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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A work of insurmountable pain and love.
The sheer weight of the cruel, ungodly notion of power and control and tyranny to collapse in devasting consequence - hatred boils anew. Yet, the sun will rise tomorrow.
The sheer weight of the cruel, ungodly notion of power and control and tyranny to collapse in devasting consequence - hatred boils anew. Yet, the sun will rise tomorrow.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of my favorite parts about reading African fiction is getting introduced to pieces of history that I know nothing about. No disappointment on this front as the novel is set against the backdrop of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, which I previously knew nothing about. Very interesting to get a taste of this conflict and a sense of what was at stake.
The brevity of the work keeps it (to some extent) from reaching the depth that I would love to see, but it's well executed overall. One of the most interesting facets of the novel is something that I often think about: assimilation dynamics when two cultures come into contact. When we think about cultures mixing in our own worlds, there are two elements at play. First, there is the inevitable loss of cultural identity that comes in successive generations. Second, how do power imbalances affect each culture involved? Eventually, if one culture is dominant over the other, cultural identity is bound to be lost in each generation of the less dominant culture. Individuals are forced to either assimilate (providing safety by blending in) or risk identification as an aberrant element within society (carrying its own pitfalls).
In this novella, the main character Njoroge is getting a western education with the express purpose of bringing pride to his family and helping to elevate their station in the community. However, though he aspires to lead his nation to freedom one day as a result of his education, he actually winds up draining resources from his family and becoming neutered in his ability to effect social change to benefit his family. His education makes him more docile and focuses heavily on teaching Christianity. Meanwhile, his brothers form a sharp contrast to Njoroge, functioning as more militant and ultimately more effective agents of social change in the community, though with significant detriment to their personal fortune and safety. Njoroge winds up intellectually and spiritually depleted, but alive. Interestingly, Thiong'o suggests that assimilation cuts both ways. The son of a major white character encounters Njoroge late in their education and states that he doesn't feel at home in Europe, despite his cultural heritage. Ultimately, it suggests that the sacrifice of two cultures results in a new distinct third culture with elements of both ancestral cultures. It is in this third culture that new lines of power can be established and greater understanding can be achieved, but it does require sacrifice of the ancestral cultures, often at great cost.
The brevity of the work keeps it (to some extent) from reaching the depth that I would love to see, but it's well executed overall. One of the most interesting facets of the novel is something that I often think about: assimilation dynamics when two cultures come into contact. When we think about cultures mixing in our own worlds, there are two elements at play. First, there is the inevitable loss of cultural identity that comes in successive generations. Second, how do power imbalances affect each culture involved? Eventually, if one culture is dominant over the other, cultural identity is bound to be lost in each generation of the less dominant culture. Individuals are forced to either assimilate (providing safety by blending in) or risk identification as an aberrant element within society (carrying its own pitfalls).
In this novella, the main character Njoroge is getting a western education with the express purpose of bringing pride to his family and helping to elevate their station in the community. However, though he aspires to lead his nation to freedom one day as a result of his education, he actually winds up draining resources from his family and becoming neutered in his ability to effect social change to benefit his family. His education makes him more docile and focuses heavily on teaching Christianity. Meanwhile, his brothers form a sharp contrast to Njoroge, functioning as more militant and ultimately more effective agents of social change in the community, though with significant detriment to their personal fortune and safety. Njoroge winds up intellectually and spiritually depleted, but alive. Interestingly, Thiong'o suggests that assimilation cuts both ways. The son of a major white character encounters Njoroge late in their education and states that he doesn't feel at home in Europe, despite his cultural heritage. Ultimately, it suggests that the sacrifice of two cultures results in a new distinct third culture with elements of both ancestral cultures. It is in this third culture that new lines of power can be established and greater understanding can be achieved, but it does require sacrifice of the ancestral cultures, often at great cost.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes