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spookytaco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, Racism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Slavery, Child abuse, Classism, and Confinement
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Slavery, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
jackieom4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
isabell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Slavery, Sexual content, Racism, Death, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Colonisation, and Confinement
musingsbynitika's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Child abuse, Racism, Colonisation, Trafficking, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism, War, Child death, Genocide, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Abandonment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcoholism, Bullying, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
veronicats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Classism, Grief, Racial slurs, Violence, War, Colonisation, Confinement, Trafficking, Genocide, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What stood out for me in this story was it’s exploration of colonialism from an unexpected angle. Dikembe lived in the Congo until he was brought to England almost as a souvenir by Sir Richard Babbington, a famous explorer. Babbington insisted on changing Dikembe’s name, treated him as something of a party trick, and used him for his own ends, something Dikembe realised and silently railed about. Upon Babbington’s death Dikembe’s life worsened considerably. Taking a risk and using his own initiative he was later able to right some of the wrongs done to him and build a good life for himself in England, although it was inevitably marked by racism.
We are accustomed to looking at the impact of colonialism on the countries that were colonised, on the people who lived there. And this book does outline some of the horrific actions of Belgians in the Congo, actions that Dikembe was fortunate in missing. However, I don’t think I’ve read about colonisation through the lens of an individual removed to the country of the coloniser. And, as the author’s note makes clear, the character of Dikembe, was inspired by a real person. While Lowra’s childhood experiences are also tragic, they are much more familiar, and so didn’t carry the same impact for me. Dikembe’s story also highlighted the early history of Blacks in Britain, before the arrival of the relatively well-known Windrush generation.
From the depiction of Babbington (pompous and entitled), to the issues raised about how museums obtain, display and treat many artefacts and whose needs they are serving, the author’s barely suppressed rage at colonialism was always bubbling just below the surface. I loved that passion.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Colonisation, Child abuse, and Racism
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Slavery
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Grief, Alcohol, and Genocide
alisha94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Child abuse, Violence, Slavery, Racism, and Rape
shelfofunread's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
NB: This review also appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpress.com. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Child abuse, Slavery, and Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape