Reviews

How To Write About Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina

bretrwarner's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Impossible to rate, the nature of collected works spanning diverse topics and genres. Some were masterful and timeless, some won't stick with me. My favourites were ones on African food revival, Sleeping Sickness, circumcision, and western "charity tourism". "How to Write About Africa" is an essay I read probably 10 years ago in university and never forgot. I enjoyed reading more from Wainaina. 

His writing was described so well in the afterword - - he has an immortal, "singular, hilarious, worldly, biting, flippant, and meaningful voice."

_soapie_'s review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

ac_armstrong's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

mfdelpino's review against another edition

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.5

whatmarreads's review against another edition

5.0

Overall, I’d probably rate this a 4.5, but the Food Slut essay was so good that I’m bumping the total up.

beckykeister's review against another edition

4.0

Very interesting read. The collection focuses a lot on the author's experiences in South Africa and Kenya (and its neighbors). I was especially taken by the short stories included in this collection and their cynical perspective on the motives of Westerners in Africa--he writes with cutting sarcasm about white saviorism. Another theme that runs through many of these essays demonstrates languages' effects on how different people interact with the world and how they're seen by other Africans and outsiders.

kansel512's review against another edition

funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

fowzio's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

piper_sh's review

4.0

So funny!