Scan barcode
kaymarieplz's review against another edition
3.0
It took me forever to read this because I rented the audiobook, got half way through, then forgot to renew it at the library for 6 months hahaha. Anyway I thought it was an interesting enough story.
mightymeep's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't gripped by this postcolonial African tale, although I do think it probably sums up a certain mood and time in Africa. This novel was written in 1979 and attitudes and times have changed considerably since then, but perhaps not as much as we would like to think.
What is interesting is that the book is written from the viewpoint of Salim, himself considered to be an outsider, with his Arabic heritage, who has moved from the coast to the interior. We follow events through his eyes as outsiders ourselves but this is frustrating because Salim is often overcome by listlessness and inertia and is often unable to make decisions about his future in the boom and bust African town at the bend in the river. The fortunes of the town and indeed the country depend on the new President, who has forced himself into power following a brief coup. The President, with his unsettling mixture of grandiose but flawed European ideas and African heritage, has brought stability and there is money to be made, but at the end we find the President is losing control and the boom time is disolving, eventually forcing Salim to make a decision about his future.
What is interesting is that the book is written from the viewpoint of Salim, himself considered to be an outsider, with his Arabic heritage, who has moved from the coast to the interior. We follow events through his eyes as outsiders ourselves but this is frustrating because Salim is often overcome by listlessness and inertia and is often unable to make decisions about his future in the boom and bust African town at the bend in the river. The fortunes of the town and indeed the country depend on the new President, who has forced himself into power following a brief coup. The President, with his unsettling mixture of grandiose but flawed European ideas and African heritage, has brought stability and there is money to be made, but at the end we find the President is losing control and the boom time is disolving, eventually forcing Salim to make a decision about his future.
susanbrooks's review against another edition
2.0
Got to page 100 and realized how bored I was and stopped. I've been wanting to read this author,
so am disappointed. I glanced at other good reviews of the book - many of them say how acccurate his
description of Africa is, then I saw one that said he was a lousy storyteller and thought yes! I'm not engaged
in the story.
so am disappointed. I glanced at other good reviews of the book - many of them say how acccurate his
description of Africa is, then I saw one that said he was a lousy storyteller and thought yes! I'm not engaged
in the story.
ajreader's review against another edition
3.0
Read my full thoughts on this book and hundreds more over at Read.Write.Repeat.
I did definitely enjoy reading a more diverse selection from the list. Naipaul brings a very different perspective of the world to his writing and his characters reflect that.
I did definitely enjoy reading a more diverse selection from the list. Naipaul brings a very different perspective of the world to his writing and his characters reflect that.
lindseyzank's review against another edition
4.0
It is apparent to me every time I read a Naipaul novel why he won the Nobel Prize in literature. His keen sense of man's disappointments is stunningly portrayed through memorable, though not always likable, characters. His descriptions are mesmerizing. He allows us to feel the troubles of Africa and her attempt to maintain pride in a violent, postcolonial era.
serrasa's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
sagarioo's review against another edition
4.0
En super god bog om det nye Afrika. Naipaul har et super flot og illustrativt sprog og bogen er generelt super velskreven.
Bogen handler som sagt om det nye Afrika. Hovedpersonen Salim er af arabisk afstamning og bor på østkysten af Afrika. Han hører fra en ældre familieven om en by, der ligger ved en flod med spændende muligheder og steder. Familievennen har haft en butik der og vil give den til Salim. Det land byen ligger i er for nyligt blevet selvstændigt og vi følger Salim oplevelser og liv i byen samt udviklingen af landet som selvstændig nation.
Landet bliver aldrig nævnt ved navn, men andre afrikanske lande nævnes, så man får stadig en fornemmelse af, at det er et virkelig sted. Men fordi landet aldrig omtales ved navn tænker man, at historien om landets udvikling som selvstændig nation kan overføres i en mere generel kontekst til de forskelllige afrikanske nationer
Bogen handler som sagt om det nye Afrika. Hovedpersonen Salim er af arabisk afstamning og bor på østkysten af Afrika. Han hører fra en ældre familieven om en by, der ligger ved en flod med spændende muligheder og steder. Familievennen har haft en butik der og vil give den til Salim. Det land byen ligger i er for nyligt blevet selvstændigt og vi følger Salim oplevelser og liv i byen samt udviklingen af landet som selvstændig nation.
Landet bliver aldrig nævnt ved navn, men andre afrikanske lande nævnes, så man får stadig en fornemmelse af, at det er et virkelig sted. Men fordi landet aldrig omtales ved navn tænker man, at historien om landets udvikling som selvstændig nation kan overføres i en mere generel kontekst til de forskelllige afrikanske nationer
jv42's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book is amazing and stays with you long after you read it. It's tough to say why it has such a profound effect, but maybe that's the point?
clayborn55's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-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? No
4.25