Don’t attempt to read Marlon James’s astounding new novel A Brief History of Seven Killings in short bursts on the train to and from work each day. You won’t be able to absorb all the intricacies of the novel and you’ll find yourself at your desk wishing you were anywhere but here as long as you here involves reading the book.

Don’t start looking up information about Jamaica as you will find yourself climbing out of an internet hole hours later especially after looking at these amazing images of rude boys. What’s a rude boy? What does all this have to do with Bob Marley? Get ready to fall.

Definitely don’t look up words like ‘batty boy’ or ‘rass cloth’, not because they’re offensive, but again see above.

Don’t forget to mark the page listing the cast of characters at the beginning. You’ll need to refer to this constantly.

Don’t let the size or heft of the book scare you off. It was worth straining my wrists and arms trying to read with one arm on the train.

Do realize that Marlon James might be one of the most gifted writers out there. Proceed to your nearest bookstore to buy his previous two books The Book of Night Women and John Crow’s Devil and read them immediately.