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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i found it really difficult to follow especially at the start but the last third was really good. i loved the 2nd person narration. there were emotions and topics in this book that ive not seen in any other books thats why i liked it i think
Not my personal taste, but this book has merit.
This book tells the story of Tambudzai, a woman approaching middle age, as she struggles to find purpose and employment in post-war Zimbabwe. She deals not only with mental health issues that sometimes cause her to self-sabotage her position at various jobs, but also with the challenges of sexism and colonialism in her country. She moves from home to home, from job to job, trying to find a place in the world that does not stoke her anger or make her feel like she is covered in imaginary ants.
This is not a happy book, but perhaps a necessary one for understanding what war, misogyny, and colonial legacy can do to a person. I learned a lot about a country with which I am relatively unfamiliar, but I can't really say I enjoyed the book, which is why I give it three stars.
This book tells the story of Tambudzai, a woman approaching middle age, as she struggles to find purpose and employment in post-war Zimbabwe. She deals not only with mental health issues that sometimes cause her to self-sabotage her position at various jobs, but also with the challenges of sexism and colonialism in her country. She moves from home to home, from job to job, trying to find a place in the world that does not stoke her anger or make her feel like she is covered in imaginary ants.
This is not a happy book, but perhaps a necessary one for understanding what war, misogyny, and colonial legacy can do to a person. I learned a lot about a country with which I am relatively unfamiliar, but I can't really say I enjoyed the book, which is why I give it three stars.
My Litsy review says a lot in small amount of space:
I'm really glad I read the first two books before this ([b:Nervous Conditions|158674|Nervous Conditions|Tsitsi Dangarembga|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369859435l/158674._SY75_.jpg|1065751] and [b:The Book of Not|1079025|The Book of Not (Nervous Conditions, #2)|Tsitsi Dangarembga|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356473043l/1079025._SY75_.jpg|1065749]). They aren't essential plot-wise, but they provide a context, and a background for Tambu, adding a kind of resonating shock value here. Also the first two books are really rewarding, and, unlike this one, are easy on the reader.
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33. This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga
published: 2018
format: 280-page paperback
acquired: June
read: Jul 12-19
time reading: 10:01, 2.1 mpp
rating: 4
locations: Zimbabwe
about the author: born 1959 in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
"This an uncomfortable book. After building up our hero, Tambu, in two terrific novels, Dangarembga essentially tosses that away. Zimbabwe is not such an easily wrapped place and her previous construct is here, maybe intentionally, undermined. This is not a Tambu you‘re going to like, nor will you like seeing her struggles from inside your own head in a 2nd person narrative. I‘m partially horrified and partially impressed. A difficult read."This novel follows Tambu again, continuing from the previous novels but into a very different Zimbabwe. The first two books took place in the 1960's and 1970's, during the "War". (The Rhodesian Bush War—also called the Second Chimurenga as well as the Zimbabwe War of Liberation, 1965-1979). I don't think we are ever given a date for the time period covered here, but at one point a 2002 movie is mentioned, and we have email but not smart phones. This Zimbabwe is peaceful, somewhat prosperous, and has a flourishing tourist industry. It also has its tensions: an accepted but corrupt government, a kind of tense cooperation between the mostly wealthy whites and the rest of the population, and, notably, a significant set of psychologically scarred veteran freedom fighters who tend to be discouraged with the results of their victory. Thematically this builds on the last chapters of [b:The Book of Not|1079025|The Book of Not (Nervous Conditions, #2)|Tsitsi Dangarembga|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356473043l/1079025._SY75_.jpg|1065749] where Dangarembga began to explore the dangers of the post-war urban capitalisms and its underlying emptiness. There it almost felt like an add on. But here Tambu's struggles within this environment are the main plot.
I'm really glad I read the first two books before this ([b:Nervous Conditions|158674|Nervous Conditions|Tsitsi Dangarembga|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369859435l/158674._SY75_.jpg|1065751] and [b:The Book of Not|1079025|The Book of Not (Nervous Conditions, #2)|Tsitsi Dangarembga|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356473043l/1079025._SY75_.jpg|1065749]). They aren't essential plot-wise, but they provide a context, and a background for Tambu, adding a kind of resonating shock value here. Also the first two books are really rewarding, and, unlike this one, are easy on the reader.
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33. This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga
published: 2018
format: 280-page paperback
acquired: June
read: Jul 12-19
time reading: 10:01, 2.1 mpp
rating: 4
locations: Zimbabwe
about the author: born 1959 in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
I read this without knowing this is the third installment from a trilogy. As it can be read as a standalone it also requires effort and it can be frustrating to some readers, I think readers who reads the two previous books can digest this story much more better and appreciates it more.
Having said that, the story was told from a second person of view and can be confusing at first. It took me longer to adapt to this point of view.
The story focusing on Tambu's life and her struggles to become successful despite her cultures, personal history, psychology, post war society,the racisms and corruptions of their country. There's a lot going on in this book.
I found that the name of the characters sometimes can be a bit confusing as it introduced as Freedom or Concept. Took me awhile sometimes to access that it's a character names actually. Some phrases can be quite challenging since it's not in english. Overall I love seeing how Tambu growing up, moulding into a better and better person and being successful and happy at it.
Having said that, the story was told from a second person of view and can be confusing at first. It took me longer to adapt to this point of view.
The story focusing on Tambu's life and her struggles to become successful despite her cultures, personal history, psychology, post war society,the racisms and corruptions of their country. There's a lot going on in this book.
I found that the name of the characters sometimes can be a bit confusing as it introduced as Freedom or Concept. Took me awhile sometimes to access that it's a character names actually. Some phrases can be quite challenging since it's not in english. Overall I love seeing how Tambu growing up, moulding into a better and better person and being successful and happy at it.
Not a fan of the 2nd person POV. The story itself was gripping but the narrative style was distracting.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to preface this review by saying that I could easily be missing the brilliance of this novel, and my review might have more to do with my personal taste than the novel itself.
That being said, I did not enjoy this book. I absolutely LOVED "Nervous Conditions," so I was excited to read "This Mournable Body." However, I didn't feel like this book had the same charm. Many of the same interesting ideas were still there, but they didn't seem to fit as seamlessly into the plot. I tried, but I also couldn't get over the use of second person POV. I think I understand why second person was used, but I just couldn't get into it.
That being said, I did not enjoy this book. I absolutely LOVED "Nervous Conditions," so I was excited to read "This Mournable Body." However, I didn't feel like this book had the same charm. Many of the same interesting ideas were still there, but they didn't seem to fit as seamlessly into the plot. I tried, but I also couldn't get over the use of second person POV. I think I understand why second person was used, but I just couldn't get into it.