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socorrobaptista's review against another edition
4.0
Uma narrativa que me levou a um mundo desconhecido, a lugares distantes no interior do continente africano, dos quais eu pouco ou nada tinha ouvido falar. Gostei bastante, a aprendi muito, e, principalmente, pude perceber, sob o ponto de vista de um jovem sonaliano, as crueldades do colonialismo, do racismo, e da discriminação. É uma narrativa de muita superação, e de muita dor.
sadiereadsagain's review against another edition
4.0
Trying to get back on track with the Shelterbox Book Club, and this was a good book to do so with. This is the story of Jama, the author’s father (though she does say that it isn’t strictly accurate), a Somalian, as he travels over East and North Africa on the search for his father and a place for himself. Set before, during and after the second World War, we meet Jama as a ten-year-old street child in Yemen as follow him as he travels through many countries on his search. Tackling Italian fascists, British colonists and the dangers of the land, he makes it to Egypt and a job on a ship to England, transporting freed Jewish prisoners.
This book is not an easy read – Jama faces many hardships and, particularly as he is so young, the brutality of his life is harrowing to learn about. But there are also moments where he gets to be a child, such as childhood was in that time and situation – I loved his adventures with his friends, though even this does have a heartbreaking outcome.
Jama is a determined young man, and although not all of this story is true to life it’s very clear why Mohamed wanted to honour him with this book. And she has honoured him – her prose is effortless and her descriptions of both people and landscapes are vivid and rich. Although Jama faces so many challenges, with death, torture and fear all through his journey, this book isn’t gratuitous…it just doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities many Africans experienced during that time.
This book is not an easy read – Jama faces many hardships and, particularly as he is so young, the brutality of his life is harrowing to learn about. But there are also moments where he gets to be a child, such as childhood was in that time and situation – I loved his adventures with his friends, though even this does have a heartbreaking outcome.
Jama is a determined young man, and although not all of this story is true to life it’s very clear why Mohamed wanted to honour him with this book. And she has honoured him – her prose is effortless and her descriptions of both people and landscapes are vivid and rich. Although Jama faces so many challenges, with death, torture and fear all through his journey, this book isn’t gratuitous…it just doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities many Africans experienced during that time.
merrynthomas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, Death of parent, Torture, Murder, Blood, and War
misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
He felt no joy or misery just a deep yearning for all things he had lost. The war was over but it had taken everything with it, and reduced his world to an island of peace surrounded by a sea of blood.
- Nadifa Mohamed
.
.
Wow, how do i begin my review aside from saying that I love this book. It was hauntingly beautiful but at the same time, it was not an easy read. It took me 4 days to finish this book. The story follow the journey of Jama in finding his father in Sudan. After losing her mother and was being forced to stay with his relative, Jama felt somewhat disconnected and felt that he should left and searching his own purpose and validity. The book traces his journey of from Aden through Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and finally to England. The time is the 1930s to 40s and much of the book is based in Eritrea and the war Italy bought to the region. Along the way, Jama witnesses Africa torn apart during the war orchestrated by European countries at that time. Jama loses his closest friends, finds love after the war and proceed to travel more. The portrayal of war, trauma and recovery written by Nadifa mohamed is enlightening and somewhat humbling for any reader blessed with a simpler life; in a country free from conflict and abundant with opportunity. Once i have finished reading this book that i found out Black Mamba Boy is based on the story of Nadifa Mohamed’s father, Jama, whom were first mentioned as a street child in Aden in 1935. I have the dejavu feeling when i read this because it reminded me so much of The Kite Runner as both are about it about a little boy who ventured thousands of miles in war-torn country but that's about as far as similarities went. For a debut novel, Nadifa mohamed stayed true to her root and unapologetically use slangs and terms that might difficult to grasp for those who are not familiar with culture but hey, that’s what google are made of. I deducted 1 star because the ending is too abrupt. I wish for more elaborate ending for me to finally say farewell to this tale.
- Nadifa Mohamed
.
.
Wow, how do i begin my review aside from saying that I love this book. It was hauntingly beautiful but at the same time, it was not an easy read. It took me 4 days to finish this book. The story follow the journey of Jama in finding his father in Sudan. After losing her mother and was being forced to stay with his relative, Jama felt somewhat disconnected and felt that he should left and searching his own purpose and validity. The book traces his journey of from Aden through Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and finally to England. The time is the 1930s to 40s and much of the book is based in Eritrea and the war Italy bought to the region. Along the way, Jama witnesses Africa torn apart during the war orchestrated by European countries at that time. Jama loses his closest friends, finds love after the war and proceed to travel more. The portrayal of war, trauma and recovery written by Nadifa mohamed is enlightening and somewhat humbling for any reader blessed with a simpler life; in a country free from conflict and abundant with opportunity. Once i have finished reading this book that i found out Black Mamba Boy is based on the story of Nadifa Mohamed’s father, Jama, whom were first mentioned as a street child in Aden in 1935. I have the dejavu feeling when i read this because it reminded me so much of The Kite Runner as both are about it about a little boy who ventured thousands of miles in war-torn country but that's about as far as similarities went. For a debut novel, Nadifa mohamed stayed true to her root and unapologetically use slangs and terms that might difficult to grasp for those who are not familiar with culture but hey, that’s what google are made of. I deducted 1 star because the ending is too abrupt. I wish for more elaborate ending for me to finally say farewell to this tale.
mbejjani's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
lola_yegon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
annika1893's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
emmacy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5