracing involves a lot of research.

I really enjoyed the Ibis trilogy; epic in scope and content and I was captivated by every volume. I was looking forward to Gun Island which sounded like a sweeping tale.

I’m sorry to say I was disappointed. I found it a struggle to engage with Deen, an Asian book dealer based in New York. He visits India and becomes embroiled in folklore which sets him off on a further journey of discovery. The first few chapters I found very slow and slightly confusing. Ghosh clearly loves language and there are occasions throughout the story where he almost seems to be playing with words. This was a pleasure in other books, but it really slowed down an already plodding narrative.

As other characters are introduced, they’re diverse, but lack the vibrancy I expected. Then the story felt more like a discourse on climate change and immigration and I found it even more difficult to remain interested.

Not his most compelling work and if you haven’t read anything else by Ghosh, I recommend you start with his earlier works which are very different. My thanks to the publisher for an early review copy via Netgalley.

You can always guarantee a good solid story when you pick up a book by Amitav Ghosh and this is no exception. It’s a magical tale, one made up from legends, fantasy and full of magical realism too. Locations switch from India, Venice and Los Angeles on a trail for something elusive and rare..

However, where this book is clever is the way it also manages to highlight serious issues such as climate change and immigration in such a lyrical way, you really sit up and take notice. It’s quite a slow read as the story jumps from one place and time to another, there’s flashbacks and historical snippets throughout, but the picture builds to reveal a full and colourful narrative.


It read like a journey of discovery, a colonial adventure and in many ways it was. Deen is an outsider in both countries he visits. Living in New York, he travels to India and Venice and finds himself in places his Bengali heritage is called into question even amongst the Bengali communties there.

The Indian set parts were the most fascinating as the story seemed to change when he got to Venice. It got a bit more serious and the story of legends didn’t feel as strong or connected here. When he went to the Sundarbans, I was transfixed. This was a place of local legends and he meets many people along the way who will all have some impact or relevance on his own life.

This was a novel of two sides, of two halves. One a novel about travel, migration and wanting to belong, and the other, a tale of heritage, history and looking within yourself. Merged together, it’s quite a story.
And that elusive Gun Island will fascinate me for a long time to come.

I love Gosh's writing anyway, and this book didn't disappoint me. It was a very well told tale of a man's finding himself. It's very rich, covering many contemporary issues, many different characters, stories in the story.

I loved the writing and how Gosh is masterfully waves everything together.
If you're a literary fiction lover, it's a must read.

Thanks a lot to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think the best way to describe this book would be compelling. I found it compelling enough to carry on to the end as I was intrigued as to what would happen, but also what it was all about too - because it was quite easy to lose track once the protagonist made their way to Venice...

It felt like a book of two halves, with the first half keeping you gripped with the author's fantastic story telling seeming to weave a nice story with a compelling outcome to come. Sadly it didn't really materialise.

Whilst the story itself didn't feel complete, the author's style was great in certain threads of the tale. There are parts where you're left wanting to know more around certain character's journeys, but there's also bits - especially when it comes to the environmental/mystical elements where it confounds a little.

When I was thinking about how I'd describe it, I figured it was a mix between an Inconvenient Truth, A Life of Pi and a Merchant of Venice. The best parts of it came during the India/Bangladesh part of the book, with the Venetian elements becoming a bit of a drag and some of the coincidental meetings feeling a bit sharp and sudden.