Kim

Colonialism! It's a shame about it, because there was a lot more to like in this book than I'd necessarily expected. Kim himself is a winning character, smart and savvy and loyal and very easy to get and stay engaged with. The depiction of his travels through the subcontinent is vibrant and detailed, making Kipling's affection for India clear. It was the first time I'd learned about the time period the book is set in, against the backdrop of “The Great Game” between Britain and Russia for control of India and central Asia, and it definitely spurred some interesting Wikipedia deep dives. And while I wouldn't say Kipling's portrayals of Indian characters are hugely problematic, the casual racism and imperialism and colonialism is pervasive throughout and it kept me from regarding this more highly.