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savvylit's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Ndlovu, who is an excellent writer, is perhaps at her most skilled when her stories take on a mythological and surreal form. In one such story, the recently deceased toil away in a cave to appease a diamond-hoarding beast known as the Grootslang. In another, freshwater mermaids called njuzu vengefully thwart the building of a dam and reservoir in a river that they call home.
Overall, Drinking from Graveyard Wells is a delightful debut full of many memorable stories. I'm looking forward to whatever Ndlovu publishes next.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gaslighting, War, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
noahsingh's review
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Colonisation, and Gun violence
Moderate: Classism, Cultural appropriation, Police brutality, Addiction, and Death
Minor: Fatphobia
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.25
Overall, the collection addressed dark themes, especially to think about the oppressed (broadly speaking). I wouldn't say that these stories were pessimistic in nature, though, and still had glimmering moments of hope. I also found it interesting how Ndlovu navigated contending with the past and traditions through her characters living in modern times.
Really thought-provoking collection. Some things flew over my head, mostly because I'm not very familiar with Zimbabwean culture and history, but it was an opportunity to learn more and be immersed in some well-crafted stories.
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism, War, and Violence
tigger89's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Many, though not all, of the stories deal with injustice and rage, particularly that associated with womanhood. My favorite stories were Red Cloth, White Giraffe, Ugly Hamsters: A Triptych, Water Bites Back, Three Deaths and the Ocean of Time, and When Death Comes to Find You. I'd love to be able to sum up that selection with a theme, but I don't think there is one. These were just the stories that made me go, wow, more please!
Don't be fooled by the interior presentation of the book(font choice, margins, spacing, the stark white pages, etc). I believe it's due to being published by an academic press, but the vibe it gives off is very "classroom reading", when really this book is more than accessible to anyone looking for leisure reading. Whoever put the interior of the book together did it a disservice, because the style of these stories clashes so strongly with the spartan aesthetics. This is such a weird quibble, I know, and I'm not docking any points for it. It affected my reading a lot, though!
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Death
Moderate: Animal death, War, and Colonisation
spaceagemermaid's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Body horror, Cultural appropriation, and Gore
Moderate: War, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Xenophobia and Alcoholism
Yvette Lisa Ndlovu creates a haunting kaleidoscope of modern life seasoned by the rich history and lore of Zimbabwe. These short stories slip between genres, painting an eloquent, chilling, and sometimes painful picture of the countless unsung African women who have and continue to transport our civilization on their backs through time.starrysteph's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Mental illness, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Racism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Rape