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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At Night All Blood is Black is a novel about war and the horrors it brings upon men. It’s a rather short book, but Dios is able to tell so much within so few pages. We learn about war, race, madness, vengeance, brotherhood, and a man’s fall from grace. The final three chapters are a little confusing to me, but I’ve read others’ interpretations and find myself coming to my own conclusions about the ending as well. While the book may feel repetitive, in this case, it is completely intentional and critical for the reader to feel the same way as the narrator. I heard that rereading it puts the story in a new light due to its ending, so I will be rereading and adding more to this afterwards.
Spare, harrowing, and has a lot of really poignant and devastating things to say about the nature of trauma, madness, and grief. It’s a huge credit to the translator that she managed to make the language jump so beautifully off the page, as well as Diop of course.
I can see why this won the International Booker Prize because it feels like the language and imagery in this book will stay with me for a long time, especially the idea of those severed hands.
It was beautiful, but I wouldn’t say it was one of my favourite books, just because there is not a lot of plot or character development, which while the point of the book, isn’t my personal style. I finished it all in one sitting so it was definitely engrossing, but I found at the end that it just hadn’t given me enough to satisfy me.
I can see why this won the International Booker Prize because it feels like the language and imagery in this book will stay with me for a long time, especially the idea of those severed hands.
It was beautiful, but I wouldn’t say it was one of my favourite books, just because there is not a lot of plot or character development, which while the point of the book, isn’t my personal style. I finished it all in one sitting so it was definitely engrossing, but I found at the end that it just hadn’t given me enough to satisfy me.
This was going to be a strong 4 and then the last 50 pages happened.
I felt like this book did repetition right, its character was terrifying but kinda wise, and was able to balance beautiful imagery with gore/toxic masculinity UNTIL THE LAST 50 PAGES BECAUSE EVERYTHING WENT OUT THE WINDOW.
I felt like this book did repetition right, its character was terrifying but kinda wise, and was able to balance beautiful imagery with gore/toxic masculinity UNTIL THE LAST 50 PAGES BECAUSE EVERYTHING WENT OUT THE WINDOW.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
never in a million years could you have made me guess how this book ended. i am beyond words.
the unreliable narrator, the descent into Alfa's insanity and loss of identity, Diop's writing beautifully encapsulates the brutality that comes with war.
the last three chapters completely turned the book on its head for me. the ambiguous ending lends to thinking and rethinking about this book, about its different interpretations and what they mean to the story as a whole. i want to re-read this book with the knowledge i have now.
the unreliable narrator, the descent into Alfa's insanity and loss of identity, Diop's writing beautifully encapsulates the brutality that comes with war.
the last three chapters completely turned the book on its head for me. the ambiguous ending lends to thinking and rethinking about this book, about its different interpretations and what they mean to the story as a whole. i want to re-read this book with the knowledge i have now.
dark
reflective
sad
tense
Simple, flowing fiction that manages to pack an entire emotional universe in just under 150 pages. In my opinion Diop manages to depict in very simple and relatable terms grief and trauma and how adverse life experiences lead to complete degradation of a person's psyche. Would've been 4 stars if not for the last three chapters that gave the story a much higher impact. It'll live in my mind rent free.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A brutal, but beautifully written account of Senegalese soldiers fighting with the French in WWI. Builds on oral storytelling techniques and aspires towards the character of myth.