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morebedsidebooks's review
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Outing, Homophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Alcohol, Incest, Colonisation, Infertility, and Murder
bookishcori's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, and Homophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Incest, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
savgulick's review
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse
lleullawgyffes's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault
Minor: Incest and Rape
ohlhauc's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is not a book to be read at face value. To truly understand its power and impact, it's important to have some understanding of social conventions around gender and sexuality, as well as the colonial history with Spain, of Equatorial Guinea.
Without having this context, it would be easy for Western readers to dismiss this story because of its writing. It is very sparse, there are some plot holes, and there is much character development in the standard sense of the term, meaning, this development isn't put directly on the page. It's left in between the lines and requires the reader to actively engage with the text and fill in the gaps. If you hate that, you'll hate this book. If you love that or don't mind it, this book could be for you.
It is very much an allegory looking at what it takes to live freely, and to escape traditional conventions in a culture, especially when it comes to queerness, femininity and masculinity. It's very fast-paced and a lot of plot happens in the short span of the book, but each moment builds up the character's increasing self-awareness and eventual liberation. It's an important addition to queer fiction, especially queer fiction from communities that have levels of oppression against gender non-conforming people and those who aren't heterosexual.
It has a childlike quality to the writing but still holds on to a sexy, rebellious energy. I would have liked to see a few more scenes between the characters to better understand the depth of their relationships, but I did enjoy this. If the above doesn't scare you, please check it out.
Without having this context, it would be easy for Western readers to dismiss this story because of its writing. It is very sparse, there are some plot holes, and there is much character development in the standard sense of the term, meaning, this development isn't put directly on the page. It's left in between the lines and requires the reader to actively engage with the text and fill in the gaps. If you hate that, you'll hate this book. If you love that or don't mind it, this book could be for you.
It is very much an allegory looking at what it takes to live freely, and to escape traditional conventions in a culture, especially when it comes to queerness, femininity and masculinity. It's very fast-paced and a lot of plot happens in the short span of the book, but each moment builds up the character's increasing self-awareness and eventual liberation. It's an important addition to queer fiction, especially queer fiction from communities that have levels of oppression against gender non-conforming people and those who aren't heterosexual.
It has a childlike quality to the writing but still holds on to a sexy, rebellious energy. I would have liked to see a few more scenes between the characters to better understand the depth of their relationships, but I did enjoy this. If the above doesn't scare you, please check it out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence
polygamysarahtranslates's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape, Incest, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
La Bastarda is apparently the first book by a woman author from Equatorial Guinea to be translated into English. It’s a very slim volume with straightforward structure and prose. It is the story of Okomo. Her mother died in childbirth and she lives with her maternal grandparents. Nobody will give her any information about who her father is. Her grandparents are keen for her to marry, a rich man. But she is already in love. With a girl named Dina. Okomo’s Fang culture does not treat gay men well and they do not even recognise the existence of gay women. There is no word in the language for them.
I found this very accessible and readable. The insight into different cultural practices and beliefs was fascinating. Learning about life in other countries is interesting in its own right by it also gives me a new lens through which to examine life in my own country. I really felt for Marcelo (her uncle, a gay man or man-woman as the Fang culture derisively labelled him) under so much pressure to impregnate a woman whose own husband cannot, and Okomo who was simply unable to live the way tribal custom dictated. Thankfully both Marcelo and Okomo were able to find support with a found family of others who lived in the forest.
A useful book to read to gain more of an international perspective on gay rights, and a satisfying story to boot.
I found this very accessible and readable. The insight into different cultural practices and beliefs was fascinating. Learning about life in other countries is interesting in its own right by it also gives me a new lens through which to examine life in my own country. I really felt for Marcelo (her uncle, a gay man or man-woman as the Fang culture derisively labelled him) under so much pressure to impregnate a woman whose own husband cannot, and Okomo who was simply unable to live the way tribal custom dictated. Thankfully both Marcelo and Okomo were able to find support with a found family of others who lived in the forest.
A useful book to read to gain more of an international perspective on gay rights, and a satisfying story to boot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Incest, and Sexual assault
discotits's review
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Incest, and Child abuse
Moderate: Homophobia
talypollywaly's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you are interested in non-western LGBT narratives, please do yourself a favor and read this book! I would give out copies of this if I could. Incredibly underrated gem that leaves any white, western LGBT/feminist narrative in the dust. (I, too, grow tired of Carol being recommended left and right.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
katie_greenwinginmymouth's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a really interesting if fairly tough read. La Bastarda is the first novel by a woman from Equitorial Guinea to be translated into English. It’s really short so easily read in one sitting, but it tackles some pretty difficult and traumatic issues.
The story is set in a rural part of the country, society is very patriarchal and homophobia, sexism and prejudice against sex work are rife (content warning for all of these things and storylines involving sexual abuse). 16 year old Okomo is desperate to find out who her father is, she has no contact with him and her family refuse to tell her who he is. She has an Uncle who she is close to who is gay and an outcast from the family and village life. She gets her Uncle to help her find her father and along the way she falls in with the girls her grandmother calls ‘indecent’ (i.e. also gay) and discovers her own identity as a lesbian.
It was interesting that this small community of queer friends use the forest as a place of sanctuary rather than fleeing to the big city as often seems to happen in coming out narratives. They live lightly on the earth and don’t eat meat. There were some passing references to environmental issues and exploitation of resources by colonists that contrasted with their way of living - tellingly though it is Okomo’s uncle who gets blamed for bringing a curse on the village that has destroyed crops.
Obviously with it being a short book everything happens pretty quickly so there isn’t a huge amount of exploration of the characters’ inner feelings or how they got to that point - Okomo’s realisation of her sexual identity can feel pretty sudden for instance - but this gave the story a kind of fable like quality that I quite liked. I definitely found it hard to read because there was a lot of offensive homophobic language used so that’s definitely something to bear in mind. Obono herself is a prominent LGBTQ+ human rights activist in Equitorial Guinea and I got the feeling that the book was quite polemical. I think it’s currently banned in Equitorial Guinea. It’s a brave and challenging book and I’m glad to have read it.
The story is set in a rural part of the country, society is very patriarchal and homophobia, sexism and prejudice against sex work are rife (content warning for all of these things and storylines involving sexual abuse). 16 year old Okomo is desperate to find out who her father is, she has no contact with him and her family refuse to tell her who he is. She has an Uncle who she is close to who is gay and an outcast from the family and village life. She gets her Uncle to help her find her father and along the way she falls in with the girls her grandmother calls ‘indecent’ (i.e. also gay) and discovers her own identity as a lesbian.
It was interesting that this small community of queer friends use the forest as a place of sanctuary rather than fleeing to the big city as often seems to happen in coming out narratives. They live lightly on the earth and don’t eat meat. There were some passing references to environmental issues and exploitation of resources by colonists that contrasted with their way of living - tellingly though it is Okomo’s uncle who gets blamed for bringing a curse on the village that has destroyed crops.
Obviously with it being a short book everything happens pretty quickly so there isn’t a huge amount of exploration of the characters’ inner feelings or how they got to that point - Okomo’s realisation of her sexual identity can feel pretty sudden for instance - but this gave the story a kind of fable like quality that I quite liked. I definitely found it hard to read because there was a lot of offensive homophobic language used so that’s definitely something to bear in mind. Obono herself is a prominent LGBTQ+ human rights activist in Equitorial Guinea and I got the feeling that the book was quite polemical. I think it’s currently banned in Equitorial Guinea. It’s a brave and challenging book and I’m glad to have read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence