Reviews

You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town by Zoë Wicomb

cal_devries's review against another edition

medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

dansquire's review

3.0

I found this book a bit hard to read and comprehend, although the writing is lovely and the author is clearly talented. Felt like there was a lot of South African context which needs background understanding, and the episodic style is not my bag. Also, the protagonist is dispassionate and difficult to identify with emotionally. But my South African girlfriend loved it, so that's probably just me!

montanaraymiller's review

5.0

This is one of my all time favorite books. When I read it, I lost track of everything else. I don't have my own copy because I keep giving it away.

rosadunnett's review

dark funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.5

ungoliant1234's review

2.5

The cycle varies in quality between different stories: a few are truly remarkable, but the vast majority fade into mediocrity. The text itself, while well written, is not especially engaging (save in parts) and the writing is not enough to elevate the overall reading.

leavingsealevel's review against another edition

3.0

The afterward to this book makes the point that fiction from the Global South is too often read *only* as a political/anti-colonial statement, rather than fiction in its own right. I agree, though I think in practice it's impossible to separate a work entirely from the context in which it was produced. You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town is a great read first--an engaging collection of stories. It's also an important political statement, and from what I understand Wicomb's work is deliberately political.

erin_gabrielle's review against another edition

boring as fuck

ramonaleanna's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

kp_12's review

2.0

Because the book is written like a memory of episodes, the prose was awkward, hard to follow.

hbelle01's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5