Reviews

Famous Kenyan author, this book was about the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya in the 1960s. Gave a nice picture of the independence movement, and I always feel good when I read one of “the classics”.

courtsfool's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

ady_soundslike80's review

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
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

3.0

This book was originally written in Gikuyu so that the Kenyan peasants about whom the book was written could read it. It was very much written FOR them and the author makes no concessions for his non-African readers. This is absolutely a challenge, but it is also part of the importance of the book. Kenya’s struggle with colonialism should have art and literature dedicated to the oppressed rather than the colonizers. In my mind, this is an important history lesson. I can’t honestly say that I understood everything in this book, but I can absolutely say that it wasn’t written for ME to understand, and that probably makes the value of this work even greater.

andrew61's review against another edition

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4.0

The dedication at the start of this book reads 'To The Soviet Writers Union for giving me the use of their house in Yalta in order to finish the writing of this novel' and the writer Ngugi was imprisoned for a year in the 70's for his writing so you know as you start the book that this is not going to be an ordinary murder mystery. In fact that is the starting premise as four individuals are arrested in the mid 70's for the murder by arson of three high ranking wealthy industrialists/capitalists. The four are and odd bunch; Godfrey Munira the son of a wealthy Nairobi landowner who comes 12 years earlier to the rural village of Ilmarog from where people are escaping to teach in the empty primary school, Abdullah a disabled bar owner who we learn has been a freedom fighter in the Mau mau uprising, Karega a young idealist who becomes the assistant teacher but has a sad past with Munira's favourite sister who committed suicide, and Wanja a barmaid/ prostitute who has been the victim of sexual exploitation by one of the three murdered men. As we learn their stories we travel with them through the difficulties and changes in the village, we join them in a mission to Nairobi to beg for aid during a drought, we see the intricacies and jealousies of their relationships and watch as capitalism and a new road change the village forever and see the exploitation of the worker. The book tells us how Kenya a land that for hundreds of years was a proud nation of tribes and princes who traded with the Mediterranean powers was exploited by the colonial countries including Britain who simply took their land by the force of the gun yet after independence was won how the people are betrayed by the government and capitalism. It is definitely not a light read but it is enlightening and only reinforces the importance of the written word as a voice of protest particularly when writers sacrifice their liberty. I would recommend it if you are interested in a historical snapshot of an African country but not if you are looking for a bit of escapism.

jrboudreau's review against another edition

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4.0

I found the first half of Petals of Blood to be tough. The writing is wonderful but I had trouble clicking into the narrative. At the halfway mark though the careful (and to my taste, a little slow) characterizations merges with the story. The central quartet of characters became both symbols of different groups within 1970’s Kenya and real flesh and blood people. I think I lack the context to appreciate all the nuance of Thiong’o’s writing, but as a story of how people struggle through the rubble of colonialism it is stellar.

acaciathorns's review against another edition

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4.0

If anything can describe the postcolonial anti-climax, Ngugi wa Thiong'o has done so with Petals of Blood.

kayaa's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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