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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
just wonderful. I can't wait to read the next one.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Such a quietly masterful book!
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was very well written and I tore through it.
It's easy to find a fiction book that tells a story of tragic injustice that leaves the reader with a simple blanket feeling of "this whole situation is wrong/terrible/unjust".
But this book goes deeper than the obvious blanket takeaways that "societal oppression of women is wrong", "colonialism is bad" etc. It tries to reconcile the evil, with the lesser evil, with the lesser lesser evils.
I think it's harder to find a story that can show injustice but can also be ambiguous and hesitate before placing blame explicitly. As a person I think our instinct when identifying a "wrong" is to quickly find a causation/maybe place blame and ensure we do not make the same error and avoid being blamed in turn. When the author hesitates to pass judgement on characters and actions, that we WANT to judge, there is space put in the text to unpack the elements of the injustice/wrongness. This space is created by the perspective of the narrator, a young girl, who is struggling to sort out the just and unjust, while both benefiting and being burdened. Depending on the type of reader, the style of the narrator may enlighten, or force, us to see from another angle.
Written in 1988 and set in 1970s Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) it explores issues of gender, class, racial inequality that are still relevant in Zimbabwe. The author has written more recent sequels long after the first novel continuing to dissect these themes.
This book is also written with the Zimbabwean/African woman as the audience, it does not waste time explaining or giving context to culture or tradition. It assumes we all understand the way it is and it moves along and keeps focused on what the narrator is trying to tell us. I appreciate this choice by the author, it keeps the reader in the story with the characters.
It's easy to find a fiction book that tells a story of tragic injustice that leaves the reader with a simple blanket feeling of "this whole situation is wrong/terrible/unjust".
But this book goes deeper than the obvious blanket takeaways that "societal oppression of women is wrong", "colonialism is bad" etc. It tries to reconcile the evil, with the lesser evil, with the lesser lesser evils.
I think it's harder to find a story that can show injustice but can also be ambiguous and hesitate before placing blame explicitly. As a person I think our instinct when identifying a "wrong" is to quickly find a causation/maybe place blame and ensure we do not make the same error and avoid being blamed in turn. When the author hesitates to pass judgement on characters and actions, that we WANT to judge, there is space put in the text to unpack the elements of the injustice/wrongness. This space is created by the perspective of the narrator, a young girl, who is struggling to sort out the just and unjust, while both benefiting and being burdened. Depending on the type of reader, the style of the narrator may enlighten, or force, us to see from another angle.
Written in 1988 and set in 1970s Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) it explores issues of gender, class, racial inequality that are still relevant in Zimbabwe. The author has written more recent sequels long after the first novel continuing to dissect these themes.
This book is also written with the Zimbabwean/African woman as the audience, it does not waste time explaining or giving context to culture or tradition. It assumes we all understand the way it is and it moves along and keeps focused on what the narrator is trying to tell us. I appreciate this choice by the author, it keeps the reader in the story with the characters.
University book 8/31 - The reason why I mention it being a University read is because I feel like knowing I have to read it, takes away some of enjoyment. However, this novel gives a really interesting perspective of assimilation and how people felt during colonial times. The way the text was written made me want to keep reading, as it wasn't full of blatant racism that I feel as though I have read before. By following the path of Tambu's development from a young age, you grow with her as her dilemma unfolds. Enjoyed reading this a lot more than I expected.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
My father's idea of what was natural had begun to irritate me a long time ago.
Tambudzai resents the assumption that her brother is the child who deserves the family investment. Her father's idleness beside her mother's industriousness is evidence enough. But then Nhamo acts entitled, opts out of responsibilities, asserts unnecessary hierarchies to underline his unearned superiority.
Dangarembga brilliantly captures the vigilant shame at one's own ignorance and unworldliness that comes in first encountering a new set of social expectations and knowing you fail to meet them. She beautifully builds a cast of girls and women into a difficult setting
He told me that I would be better off with less thinking and more respect. My concern for my brother died an unobtrusive death.
I am invested and need to know what happens in book two 🥰
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gaslighting