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nigel1962's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
vezza's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: War
girlglitch's review against another edition
4.0
Rose and the Burma Sky is an engaging coming of age novel following young Nigerian soldier Obi during the Second World War. Amaka crafts a simple, but effective story of unrequited love and lost innocence against the backdrop of mid-century colonial power structures.
While I sometimes craved a little more complexity (a subplot or two wouldn't have gone amiss), there is something satisfying about a novel so neat, delivering exactly what you expect it to.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
While I sometimes craved a little more complexity (a subplot or two wouldn't have gone amiss), there is something satisfying about a novel so neat, delivering exactly what you expect it to.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
temi_m's review
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
lilyreads01's review against another edition
4.0
Rose and the Burma Sky by Rosanna Amaka is a powerful and beautiful novel. In 1939, in a village in south-east Nigeria, Obi watches a group of soldiers passing through his village their clean, shiny uniforms and laughter speaks of possibility and potential. Obi wants to impress his childhood sweetheart Rose and joins on the brink of the Second World War. Years later, Rose is pregnant with another manโs child, heartbroken and scared, Obi agrees to support her. After tragedy and loss, Obi is shipped to Burma to fight, devastated by the past and the mystery surrounding Rose and her child Little Rose he is in search of meaning and answers. The novel is a powerful portrait of the joint tragedies of war and love and how to navigate a world where everything feels broken and lost. The story explores a part of history that needs greater attention highlighting the injustices of colonialism and the bravery of black soldiers that fought in a violent and oppressive war and if they returned home were offered little support or future prospects. A refreshing and important work of historical fiction that was both engaging and heartbreaking 4 Stars โจ.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.
realis's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
piperkitty's review against another edition
4.0
Rose and the Burma Sky
Earc NetGalley
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Penguin Random House
Publication Date:23rd February
Genre General Fiction Literay Fiction
I am not normal a Literay Fiction reader but have enjoyed reading this book. The prose is written really well. This boom taught me alot about cultural diversity especially within the army and how people are treated differently. The story begins in Nigeria in the late 1930s, with the introduction of Obi, a young child whose village life is filled with adventures with his friends and work on the family lands.
Obi is standout and caring to me whereas Rose is a little harsh and unfair on him at times.
#RoseandtheBurmaSky
Earc NetGalley
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Penguin Random House
Publication Date:23rd February
Genre General Fiction Literay Fiction
I am not normal a Literay Fiction reader but have enjoyed reading this book. The prose is written really well. This boom taught me alot about cultural diversity especially within the army and how people are treated differently. The story begins in Nigeria in the late 1930s, with the introduction of Obi, a young child whose village life is filled with adventures with his friends and work on the family lands.
Obi is standout and caring to me whereas Rose is a little harsh and unfair on him at times.
#RoseandtheBurmaSky
pattyspages's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
๐ฃ๐ฌ:
โ๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐ช๐จ. ๐ผ๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ช๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐. ๐ผ๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ช๐จโ
๐ฉ๐พโ๐ซ ๐พ๐ผโโ๐ผ:
Historical Fiction
๐ โ๐ธ๐พ๐ผ โ๐๐โ๐:
272
๐ก ๐โ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐:
War (WW||) / Nigeria / Unrequited love/ Sacrifice /Parenthood / Community
โ๏ธ โ๐๐๐:
One war, one soldier, one enduring love
1939: In a village in south-east Nigeria on the brink of the Second World War, young Obi watches from a mango tree as a colonial army jeep speeds by, filled with soldiers laughing and shouting, their buttons shining in the sun. To Obi, their promise of a smart uniform and regular wages is hard to resist, especially as he has his sweetheart Rose to impress and a family to support.
Years later, when Rose falls pregnant to another man, his heart is shattered. As the Burma Campaign mounts, and Obi is shipped out to fight, he is haunted by the mystery of Rose's lover. When his identity comes to light, Obi's devastation leads to a tragic chain of unexpected events.
๐ญ ๐๐๐น๐ผ๐:
Such an insightful, thought provoking read. This book was clearly written with a lot of research and perhaps a lot of first hand accounts passed down through family.
The writing style is raw and honest but so welcoming that you become addicted to it from the prologue.
๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐:
This book was wonderfully emotional and open.
I felt such an affinity to the way the story was told as the narrative voice is self conscious enough to know his faults and the faults of those around him even though emotionally he may want/feel differently.
I was on the journey with the MC from start to finish and don't think I will ever get enough of works like this that honour the lost stories of people that colonialism has attempted to write out of history.
This story was moving, frustrating, hopeful and addictive.
โ๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐, ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐ช๐จ. ๐ผ๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ช๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐. ๐ผ๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ช๐จโ
๐ฉ๐พโ๐ซ ๐พ๐ผโโ๐ผ:
Historical Fiction
๐ โ๐ธ๐พ๐ผ โ๐๐โ๐:
272
๐ก ๐โ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐:
War (WW||) / Nigeria / Unrequited love/ Sacrifice /Parenthood / Community
โ๏ธ โ๐๐๐:
One war, one soldier, one enduring love
1939: In a village in south-east Nigeria on the brink of the Second World War, young Obi watches from a mango tree as a colonial army jeep speeds by, filled with soldiers laughing and shouting, their buttons shining in the sun. To Obi, their promise of a smart uniform and regular wages is hard to resist, especially as he has his sweetheart Rose to impress and a family to support.
Years later, when Rose falls pregnant to another man, his heart is shattered. As the Burma Campaign mounts, and Obi is shipped out to fight, he is haunted by the mystery of Rose's lover. When his identity comes to light, Obi's devastation leads to a tragic chain of unexpected events.
๐ญ ๐๐๐น๐ผ๐:
Such an insightful, thought provoking read. This book was clearly written with a lot of research and perhaps a lot of first hand accounts passed down through family.
The writing style is raw and honest but so welcoming that you become addicted to it from the prologue.
๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐:
This book was wonderfully emotional and open.
I felt such an affinity to the way the story was told as the narrative voice is self conscious enough to know his faults and the faults of those around him even though emotionally he may want/feel differently.
I was on the journey with the MC from start to finish and don't think I will ever get enough of works like this that honour the lost stories of people that colonialism has attempted to write out of history.
This story was moving, frustrating, hopeful and addictive.
bookrhythms's review
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
dusktildawn's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
I wasn't even aware there were Africans who fought at all in WW2, let alone in Burma. It never gets mentioned anywhere. And that is the beauty of this story, a voice previously unheard is shouted loud and clear.
Beautiful story of pain and grief and the effects of colonialism and war on young lives. Simplistic writing style but it works and manages to punch you in the gut. Loved reading about the reaches of war in a place I had never thought of. Some of the character didn't work as much as others (Rose especially I understood but still felt a bit strange to me) but it all came together nicely, the effects and devastation of war holding no punches.
'Always remember us.'
Beautiful story of pain and grief and the effects of colonialism and war on young lives. Simplistic writing style but it works and manages to punch you in the gut. Loved reading about the reaches of war in a place I had never thought of. Some of the character didn't work as much as others (Rose especially I understood but still felt a bit strange to me) but it all came together nicely, the effects and devastation of war holding no punches.
'Always remember us.'