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skeptista's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Devoured this book in about an hour and a half, it had me hypnotised with its repetitive rhythm so that I couldn’t stop reading even when the violence and bloodshed reached its peak. A short but powerful depiction of war, madness, the violence of colonialism, and brotherhood, At Night All Blood is Black delves deep into the psyche of a man driven to madness by the atrocities he witnesses on the battlefield.
.
After seeing his best friend (his closer-than-brother) Mademba die with his guts hanging out, feeling partially responsible for goading him into a senseless charge across no-man’s-land, our narrator Alfa begins to spiral. He refuses to end his friend’s life quickly, believing he has already done enough to hurt him, and this sparks a need for vengeance. Alfa begins a bloody campaign, killing enemy soldiers in the same way Mademba died, cutting off their hands as keepsakes, reminders.
.
This book is quite terrifying, demonstrating the effects the futile violence of war have on a man’s sanity. This is exacerbated by the racist tactics employed; Senegalese soldiers like Alfa and Mademba were ordered to play into the ‘savage’ stereotype, armed with machetes with the aim of striking fear into the heart of the German soldiers.
.
The translation by Anna Moschovakis is brilliantly executed, holding onto the rhythms and repetition so we can witness Alfa’s descent into madness through his language. He clings to phrases and repeated speech patterns the same way he clings to his last vestiges of sanity. The ending is truly haunting.
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Admittedly I didn’t get around to reading many of the International Booker longlisted books this year, but I can still confidently say this was a deserving winner!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Violence, and War
ida137's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and War
callanisreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Alfa, a Senegalese man from a small village, fights for France in World War I alongside his childhood friend. When his friend suffers a slow, agonizing death on the battlefield, Alfa grapples with impulses toward revenge, apology, and sadism. Diop centers an oft-overlooked band of soldiers in this disturbing novella that digs into the trauma of war.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Torture, Misogyny, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Gun violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, War, Mental illness, and Colonisation
lakeus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
SPOILERS AHEAD
I cannot piece together my thoughts on this book and I wonder whether it was the author’s intention to have that effect.
The chapters about Alfa’s time in the trenches following Mademba’s death and slow spiral into madness are so well written and heartbreaking, especially when reflecting on the death of the ‘traitors’ and his murder of the young German soldier- over who he feels some guilt towards. I think it shows the catastrophic effects of war and brutal violence on the human psyche and what grief can do to a person.
However, in the last few chapters I became confused at the drastically different tone and subject- mainly Alfa’s background- and the twist in the final chapter. I have my own interpretations of what it means but it did catch me off guard and shifted the book’s tone to mystery/fantasy depending on how you read it.
I will definitely need to reread the ending at some point.
I cannot piece together my thoughts on this book and I wonder whether it was the author’s intention to have that effect.
The chapters about Alfa’s time in the trenches following Mademba’s death and slow spiral into madness are so well written and heartbreaking, especially when reflecting on the death of the ‘traitors’ and his murder of the young German soldier- over who he feels some guilt towards. I think it shows the catastrophic effects of war and brutal violence on the human psyche and what grief can do to a person.
However, in the last few chapters I became confused at the drastically different tone and subject- mainly Alfa’s background- and the twist in the final chapter. I have my own interpretations of what it means but it did catch me off guard and shifted the book’s tone to mystery/fantasy depending on how you read it.
I will definitely need to reread the ending at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Violence, Vomit, and War
Moderate: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
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