Reviews

Riambel by Priya Hein

Only show reviews with written explanations

alenezela99's review

Go to review page

challenging dark informative reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.75

ciikum's review

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

joti's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

4.25

A very interesting read, highlighting a piece of Mauritian history (actually, Herstory) that often goes unmentioned. Original writing, consisting of short fragments with the actual story, mixed with flashbacks, poetry, and even recipes. There were a few times were things felt a bit too spelled out for me (when the children learn why history is so whitewashed), but then again it works within this kind of story. Definitely not a light read, but very well executed.

lipglossmaffia's review

Go to review page

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mimo_njuguna's review

Go to review page

dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

blessing_aj's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Riambel is the story of 15 year old, Noemi who slowly comes to terms with the despicable treatment of her people as part of the legacy of colonialism in Mauritius.

The story unfolds in very short chapters, some of which are as short as a single sentence. Most of it is narrated by Noemi except for one chapter that is narrated by her Achilles’ heel. These chapters are interspersed with poetry, native Mauritian recipes and snippets of memories from enslaved and abused women of the soil.

I liked the recipes and the fact that Noemi’s POV read like entires into a diary that a real life 15 year old - who is angry, frustrated and confused at the blatant injustices around her - would make. I didn’t like that the identities of the women whose memories made it into the book remained undisclosed. I get that the idea is probably that it doesn’t matter whose memory it is, since even Noemi and other young girls of the present generation still go through the same ordeal, but I really didn’t like it. I also wonder why it was important to include the French parts of the poetry in the English version.

What is clear is that this writer is livid about the subsisting legacies of colonialism and the horrors that the women have been subjected to in a country that is being promoted today as a prime tourist destination and I hope she writes some more about it.