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lous_world's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book, it was dark and emotional and drew me in from the very beginning. Such a wonderful work of fiction so clearly based on real life experiences.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness
tamingofthedew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Rape, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
procrasreader's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Murder
erebus53's review against another edition
- 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
This is a story that is deftly crafted. It is a lyrically poetic short-read, that has lines that are used and reused like a mantra. They ground the story where the mentality of the narrator is not always so grounded.
In war the conflict is as much internal as external, and this is a story of duality. It primarily deals with the narrator's conflict over moral imperatives, and the practicalities of situations. Is morality absolute?, or is the outcome worse when you "do what you must"? When you are doing Good because you have unquestioning duty, you do not stop and think for yourself. These are the disconcerting grey areas that more people ignore.
The self analysis of a man who has gone through, and been damaged by, horrendous trauma
unearths the revelation that there are sometimes "thoughts too well dressed to be honest". It's clear that the emotional and mental state of people in conflict puts pressure on these thoughts.. the simple truths or simple lies that we are taught, that are used to describe our value systems, and the roles that others expect us to fill.
War demands inhumanity of humans. It calls brutality good, and rewards those who are unwise. It expects you to ignore your own survival instinct and lean a little into the insanity of Bravery.. but you need to come back from that edge. People want temporary madmen; "no continuous madmen".
This story told by a broken person who has leaned too far into the madness of war, has a great narrative flow. The tal is laid out about the harshness of battle, and some life in the trenches, and in recollections from before the war. The ending is a bit of a departure from the rest of the story and has a fabulous twist. Whether or not the narrator is reliable is left up to your scrutiny.
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Injury/Injury detail
abrownb15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
aden_'s review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and War
Moderate: Rape
bealmg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It touches on issues such as colonialism, racism and identity through the eyes of Alfa Ndiaye, who has just witnessed the death of his great friend, 'more-than-brother' Mademba Diop. Triggered by this event, his mind spirals downwards. Facing the horrors and dull repetitiveness of the trenches, Ndiaye goes mad. He becomes what his white captain wants black soldiers to become - savages, to instill fear in the minds of the German soldiers on the other side.
The writing style, although exhausting for its repetitiveness, is what shines in this short novel. Its repetitiveness mirrors both the daily life in the trenches and Ndiaye's mind. Traumatised by Diop's death, Ndiaye's mind cannot move on from that horrifying event and the author perfectly portrayed this state-of-mind, in my opinion.
However, I was not a fan of how the author portrayed women in this novel. There were way too many metaphors involving women's genitalia (I still don't know why he chose to compare the trenches to a woman's genitalia and womb?) and the two female characters were nothing but sexual objects for the narrator. This actually upset me more than the images of violence and blood.
Overall, it's an interesting novel, although I was expecting more.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishbrenbren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a good examination of war and trauma and defense mechanisms brains struggling with PTSD will use to protect themselves. I enjoyed the fusion of, like, oral storytelling mechanisms? If that's how you'd call them. The commentary on racism at the front was also very well written and well-incorporated into the story but, on the whole, I just really mostly feel like WTF did I just read? Like, no plot all vibes, but also there is some plot but secondary to the story?
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, and War
lanid's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kit_kate's review
4.25
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail