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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
sad
slow-paced
I can see why this was given so much attention at the time, but something about the writing style made it a bit of a slog for me. Also there is a particular violent scene which seems to be the author's self insert drawn from his experiences as an abuser. I didn't realize it at the time I picked up this book, but it turns out he rather bragged openly about the mistress he had and how he would beat her. Some of the sentences which he uses to describe that real life dynamic are echoed within his characters almost word for word.
There were some quotable bits and interesting nuggets of insight, but a lot of it just seemed... both racist and misogynistic, with little to redeem it that hasn't been said in much better ways in much better books.
There were some quotable bits and interesting nuggets of insight, but a lot of it just seemed... both racist and misogynistic, with little to redeem it that hasn't been said in much better ways in much better books.
"But Africa was big. The bush muffled the sound of murder, and the muddy rivers and lakes washed the blood away."
No wonder the main character was such a piece of sexist trash, the author could only write what he himself was. The author has said there are no female writers ever as good as him, spoke about beating his mistress and that “she liked it.”, and in an interview he stated he only got real pleasure from prostitutes, published while his wife was dying of cancer. Screw this man and good riddance that he is now deceased.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This postcolonial literature piece is truly remarkable. While it may be a bit lengthy, the way V.S. Naipaul portrays the concept of hybridity is simply brilliant in my eyes. Personally, I found myself connecting the most with the protagonist Salim and his close friend Indar. They navigate the postcolonial Africa with a sense of disjointedness, grappling with their identities. The motifs used in this book are just different and hard-hitting.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes