Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this book difficult to get into. It is written in the second person which isn't something I often come across. I didn't really like the main character - she had left her previous job because she (understandably) had had enough of white people getting credit for work she had done, but her attitude seemed to be that good things should just happen to her without her putting much effort in. She was ultra-critical of everyone around her, and at one point appears to have a mental breakdown, but the reason why is unclear (or was to me). Her life eventually takes a turn for the better, but not through anything she did - just through the coincidental meeting with an old school friend. The Zimbabwean backdrop was quite well painted by the author though.
DNFed at 20%. Ugh I’m not happy about having to DNF this book. Honestly, I hate quitting any book but this one put me in a reading slump. First, I should say that I loved Dangarembga’s first novel “Nervous Conditions”. My love of that novel is what pushed me to purchase this one. The issue is that this novel is vastly different in tone, POV, voice, pacing, and many other things. The second POV seems a bit unnecessary as it isn’t used to its full effect. The dialogue is often oddly sparse and on occasion it’s difficult to follow who is who. That being said, it isn’t all bad- some of the topics brought up include colorism, sexism, and the value of/ perception of education and all these are interesting discussions. I should also say that people who loved second POV or novels with a jumble of info or odd pacing similar to (but not exactly like) stream of consciousness may like this more than I did.
i know what this was supposed to do, but i didn't enjoy it
Honestly, this book is ok, it's fine. I find the protagonist extremely difficult to understand, and I suspect that's probably because this book was really not written with a reader like me in mind, a white middle class American woman. I'm glad I read it just the same.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
As Dangarembga said in a 2020 NPR interview, the point of this narrative is to show the impact that results from people, in this case Tambudzai, acting only for themselves to get ahead in life. I got the point of this, but at the same time I felt a sustained sense of discomfort while reading. This was due to the combination of Tambu’s self-centered actions and the unceasing “you” which points the finger back towards the reader. I can see the value in this but it doesn’t make for a pleasurable reading experience. I miss say that the author has lived an incredible life and stood up for what she believes in, and I really admire what she tries to do with her writing. I’m going to try her essays next.
I just didn't get engaged at all. I think partly because of the second person present tense, it all seemed confusing and somewhat pointless. It all just seemed like a kong list of struggles, not a novel. Beautifully written though.