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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Really liked it. Will have to revisit in a few days for a full review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is an epic historical saga that will certainly appeal to fans of narrative non-fiction, but it may also appeal to fans of fantasy. Despite the facts upon which this story is based there is plenty here to keep fiction readers engaged. I learned so much from this book about Mali and West Africa. A fascinating read!
An interesting book that was an easy read for an African history class I took. Keeping everyone straight was challenging because of the names, but helped me to understand these people living a totally different life from me! The title was also fun for me and my roommates to say....SEGUUU!
This is an amazing novel, partly because of the incredible historical research that went into it. She takes her characters all over 18th and 19th century West Africa, and the detail with which she describes different cultures, languages, etc. is just incredible, and really believable. It's a great story. I give it 4 stars just because the characters are not quite as compelling to me as they could be, but it's a very well-told story. Fascinating whether or not you're interested in West Africa.
A fabulous novel about a Bambara family living in the kingdom of Segu from 1787, prominent in it's time, however the father falls out of favour with the King and his son's each go off in search of adventure outside the kingdom, where they discover quite a different perception of their people and their race.
It shines a light on the impact of cross tribal marriage and partnership, of slavery, both that perpetuated by the Europeans and also from within the African continent. The role of the son and the daughter, the rules of marriage, the perceptions of religion, the rise of Islam, the practices of fetishists and superstitions of their followers. The precence and guiding voice of ancestors and the reincarnation of souls. And the effect of love/lust on each of them.
Narrated through the journey's of the four sons of Dousika, by necessity a long, slow read.
Full review and descritpion of my reading journey through Maryse Condé's books here at Word by Word.
It shines a light on the impact of cross tribal marriage and partnership, of slavery, both that perpetuated by the Europeans and also from within the African continent. The role of the son and the daughter, the rules of marriage, the perceptions of religion, the rise of Islam, the practices of fetishists and superstitions of their followers. The precence and guiding voice of ancestors and the reincarnation of souls. And the effect of love/lust on each of them.
Narrated through the journey's of the four sons of Dousika, by necessity a long, slow read.
Full review and descritpion of my reading journey through Maryse Condé's books here at Word by Word.
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
slow-paced