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clemmiem's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Eating disorder
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Child death
andriawrites's review against another edition
5.0
After revisiting ‘Nervous Conditions’ nearly 6 years since my first reading, I remain in awe of Tsitsi Dangarembga’s characters and prose. I find that time has only reinforced my sympathies to Tambu and Nyasha, two memorable characters that speak to me on such an intense, emotional level.Refamiliarizing myself with Tambu’s world was important as I continue on with ‘The Book of Not’ and ‘This Mournable Body’
**
I absoluetly loved reading this novel. Dangarembga is a masterful writer and makes you feel so connected to her narrator, Tambu, who is caught between the weight of tradition and the enticing promises of modernity. Often read as a feminist narrative, Dangarembga recounts the story of a young teenage girl, Tambu who grows up in 1960s rural Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe), wanting desperatly to go to school like her older brother. When Tambu is given the chance to move in with her educated Uncle and his family and puruse her studies at the mission, she starts to see the differences between herself and her family back on the homestead and the growing complexities of her relationship with her modern, anglicized cousin Nyasha. Nyasha herself, is probably one of the most intriguing characters of the whole novel. She realizes to what extent post-colonialism has infiltrated her mind and her psyche. Dangarembga writes about an interesting and thoughtprovoking dynamic and dychotomy between tradition and modernity. If you are not yet convinced that you should read this novel immeditely, I'll show you my copy, half of the lines are all underlined because it was just soooo damn good. Cannot wait to read the following novel in this three part series.
**
I absoluetly loved reading this novel. Dangarembga is a masterful writer and makes you feel so connected to her narrator, Tambu, who is caught between the weight of tradition and the enticing promises of modernity. Often read as a feminist narrative, Dangarembga recounts the story of a young teenage girl, Tambu who grows up in 1960s rural Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe), wanting desperatly to go to school like her older brother. When Tambu is given the chance to move in with her educated Uncle and his family and puruse her studies at the mission, she starts to see the differences between herself and her family back on the homestead and the growing complexities of her relationship with her modern, anglicized cousin Nyasha. Nyasha herself, is probably one of the most intriguing characters of the whole novel. She realizes to what extent post-colonialism has infiltrated her mind and her psyche. Dangarembga writes about an interesting and thoughtprovoking dynamic and dychotomy between tradition and modernity. If you are not yet convinced that you should read this novel immeditely, I'll show you my copy, half of the lines are all underlined because it was just soooo damn good. Cannot wait to read the following novel in this three part series.
whynotcherries's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
leoniefnk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Reminding me a lot of Mansfield Park, Matilda, or even Hard Times, this author does an excellent job of centering on the women of the story, navigating a world of misogyny and of colonial vestiges. A coming of age story that does not shy away from its realities, I fully understand why this is called a 'classic'.
hemmabunny's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
chloette's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
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? No
3.5
Un très beau récit, mais que j’ai malgré tout trouvé plus intéressant au début qu’à la fin. Il commence fort en s’ouvrant sur la mort du frère de la protagoniste, et s’ensuit une quête pour l’éducation de cette jeune fllle. En revanche, la fin se concentre davantage sur sa vie mais de manière générale, ça m’a vraiment donné l’impression d’avoir presque deux romans
Mais sinon, je trouve que c’est un très bon livre, très inspirant!
Mais sinon, je trouve que c’est un très bon livre, très inspirant!
roses_are_rosa's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful story about a girl being born into poverty in Zimabwe and her journey to getting an education. I really liked our heroine and her struggle of staying true to her heritage but also wanting to achieve more. Gender, identity, colonialism are just a few of the themes that play an important role and are very well dealt with in my opinion.
possumghost's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75