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fher1286's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
novel_nomad's review against another edition
4.0
A bright and compelling read, that did not shy away from the intense pain, sadness and horror experienced by a child soldier turn refugee. Whilst I expect boxing to be the central focus of the tale, it was only a tool for the main character, Isa Milaki, to remember his lost brother. So if you go into this novel expecting a retelling of 'Rocky' you will be surprised, as the true story is of Isa's struggles from childhood rather than his rise to boxing greatness.
There is an excellent focus on the destructive nature of war, the despair of displaced persons, and the need for healthy communities for refugees to settle into a country. It is an incredibly relevant read for the current global climate, as it gives rise to marginalised voices within our communities.
There is an excellent focus on the destructive nature of war, the despair of displaced persons, and the need for healthy communities for refugees to settle into a country. It is an incredibly relevant read for the current global climate, as it gives rise to marginalised voices within our communities.
lmurray74's review against another edition
5.0
A vivid and compelling story of brutality and survival. This novel is based on a play developed by Future D. Fidel and La Boite Theatre Company in Brisbane. It tells the story of a middle class Congolese boy become child soldier become refugee become Australian prize fighter.
The writing is crisp with an energy that leaps off the page. I haven't seen or read the play but I know it runs 60 minutes and that it doesn't follow a linear chronology. The novel is in five acts and does take up a linear progression, time wise. It feels to me that the writing is inspired by a theatre workshop model, not just a writer's workshop model. There is a performative nature to the stories told, and to the words chosen. I read this in almost one setting as I was anxious to hear what happened next. Near the end there are parts that feel slightly forced but this doesn't take away from the overall impact.
Isa spends much of the book trying to find his brother, left behind in Congo as he escapes the rebels, and life as a child soldier. The thread of his brother teaching him how to box, before the town descends into anarchy, is motivation for him to take up prize fighting. He takes up prize fighting to help pay for a private detective to find his brother, and in the ring he hears his brother's voice.
The stories of Isa as a child soldier are visceral and my gut was churning. I knew he would get out of the situation but it didn't take away from the immediacy of the experience. The first act, of everyday life for Isa, is in stark contrast to what follows. Isa lives a middle class life and his dad is a politician. Isa wants to become an engineer and build bridges. It is written without projection into the future, despite a first person narrative. Act 2 is then life and death as a child soldier.
When Isa arrives in Australia we are taken through the steps needed for him to settle into life in Brisbane. I kept wondering whether he would receive psychological help, but this doesn't come up. The challenges he faces, including life after extreme trauma, are dealt with almost fully on his own. People are there to help, but he doesn't feel comfortable telling his story, so he keeps it inside, and takes it out in the boxing ring.
The violence written about here doesn't come over as gratuitous, it is part and parcel of Isa's life, and the lives of so many people like him. I understand a little more about boxing now, not to say I would ever watch a match, and it is more than just beating someone up. I can't say I understand more about child soldiers as it will never be anything but the worst of humanity on show. The ends aren't necessarily tied up, but we leave with glimpses of hope and redemption.
I will be following Fidel's work closely and I look forward to hearing about his next moves.
The writing is crisp with an energy that leaps off the page. I haven't seen or read the play but I know it runs 60 minutes and that it doesn't follow a linear chronology. The novel is in five acts and does take up a linear progression, time wise. It feels to me that the writing is inspired by a theatre workshop model, not just a writer's workshop model. There is a performative nature to the stories told, and to the words chosen. I read this in almost one setting as I was anxious to hear what happened next. Near the end there are parts that feel slightly forced but this doesn't take away from the overall impact.
Isa spends much of the book trying to find his brother, left behind in Congo as he escapes the rebels, and life as a child soldier. The thread of his brother teaching him how to box, before the town descends into anarchy, is motivation for him to take up prize fighting. He takes up prize fighting to help pay for a private detective to find his brother, and in the ring he hears his brother's voice.
The stories of Isa as a child soldier are visceral and my gut was churning. I knew he would get out of the situation but it didn't take away from the immediacy of the experience. The first act, of everyday life for Isa, is in stark contrast to what follows. Isa lives a middle class life and his dad is a politician. Isa wants to become an engineer and build bridges. It is written without projection into the future, despite a first person narrative. Act 2 is then life and death as a child soldier.
When Isa arrives in Australia we are taken through the steps needed for him to settle into life in Brisbane. I kept wondering whether he would receive psychological help, but this doesn't come up. The challenges he faces, including life after extreme trauma, are dealt with almost fully on his own. People are there to help, but he doesn't feel comfortable telling his story, so he keeps it inside, and takes it out in the boxing ring.
The violence written about here doesn't come over as gratuitous, it is part and parcel of Isa's life, and the lives of so many people like him. I understand a little more about boxing now, not to say I would ever watch a match, and it is more than just beating someone up. I can't say I understand more about child soldiers as it will never be anything but the worst of humanity on show. The ends aren't necessarily tied up, but we leave with glimpses of hope and redemption.
I will be following Fidel's work closely and I look forward to hearing about his next moves.
nibs's review
dark
emotional
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This novel adapted from a play with the same name follows Isa, a boy forced to become a child soldier in the DRC who as a young man moves to Australia and becomes a professional boxer.
I have a good enough time reading this book, but I didn't find it particularly gripping. The writing was kind of simplistic in a way that made it harder to connect with the story.
Also (minor spoiler), there is quite a bit of boxing in this book, so as someone who doesn't care much about boxing, it did drag a bit in those parts.
But there were also many things I liked about it. There was some poetic repetition of phrases, which made a lot of sense when you realise it was adapted from a play. Also, the story had a lot of heart and the emotions really carried through.
I have a good enough time reading this book, but I didn't find it particularly gripping. The writing was kind of simplistic in a way that made it harder to connect with the story.
Also (minor spoiler), there is quite a bit of boxing in this book, so as someone who doesn't care much about boxing, it did drag a bit in those parts.
But there were also many things I liked about it. There was some poetic repetition of phrases, which made a lot of sense when you realise it was adapted from a play. Also, the story had a lot of heart and the emotions really carried through.
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