Reviews

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

chloe_s27's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.75

prettypious's review against another edition

5.0

This is the best book I’ve read this year thus far and not this calendar year, the actual past 12 months. All of the books I’ve read have temporarily been erased from my memory. This book is about environment justice, colonialism, racism, sexism, and childhood development. It’s told via multiple generations from the perspective of different members of a family and a Shakespearean choir with the central character thread being a girl named Thula who we see age from child through adulthood. This is a book that is sometimes uncomfortable to read. What we allow companies to do to communities here in the US and abroad is criminal, and we all have that blood on our hands. I do love the central message about doing what you can in that moment, everything in your capacity to be heard and fight injustice, and be willing to live free or die fighting by for it.

celsa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

dawnthoma100's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-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

5.0

This was an incredible book. The storytelling, characters and plot were all exceptionally written. Mbue has a way with words that makes the reader not want to put down her book. I found herself completely engrossed in what she wrote

nsilbernagel's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

madmollyann's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

frankie_vega's review against another edition

5.0

This story is a gut wrenching warning. Following the life of a fictional African village, this sorry reveals the consequences of relentlessly ripping into the earth to find oil.
This book reminded me to seek divine wisdom from my elders, my ancestors, from the earth (the ultimate ancestor).
This book reminded me that entire communities continue to be wiped out and scrutinized for resisting the colonization and exploitation of their home lands.
Although full of devastation and heart break, I recommend that EVERYONE reads How Beautiful We Were.

rachelkwashe's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

bontanicrailbeast's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

rietbelmans's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0