Scan barcode
kaylauhl's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.75
Slow at first but ending was really good
ezra12's review against another edition
4.0
More like a 7/10, but the themes (which are not at all subtle) really resonated with me and the ending is great, so I rounded it up to 4 stars. It's as didactic as everyone says, but its message is still important and it's also quite humorous in places. I also appreciate that Ngũgĩ focused on the particular experiences of women workers.
skitch41's review against another edition
3.0
Americans have a particularly privileged outlook on the world. We stand atop the economic pile and have almost the entire world at our fingertips. But do we ever stop to consider how our way of life affects people around the world. We always assume that Western civilization is the pinnacle that all others strive for, but in this book from the great Kenyan writer, what seems great to us is really a eraser on their local languages and customs.
In this book heavily laden with metaphor and a pinch of magical realism, Mr. Thiong’o tells the tale of Wariinga, a young Kenyan woman who has been chewed up and spat out by the neocolonialism that has engulfed her country. When she reaches rock bottom, she receives a mysterious invitation to a feast for international robbers and thieves. Upon arriving at the feast with a small group of Kenyans who have also been abused by the system, they soon realize just how much of their country is completely out of their control. The question then becomes how to fight back against this economic and cultural oppression?
Like I said, this book heavily laden with metaphors, nearly all of which subvert key pillars of Western civilization (parables from the Bible are used and altered throughout). It is a hard thing as a proud American to read as we don’t come off particularly well in this tale. However, I think it is important to read literature like this to keep us humble and second guess our foreign and economic policies and what they are doing to the world.
Having said all this, I just cannot give this book a higher rating than what I have. Perhaps my hang up is mostly style and I need to experience more of Mr. Thiong’o’s works in order to appreciate it, but I just couldn’t give this book a 4- or 5-star rating, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. But I would still recommend this book to anyone who is interested in African literature.
In this book heavily laden with metaphor and a pinch of magical realism, Mr. Thiong’o tells the tale of Wariinga, a young Kenyan woman who has been chewed up and spat out by the neocolonialism that has engulfed her country. When she reaches rock bottom, she receives a mysterious invitation to a feast for international robbers and thieves. Upon arriving at the feast with a small group of Kenyans who have also been abused by the system, they soon realize just how much of their country is completely out of their control. The question then becomes how to fight back against this economic and cultural oppression?
Like I said, this book heavily laden with metaphors, nearly all of which subvert key pillars of Western civilization (parables from the Bible are used and altered throughout). It is a hard thing as a proud American to read as we don’t come off particularly well in this tale. However, I think it is important to read literature like this to keep us humble and second guess our foreign and economic policies and what they are doing to the world.
Having said all this, I just cannot give this book a higher rating than what I have. Perhaps my hang up is mostly style and I need to experience more of Mr. Thiong’o’s works in order to appreciate it, but I just couldn’t give this book a 4- or 5-star rating, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. But I would still recommend this book to anyone who is interested in African literature.
torts's review against another edition
1.0
So far so boring. I feel bad judging it, seeing as I've read very little, but I don't think the translation works quite right...like, it's missing its soul or something. Or maybe I just don't like the style. I don't get all the biblical or cultural or whatever-they-are asides...like where they just all of a sudden start telling a depressing story and repeating themselves or singing...Maybe I just don't get it, but it's not very engaging. And the names confuse me. Sooooo...finishing this book will be rather painful.
The only thing that saved this book from the "sucky" shelf was the ending. My negative visceral reaction aligned me with the people Ngugi is portraying as The Devil in a way that made me stop and re-evaluate my impulse to deem it "sucky." It was interesting and thought-provoking in retrospect. But so very confrontational. When it comes to thought-provoking confrontational African writers, I prefer Coetzee. Coetzee is at least enjoyable to read.
The only thing that saved this book from the "sucky" shelf was the ending. My negative visceral reaction aligned me with the people Ngugi is portraying as The Devil in a way that made me stop and re-evaluate my impulse to deem it "sucky." It was interesting and thought-provoking in retrospect. But so very confrontational. When it comes to thought-provoking confrontational African writers, I prefer Coetzee. Coetzee is at least enjoyable to read.
More...