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jayisreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
This was a really interesting but also tough book to read. Tough in the sense that there is some heavy content, but it’s mostly that there is a lot of information to digest and keep track of that can get a bit tedious.
The story begins with Kintu Kidda and the curse placed on him that affects not only him, but also his descendants. The story then branches out to follow said descendants and how they are reckoning with this curse in their own lives. Makumbi approaches this by dividing her book into six interconnected sections, presenting different perspectives on the curse and how each character understands it. And I love how this is done in the fashion of oral history, recognizing that there will always be slight differences in one’s understanding of something carried down from the past. There was also a lot of interesting commentary woven into this family epic that related distinctly to Ugandan culture and society, the most interesting I thought was the lasting impact of colonialism, especially Christianity.
The book dragged in certain places for me, but overall, I found Makumbi’s storytelling effective and compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Rape, Incest, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Colonisation and War
originalmelodie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
If you liked the Red Tent you will love this generational tale of family trauma, lore and growth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Incest and Violence
sonea_moon's review against another edition
Extremely violent, massively traumatic family life described constantly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Incest, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
heatherinjapan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Incest, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Rape, and Religious bigotry
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