Reviews

De diepst verborgen herinnering van de mens by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr

aliceratesthings's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

maartenderijk's review

5.0

Ik zou zes sterren geven als ik kon. Een voltreffer. Een gelaagde literaire wervelstorm over het belang en de kracht van literatuur. Doe jezelf een plezier en lees dit literair feestje.

margauxb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

theciz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This is one of those books I really don’t know what to say about, except that I enjoyed it immensely. 

It played with my expectations at every turn - meta and self-knowing, but never in an overly pretentious way. The mystery at its heart provides the hook for the sometimes more experimental forms it takes - a writer in exile chases the ghost of a writer in exile. 

The reading experience reminds me of Our Share of the Night, although its dealing with the supernatural is much more under the surface. A book that has things to say, but always in a way that feels true to life rather than forced moralism.

hannahasu's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.75

a masterclass in writing ❣️

charlyhannah's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• 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? It's complicated

2.0

jolienvdv's review

3.0

28 jaar oud en dan dit relaas schrijven. Het is maar zelden dat een boek zo veel gevoel achter laat als je het uit hebt. De personages dwalen door mijn hoofd zoals ze ook door het boek rondzwierven. Met soms prachtige zinnen slingert Mbougbar Sarr je van verhaal naar verhaal. Voor lezers met een lange adem.

readingtheend's review against another edition

3.0

what a weird, fascinating, meta book. it's a lot about Africa and literature and African literature and the world of literary understanding; and it's also about colonialism and parents and children. just really fascinating.

xoxojillzian's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“People think, as if it’s a foregone conclusion, that it’s the past that returns to inhabit and haunt the present. But it could be that the reverse is just as true if not more so, and that it’s us relentlessly haunting those who came before. We are the true ghosts of our history, our ghosts’ ghosts.”

boy am I a sucker for a literary investigation a book about a book about a story about a storyteller. beautifully written stunning translation and challenging themes

martinebeernink's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5