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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Primarily about the injustice meted out to the Kenyan people by the British colonialists and settlers. It also touches briefly on the efforts at resistance against this injustice/ fight for independence by the K.A.U. led by Jomo Kenyatta and the Mau Mau uprising.
Ngugui is a good storyteller and I loved how each character served to advance the purpose of the message at the heart of the story.
Ngugui is a good storyteller and I loved how each character served to advance the purpose of the message at the heart of the story.
"Weep not, child
Weep not, my darling
With these kisses let me remove your tears,
The ravening clouds shall not be long victorious,
They shall not long possess the sky..."
- Walt Whitman On the Beach at Night
This book tells of a story during the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya, through the lens of an ordinary Black family. This book has touched me so many ways considering how bitter the lives of the Black people in Kenya were. The Mau Mau rebellion is a largely unsuccessful rebellion against the British colonists because of their tactic of he tactic of manipulating the Mau Maus into rival gangs and pitting them against one another. Despite many attempts to unify the Mau Maus, they were largely unsuccessful and the divisions among the Kikuyu tribes stole lives, broke relationships and destroyed dreams. It is so heartbreaking to see even innocent people who were not part of the Mau Maus getting threatened for life.
"It's strange how you do fear something because your heart is already prepared to fear because maybe you were brought up to fear that something, or simply because you found other fearing...."
This being uttered by the innocent young student Njoroge speaks volumes of how racism and hatred divided people and how needlessly divisive everything was.
"Sunshine always follows a dark night. We sleep knowing and trusting that the sun will rise tomorrow."
Seeing the gradual loss of optimism in the protagonist because of a series of truly disastrous events really shows that even the strongest people can and will be vulnerable.
Reflecting on recent events (not the exact reason why I read this book however), it leaves me to ponder how deeply harmful racism is, and if optimism is even justified, knowing what kinds of unthinkable hardships the Black community has gone through. But if there is one thing I know for sure, it's that we all should not judge anyone based on who they are or what they look like, because if you don't even know them, NOTHING is justified.
What a masterful piece of art, Thiong'o.
P.S. Why are books all so sad.
Weep not, my darling
With these kisses let me remove your tears,
The ravening clouds shall not be long victorious,
They shall not long possess the sky..."
- Walt Whitman On the Beach at Night
This book tells of a story during the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya, through the lens of an ordinary Black family. This book has touched me so many ways considering how bitter the lives of the Black people in Kenya were. The Mau Mau rebellion is a largely unsuccessful rebellion against the British colonists because of their tactic of he tactic of manipulating the Mau Maus into rival gangs and pitting them against one another. Despite many attempts to unify the Mau Maus, they were largely unsuccessful and the divisions among the Kikuyu tribes stole lives, broke relationships and destroyed dreams. It is so heartbreaking to see even innocent people who were not part of the Mau Maus getting threatened for life.
"It's strange how you do fear something because your heart is already prepared to fear because maybe you were brought up to fear that something, or simply because you found other fearing...."
This being uttered by the innocent young student Njoroge speaks volumes of how racism and hatred divided people and how needlessly divisive everything was.
"Sunshine always follows a dark night. We sleep knowing and trusting that the sun will rise tomorrow."
Seeing the gradual loss of optimism in the protagonist because of a series of truly disastrous events really shows that even the strongest people can and will be vulnerable.
Reflecting on recent events (not the exact reason why I read this book however), it leaves me to ponder how deeply harmful racism is, and if optimism is even justified, knowing what kinds of unthinkable hardships the Black community has gone through. But if there is one thing I know for sure, it's that we all should not judge anyone based on who they are or what they look like, because if you don't even know them, NOTHING is justified.
What a masterful piece of art, Thiong'o.
P.S. Why are books all so sad.
beautiful insight into the Mau Mau rebellion and the contradictions inherit within colonial systems.
Made my quarantined nights bearable! A enriching read that introduces me to the African culture through the most simplest language possible!
Weep Not, child by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. The book showcases the lives and struggles of people living in Kenya during the British Colonial rule and the Mau Mau uprising. It makes us face the hard reality of life under the colonial rule, the pain and suffering families go through during war, the effect of world wars on African nation - Kenya, how the dreams of the young and the old have been shattered and moves in the end to how all faith in hope is lost.
This being my first book on African history, although fiction made me see the life under colonial rule - families torn apart, turning people against people, somehow made me feel that the book is more close to reality than imagination.
This being my first book on African history, although fiction made me see the life under colonial rule - families torn apart, turning people against people, somehow made me feel that the book is more close to reality than imagination.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
UNFINISHED
REVIEW RATING SYSTEM - [ 1 = FELT DECEIVED, 2 = NOT WHAT I EXPECTED IN A BAD WAY BUT WASN'T A WASTE OF TIME, 3 = WHAT I EXPECTED FELT LIKE MY TIME WAS USED AS EXPECTED, 4 = PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, 5 = THINKING ABOUT IT MONTHS LATER ]
RULES : (1) can not give anything a 5 outright, must either be a re-read or a update to score, (2) can not give incremental ratings, except for 4.75 which is functionally a "revisit in case it is actually a 5", (3) I should always end with a "this leads me to think" of 2-3 ideas this book roused in me.
The rating is a little tough - and is kind of meant more to say “a lot of emotion packed into 100 pages”
REVIEW RATING SYSTEM - [ 1 = FELT DECEIVED, 2 = NOT WHAT I EXPECTED IN A BAD WAY BUT WASN'T A WASTE OF TIME, 3 = WHAT I EXPECTED FELT LIKE MY TIME WAS USED AS EXPECTED, 4 = PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, 5 = THINKING ABOUT IT MONTHS LATER ]
RULES : (1) can not give anything a 5 outright, must either be a re-read or a update to score, (2) can not give incremental ratings, except for 4.75 which is functionally a "revisit in case it is actually a 5", (3) I should always end with a "this leads me to think" of 2-3 ideas this book roused in me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Murder
This book will pool sadness in the back of your throat and tug at your heartstrings.
This book is a must read for every conscious African. Compelling take on the emotional and mental burden of colonization. In essence, Njoroge is Africa. He confides in education as an avenue out of his present miseries but eventually attempts suicide. What happened? Our continent faces the same dilemma, no matter what, there is no end in sight. We shall continue to be plagued by the IMF and Neo-Colonialism. Boro embodies what needs to be done, albeit in a more rational and civil intellectual route!
I took a class with this author, so I guess I have to like it :).