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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I think this scene from Ngozi Adichie's Americanah sums it up nicely:
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Kelsey, who Ngozi Adichie later goes on to describe as "this girl who somehow believed that she was miraculously neutral in how she reads books, while other people read emotionally," would presumably find common ground with V.S. Naipaul, who once claimed to be neutral himself:
A bold stance for a man whose quotes include,
- "I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me."
- "Africa has no future."
- on his birthplace Trinidad, "unimportant, uncreative, cynical, a dot on the map."
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"I've been reading books to get ready. Everybody recommended Things Fall Apart, which I read in high school. It's very good but sort of quaint, right? I mean like it didn't help me understand modern Africa. I've just read this great book, A Bend in the River. It made me truly understand how modern Africa works."
Ifemelu made a sound, halfway between a snort and a hum, but said nothing.
"It's just so honest, the most honest book I've read about Africa," Kelsey said.
Ifemelu shifted. Kelsey's knowing tone grated. Her headache was getting worse. She did not think the novel was about Africa at all. It was about Europe, or the longing for Europe, about the battered self-image of an Indian man born in Africa, who felt so wounded, so diminished, by not having been born European, a member of a race which he elevated for their ability to create, that he turned his imagined personal insufficiencies into an impatient contempt for Africa; in his knowingly haughty attitude to the African, he could become, even if only fleetingly, a European. She leaned back on her seat and said this in measured tones. Kelsey looked startled; she had not expected a minilecture. The she said kindly, "Oh, well, I see why you would read the novel like that."
“And I see why you would read it like you did”
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Kelsey, who Ngozi Adichie later goes on to describe as "this girl who somehow believed that she was miraculously neutral in how she reads books, while other people read emotionally," would presumably find common ground with V.S. Naipaul, who once claimed to be neutral himself:
“I didn't make the world; I tried to record it accurately and without prejudice. To have a political view is to be prejudiced. I don't have a political view”
A bold stance for a man whose quotes include,
- "I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me."
- "Africa has no future."
- on his birthplace Trinidad, "unimportant, uncreative, cynical, a dot on the map."
Ceritanya sangat lambat, ini wajar sih karena buku ini bisa dibilang literary novel. Isinya lebih banyak pikiran dalam hati si protagonis dibandingkan dialog. Tapi yang paling parah adalah terjemahan bahasa Indonesianya yang jelek banget! Banyak idiom bahasa Inggris yang diterjemahkan secara harfiah, banyak penggunaan kata yang kurang tepat dan bikin pembaca harus berpikir ekstra untuk memahami buku ini. Akhirnya nggak dilanjutin deh.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was enjoying this book, and feeling like it would be a 4 star... until Chapter 14. The chapter includes a completely unnecessary domestic abuse scene. Any number of things could have happened to end that relationship, so I found it gross that domestic violence was used. If it had been explored in the story in any way, this would have been a different matter, but it was completely glossed over, and no attempt at social commentary was given. This is a main character you are meant to root for, but I despised him after he so nonchalantly beat the woman he supposedly cared so much about. And for Naipaul to present the woman as almost caring more for Salim after the abuse, and still 'offering herself' to him, was vile.
Aside from this, I found that small, scenic things were described in beautiful detail, which gave a real atmosphere. However, main 'plot points' (though it isn't a book with much plot) were skimmed over, and I was left feeling as if I'd missed important information when none was actually given.
I felt I was missing the wider picture of Africa seen from Africans themselves, and not just from 'outsiders'. There were many Africans in the book, but they were hardly ever in prominent positions, which I suppose is the point of the novel. Reading this has made me realise that I want to read more books actually set in Africa, not just books by people of African descent.
Aside from this, I found that small, scenic things were described in beautiful detail, which gave a real atmosphere. However, main 'plot points' (though it isn't a book with much plot) were skimmed over, and I was left feeling as if I'd missed important information when none was actually given.
I felt I was missing the wider picture of Africa seen from Africans themselves, and not just from 'outsiders'. There were many Africans in the book, but they were hardly ever in prominent positions, which I suppose is the point of the novel. Reading this has made me realise that I want to read more books actually set in Africa, not just books by people of African descent.
Sad almost-true-to-life account of Indians in Africa and how turmoil affects them. Found it a bit boring.
I read this book at the pace which the primary character is living - very slowly with the story washing over me. This book is desolate in its messages around post-colonialism society as countries struggle toward new definitions of civilization. I found it hard to read but worth it, despite its end leaving me with a sense of despair.
challenging
reflective
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'm gonna read a couple more books from him and then decide if I like him or not. I'll give it a 3.5 for now.