Reviews

Memory of Departure by Abdulrazak Gurnah

joanzoya's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

l_barasa's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

bukolayemi's review

dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

This debut novel first published in 1987 is a story about poverty and its effects on a family, a young man’s destiny and a nation.

Hassan Omar wants to get out of the struggle but the government refuses to release examination results. The youths are basically held hostage in a country that is disintegrating after independence.

His mother sends him to Nairobi to live with her brother who cheated her of her share of their inheritance. Hassan sees how the other half and sees how his family is viewed by his uncle. 

Right from chapter one of this book, we are faced with the evil men do to boys and men. How the poor are made even smaller by those around them. 

This was not an easy read. The words are well crafted and I get the story but it wasn’t easy to read. 

ruthie_wk's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

reemser's review against another edition

dark inspiring sad tense medium-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? N/A

4.25

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review

challenging dark slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Murder, and Rape

Moderate: Alcohol and Infidelity

Minor: Death of parent, Colonisation, Suicide, and Incest

jeankwemoi's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The first chapter was a lot. It’s my first time reading any of Abdulrazak’s work and I was thrown a back by how his writing is especially in that first chapter. He’s very raw, forthright and inhibited. 

charliej99's review against another edition

1.0

not worth the sexual violence

olii's review against another edition

adventurous reflective sad

3.5

sohva's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75