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anetq's review against another edition
2.0
Rather uninteresting book about literary drunkenness in a congolese bar (and just consider the missed potential in that sentence!) Though it might be a hit among young male students of literature with an admiration for Bukowski, and the likes. Oh and for the literary student there's a running game of "Spot the title"... Holden even shows up at the end asking about the ducks! (but don't worry there's a hint that he's from a book with "...the rye" in the title).
Stylisticly it's a strange creature: This book has no full stops, it just runs on and on, with the pointless tales of the drunk men and the women they blame for their misfortune (and where that trick makes me fly through the pages in a Saramago book, here it's just an annoying mess) maybe there's a linguistic beauty to some of the rambling on in the french original, I wouldn't know, if so it didn't really translate.
It may shine through in my description, that I'm not really amused. Or entertained. And while I appreciate the attempt to stick to the premise of this being the scribblings of a drunken disgraced former school teacher, I just don't see the point.
So if you're looking for a story revolving around the life in a congolese bar (who isn't?) Please read [b:Tram 83|25712965|Tram 83|Fiston Mwanza Mujila|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434090752s/25712965.jpg|42621228] in stead! (yes, it's from the other Congo)
Stylisticly it's a strange creature: This book has no full stops, it just runs on and on, with the pointless tales of the drunk men and the women they blame for their misfortune (and where that trick makes me fly through the pages in a Saramago book, here it's just an annoying mess) maybe there's a linguistic beauty to some of the rambling on in the french original, I wouldn't know, if so it didn't really translate.
It may shine through in my description, that I'm not really amused. Or entertained. And while I appreciate the attempt to stick to the premise of this being the scribblings of a drunken disgraced former school teacher, I just don't see the point.
So if you're looking for a story revolving around the life in a congolese bar (who isn't?) Please read [b:Tram 83|25712965|Tram 83|Fiston Mwanza Mujila|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434090752s/25712965.jpg|42621228] in stead! (yes, it's from the other Congo)
naimfrewat's review against another edition
5.0
This book must be read in French. I read a couple of excerpts translated into English, and I honestly felt the rhythm, the flow of the words, the repetition of expressions, and most certainly the humor of the book lacked their charm.
Yes, it feels like the book of an erudite, but that's precisely what the author is; one would not deride Eco for writing the way he does.
At the same time, I was intrigued with this blurring of the truth; can we trust the narrator? Are the "heroes" of his stories victims or villains? This questioning extends to Mabanckou himself, and I ask myself how much of those stories are the work of fiction and how much of them are, at least, inspired by true events?
I highly recommend it; the humor is my style, precisely because of the narrative style, of the choice of words, and of this morphing of verbs and adjectives and phrases to portray such a powerful image of a micro-world; that of a poor, neglected African "quartier".
Yes, it feels like the book of an erudite, but that's precisely what the author is; one would not deride Eco for writing the way he does.
At the same time, I was intrigued with this blurring of the truth; can we trust the narrator? Are the "heroes" of his stories victims or villains? This questioning extends to Mabanckou himself, and I ask myself how much of those stories are the work of fiction and how much of them are, at least, inspired by true events?
I highly recommend it; the humor is my style, precisely because of the narrative style, of the choice of words, and of this morphing of verbs and adjectives and phrases to portray such a powerful image of a micro-world; that of a poor, neglected African "quartier".
msaari's review against another edition
3.0
[ Arvostelukappale Aviadorilta ] Kuppinurin päätyi lukulistalle maahaasteen vuoksi: Kongon tasavalta puuttui listalta ja tässä se oli tarjolla vieläpä paikallisen kirjailijan toimesta – joskin on todettava, että Alain Mabanckou on professorina UCLA:ssa ja asuu Los Angelesissa.
Yhtä kaikki Kuppinurin on tajunnanvirtavyörytystä, jossa juoppo entinen opettaja Kuppinurin saa kantabaarinsa omistajalta vihon ja komennon ikuistaa baari kertomukseksi, koska "se aika kun isoäiti sängynpohjalta kertoi tarinoita oli nyt loppu ja kirjoitettu sana oli astunut sen sijaan sillä sehän jää, sanat ne ovat pelkkää mustaa savua ja villikissan pissaa". Kuppinurin tarttuu toimeen ja antaa palaa tekstiä, jossa ei pisteitä tai kappalejakoja tunneta, teksti räjähtää paperille sellaisenaan ja kertoo baarin taustasta, parin sen kanta-asiakkaan traagiset tarinat ja myös kertojan itsensä elämästä, jossa siinäkään ei hyvin käynyt.
Hämmentävä kirja. Tyyli on vähän raskasta luettavaa, onneksi kirjalla ei ole suuresti mittaa. Tällaisessa tekstissä rytmi on olennainen asia, epäilemättä tämä ranskaksi soljuu omalla tavallaan, mutta suomentaja Jaana Seppänen on saanut tekstin toimimaan. Se räyhää, riehuu, pomppii asiasta toiseen, tarjoilee paikoin herkullisia vertauskuvia, ronskia kieltä, juoppojen horinaa ja kirjallisuusviittauksia.
Kuppinurin jakaa varmasti mielipiteitä, eikä se minunkaan suosikkikirjojeni joukkoon nouse, mutta ei tämä nyt sentään pelkkää maahaasteen vuoksi kitumista ollut. Maltillinen kolme tähteä siis: tajunnanvirran ja baarikirjallisuuden ystäville, mutta ei todellakaan joka lukijalle. Mabanckoulta on suomennettu aiemmin 1970-luvulle sijoittuva satiirinen veijariromaani Pikku Pippuri, se lienee vähän tavanomaisempi ja voisi olla myös lukemisen arvoinen – kyllä Mabanckoussa tämän perusteella jotain lupaavaa on.
Yhtä kaikki Kuppinurin on tajunnanvirtavyörytystä, jossa juoppo entinen opettaja Kuppinurin saa kantabaarinsa omistajalta vihon ja komennon ikuistaa baari kertomukseksi, koska "se aika kun isoäiti sängynpohjalta kertoi tarinoita oli nyt loppu ja kirjoitettu sana oli astunut sen sijaan sillä sehän jää, sanat ne ovat pelkkää mustaa savua ja villikissan pissaa". Kuppinurin tarttuu toimeen ja antaa palaa tekstiä, jossa ei pisteitä tai kappalejakoja tunneta, teksti räjähtää paperille sellaisenaan ja kertoo baarin taustasta, parin sen kanta-asiakkaan traagiset tarinat ja myös kertojan itsensä elämästä, jossa siinäkään ei hyvin käynyt.
Hämmentävä kirja. Tyyli on vähän raskasta luettavaa, onneksi kirjalla ei ole suuresti mittaa. Tällaisessa tekstissä rytmi on olennainen asia, epäilemättä tämä ranskaksi soljuu omalla tavallaan, mutta suomentaja Jaana Seppänen on saanut tekstin toimimaan. Se räyhää, riehuu, pomppii asiasta toiseen, tarjoilee paikoin herkullisia vertauskuvia, ronskia kieltä, juoppojen horinaa ja kirjallisuusviittauksia.
Kuppinurin jakaa varmasti mielipiteitä, eikä se minunkaan suosikkikirjojeni joukkoon nouse, mutta ei tämä nyt sentään pelkkää maahaasteen vuoksi kitumista ollut. Maltillinen kolme tähteä siis: tajunnanvirran ja baarikirjallisuuden ystäville, mutta ei todellakaan joka lukijalle. Mabanckoulta on suomennettu aiemmin 1970-luvulle sijoittuva satiirinen veijariromaani Pikku Pippuri, se lienee vähän tavanomaisempi ja voisi olla myös lukemisen arvoinen – kyllä Mabanckoussa tämän perusteella jotain lupaavaa on.
irenerchao's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
sabagape's review against another edition
5.0
Tres bon livre. J'ai aime le style ainsi que les differents temoignages des personages.
In petit bémol pour les répétitions de phrases se fesant echo. C'est un style, je l'ai trouvé long. Mais ce n'est qu'une petite parenthese dansla vie du Credit a voyage.
In petit bémol pour les répétitions de phrases se fesant echo. C'est un style, je l'ai trouvé long. Mais ce n'est qu'une petite parenthese dansla vie du Credit a voyage.
samsam123's review against another edition
3.0
This was a text I read back in October 2017. It is a quick read. I really appreciated how it doesn't hold back. You get confronted with the dark and the foul. This work explores the depravity of drink as the narrator writes from within the confines of his local bar and own besotted perspective. The characters all have tales to tell and think their tale is deserving of being recorded. Mabanckou captures well the effect of drunken certainty, and how we tell stories to ourselves and the people around us. Ultimately, this story is about the stories we tell people about ourselves and others, as well as the stories we tell ourselves about ourself and others. There is also tons of intertextuality in this book! As I read, I was not certain that I was convinced by any of their stories. While it is a quick read, I don't think this book is for everyone. It can be difficult to relate to any of the characters, and I did not feel compelled by the narrative, but then again we are not supposed to like these character. This is a well celebrated author, and while I am convinced he is a good writer, I'm not sure his works are for me. I felt too much of a disconnect from the characters to really enjoy this particular work. I will read another one of his books, as I know he experiments with plot, character and narration.
wondarlice's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0