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polyphonic_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Murder
balladofreadingqueer's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book.
I had read about the man who this book is based on a few weeks before I found out this book existed. I know that he had been wrongly executed and only recently posthumously exonerated. This book looks at the life of a Somali immigrant to Wales as he is wrongly accused of the murder of a local Jewish woman shopkeeper.
It explores his nomadic, seafaring life, tumultuous relationship with his white Welsh wife and her family and his friendships and rivals with other Somali immigrants and African immigrants in England/ Wales. It clearly highlights the flaws in the Welsh justice system as he is convicted for a crime he clearly did not commit. The author clearly demonstrates how racism and xenophobia from judges, lawyers and the jury led to his wrongful conviction despite no evidence.
The trial and Mamood’s time in prison are the centre of this book. As he explores his inner life and memories and prepares for execution. His life before arrest is peppered throughout his memories and what happens his family after his wrongful murder by the state are only briefly addressed <\>
It explores his nomadic, seafaring life, tumultuous relationship with his white Welsh wife and her family and his friendships and rivals with other Somali immigrants and African immigrants in England/ Wales. It clearly highlights the flaws in the Welsh justice system as he is convicted for a crime he clearly did not commit. The author clearly demonstrates how racism and xenophobia from judges, lawyers and the jury led to his wrongful conviction despite no evidence.
The trial and Mamood’s time in prison are the centre of this book. As he explores his inner life and memories and prepares for execution. His life before arrest is peppered throughout his memories and what happens his family after his wrongful murder by the state are only briefly addressed <\>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Antisemitism, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Murder
bethvance's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Body horror, and Racism
Minor: Colonisation
kaymcardle67's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Racism
nialiversuch's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Classism, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Blood, Grief, Murder, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Cursing
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Antisemitism
deedireads's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Fortune Men is a novel based on a true story that occasionally drags a bit, but ultimately does a lot of things well. Once you hit the second half, though, it really takes off.
For you if: You like literary historical fiction based on real events.
FULL REVIEW:
The Fortune Men is my last read of the 2021 Booker Prize shortlist. I’m not sure I would have shortlisted it, myself, but I did ultimately walk away glad I read it.
This novel is based on the true story of Mahmood Mattan, who was wrongly accused of brutally murdering a Jewish woman shopkeeper, and the last person to be executed in Cardiff, Wales. Nadifa Mohamed brings to life his gritty character, the way racism and xenophobia touched every part of his existence, his interracial marriage, his dreams as a father, and his heartbreaking (misplaced) faith in the British justice system.
Things I really liked about this book: The dual POVs, which introduced us to the murdered woman and her family, and their own experiences with persecution. The handling of Mahmood’s troubled marriage and how the author gave it such nuance and heart. And pretty much the whole second half, which became more focused and faster paced.
As for the first half of the book, there was just something a bit detached, and slower-paced stretches that I wanted to love but never clicked for me. Pretty much everyone at book club felt similarly, but we all agreed that the ending was so engaging that by the time we finished, we’d forgiven our struggle with the first half.
So while this wasn’t my favorite ever, I would definitely be open to reading more of Nadifa Mohamed in the future.
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Fortune Men is a novel based on a true story that occasionally drags a bit, but ultimately does a lot of things well. Once you hit the second half, though, it really takes off.
For you if: You like literary historical fiction based on real events.
FULL REVIEW:
The Fortune Men is my last read of the 2021 Booker Prize shortlist. I’m not sure I would have shortlisted it, myself, but I did ultimately walk away glad I read it.
This novel is based on the true story of Mahmood Mattan, who was wrongly accused of brutally murdering a Jewish woman shopkeeper, and the last person to be executed in Cardiff, Wales. Nadifa Mohamed brings to life his gritty character, the way racism and xenophobia touched every part of his existence, his interracial marriage, his dreams as a father, and his heartbreaking (misplaced) faith in the British justice system.
Things I really liked about this book: The dual POVs, which introduced us to the murdered woman and her family, and their own experiences with persecution. The handling of Mahmood’s troubled marriage and how the author gave it such nuance and heart. And pretty much the whole second half, which became more focused and faster paced.
As for the first half of the book, there was just something a bit detached, and slower-paced stretches that I wanted to love but never clicked for me. Pretty much everyone at book club felt similarly, but we all agreed that the ending was so engaging that by the time we finished, we’d forgiven our struggle with the first half.
So while this wasn’t my favorite ever, I would definitely be open to reading more of Nadifa Mohamed in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Racism
marnie17's review
challenging
reflective
tense
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Racism
ladymirtazapine's review
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Islamophobia, Police brutality, and Violence
Minor: Colonisation and Transphobia
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My reading experience with this one was influenced by the fact that I knew what it was about and how it ended before I started reading. Yet, despite being an adult and knowing how both books and the real world work, as I read I found myself hoping something would happen to change the trajectory of this story. Of course it didn’t.
The emotions this book elicited - especially the sadness, anger and disbelief- were expected. What I wasn’t necessarily expecting was to find such a rich character study of a colourful if flawed man. The setting - both time and place was also richly drawn and I was surprised by just how multicultural, yet non-integrated the area was in the early 1950s. Learning about Mahmood Mattan’s upbringing and travels, seeing the way he interacted with his wife, children and the wider community, as well as they way they interacted with him, ensured that I saw him as more than a victim of gross injustice. Paradoxically it also heightened my sense of that injustice because I could see him as a unique individual rather than a generic stereotype. He was not a blameless man and his faults arguably contributed to his conviction. But should justice only be available to those with a spotless character?
Final verdict - A heavy hitting character study highlighting a historical true case of institutional racism with the justice system. One that is sadly still all-too-relevant today.
The emotions this book elicited - especially the sadness, anger and disbelief- were expected. What I wasn’t necessarily expecting was to find such a rich character study of a colourful if flawed man. The setting - both time and place was also richly drawn and I was surprised by just how multicultural, yet non-integrated the area was in the early 1950s. Learning about Mahmood Mattan’s upbringing and travels, seeing the way he interacted with his wife, children and the wider community, as well as they way they interacted with him, ensured that I saw him as more than a victim of gross injustice. Paradoxically it also heightened my sense of that injustice because I could see him as a unique individual rather than a generic stereotype. He was not a blameless man and his faults arguably contributed to his conviction. But should justice only be available to those with a spotless character?
Final verdict - A heavy hitting character study highlighting a historical true case of institutional racism with the justice system. One that is sadly still all-too-relevant today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Religious bigotry
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