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readingwithgoose's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This was one of those rare cases where I found all of the short stories in a collection to be really good. Not stinkers, no duds, this one was incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Excrement, Infidelity, Body horror, Pregnancy, Kidnapping, and Slavery
savvylit's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Drinking from Graveyard Wells is a skillfully crafted collection featuring oft-forgotten Zimbabwean voices. Ndlovu explores a myriad of themes that have shaped modern Zimbabwe including colonialism, generational trauma, extractive capitalism, tourism, misogyny, and migration.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Gaslighting, War, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
jayisreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
I got a taste of Ndlovu's writing from the anthology, Africa Risen, which featured one of her short stories from Drinking from Graveyard Wells. While that particular story wasn't a favorite, I did enjoy the depth of her writing. This short story collection was a fascinating one, taking a speculative approach to immerse the reader into (primarily) Zimbabwean culture and history.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism, War, and Violence
spaceagemermaid's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Drinking From Graveyard Wells by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu is an evocative collection of darkly magical and modern stories unearthed from Zimbabwean lore and pop culture. Some are visceral nightmare-inducing accounts of vengeful spirits, sinister magicks, and spiteful gods. Some are chilling observations on the banality and cruelty of human nature. In these stories, Ndlovu critiques the corrupt political systems, defeatism, and economic impotence that undermine post-colonial cultures. She lays bare the insidious roots of patriarchy bent on stripping women of their basic human rights and agency. She calls out the unfairness and hypocrisy of society’s insistence that certain freedoms, including sexuality, must be taboo for women but not for men, and derides the sheer arrogance of men who dare hold women in their contempt. Ndlovu weaves emblems of popular culture, people, and urban tales into a tapestry of unsettling yet enthralling sense of unreal-realness that epitomizes the best afro-surrealism and afrofantasy have to offer.
Content Warnings
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Black mermaids defend their home by taking on environment-destroying politicians.
Flesh-eating ants … may just consume a billionaire.
Corrupt gods are stuck within capitalist power structures.
And that’s just the smallest peek into this PHENOMENAL collection.
Ndlovu writes fables, nuanced pieces that vary in style but craft powerful messages. The stories are very short: we’re looking through windows & witnessing bursts of life. The work is often surreal and takes inspiration from southern African mythology.
It’s frequently fantastical & magical, sometimes deeply intimate, and often veers into what feels like social horror.
Black women are the focus here. Drinking from Graveyard Wells honors and celebrates the magic of these women, but doesn’t shy away from their pain. The writing is gripping, empathetic, and intimate.
I was afraid and enamored and very moved.
Pre-order this collection ASAP. Or you’ll miss out on freedom-fighting shapeshifters and time traveling students and (rightfully) furious spirits … and just a whole lot of incredible content.
CW: death (including child death), murder, racism, colorism, genocide, war, colonization, sexual assault, body horror, pedophilia, abuse (emotional and physical), sexism, gun violence/mass shooting, war, classism
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Content Warnings
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
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