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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Torture, Violence, War
Moderate: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel quite conflicted about this book. I loved the first half, which follows Alfa in the trenches of the First World War. It was horrible and brutal, but at the same time believable, and the language really enhanced the reading experience. Normally, I don’t enjoy it when authors rely on repetition, but here it worked brilliantly to capture the relentless horrors of war.
The second half, however, was less successful. It felt confusing and left too many things unresolved, which made it less engaging for me. Still, I believe this is a book worth reading, particularly because it portrays the First World War from a perspective we rarely see—that of African colonialism.
Kind of read peeking out of one eye but also could not look away. Brutal, sad, beautiful. Arresting portrait of a man turned inside out by the madness of war
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Violence, War
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
At Night All Blood is Black popped up as a book recommendation on my timelines and I would like to take this moment to thank the Almighty Algorithm for knowing me so, so well and sending the 2021 International Booker Prize winner my way.
This story was written in seemingly simple prose in such a way that it showcased the undeniable power of words. It literally - in the true sense of the word - hurt reading about a Senegalese young man in the trenches, right after losing his childhood friend and more-than-brother. It’s cruel, so plain cruel, but from the very first moment you can’t look away.
At Night All Blood is Black shows what humans are capable of - and knowing what we’re capable of is both confrontational as it is comforting.
Ps. the original title Frère d’âme hits home more after finishing
This story was written in seemingly simple prose in such a way that it showcased the undeniable power of words. It literally - in the true sense of the word - hurt reading about a Senegalese young man in the trenches, right after losing his childhood friend and more-than-brother. It’s cruel, so plain cruel, but from the very first moment you can’t look away.
At Night All Blood is Black shows what humans are capable of - and knowing what we’re capable of is both confrontational as it is comforting.
Ps. the original title Frère d’âme hits home more after finishing
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, this was terrific. This book does wonderful things with the POV; it took me a while to get used to the prose, but it really elevates the story into something chilling and powerful
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes