Scan barcode
jeff's review
2.0
I liked the parts narrated by Halima, but found the narration (and proselytizing) by Jacob Wainwright pretty insufferable.
christinajcraig's review
4.0
Awesome. Would love to read more historical fiction set in nineteenth century Africa.
jordicv's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
cccccarla's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
madtnation's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
daladala's review against another edition
4.0
Petina Gappah päästää ääneen David Livingstonen afrikkalaisen retkikunnan kääntäen katseemme pois valkoisista sedistä niihin, joilla olisi vieläkin painavampaa sanottavaa. Kertojat Halima ja Jacob Wainwright ovatkin mitä mainioin parivaljakko tähän tehtävään ja matkasta nauttii täysin rinnoin.
johndiconsiglio's review
4.0
Dr. Livingstone, I presume? Actually, his bones. They’re at the center of this inventive novel by Zimbabwe’s Gappah that sees colonialism through Black characters. She draws on the explorer’s real journals & imagines the voices of the African attendants who carried his remains across the continent to be buried in England. It’s structured around 2 narrators: a headstrong cook Livingstone bought from slavery who serves as a “road wife” for one of the company, and an educated ex-slave self-righteously flouting his Christianity. The cook’s the more enjoyable traveling companion, but the pompous apostle has some surprises. A trip worth taking.
tinitalorene's review
The first half was good but I couldn’t get into the new narrator.
mmesoma's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5