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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
An incredible hook of an opening line; "I'm glad my brother died, ", the book is a brilliant look at Zimbabwean culture and intersections of education and the legacy of colonialism, as the author describes her upbringing and the quest for life and learning.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
"It was difficult to accept that this thing had happened, particularly difficult because I had no explanation. If you had asked me before it all began, I would have said it was impossible. I would have said it was impossible for people who had everything to suffer so extremely."
No but I loved it. As the preface states, this book immerses outsiders into the Zimbabwean culture without white-washing or overexplaining aspects of the presented world. A truly enjoyable and fast read, which poses an overarching question of losing roots, whether due to colonization or willing migration.
No but I loved it. As the preface states, this book immerses outsiders into the Zimbabwean culture without white-washing or overexplaining aspects of the presented world. A truly enjoyable and fast read, which poses an overarching question of losing roots, whether due to colonization or willing migration.
I find myself to be in conversation about what it means for a book to be a “classic” recently; this year, I am doing a self-study of women’s literature that I was unable to study in college; a friend from Oxford recommended this book to me, so it was on my syllabus for this self-study. To connect back to my first clause, this is certainly a classic of high esteem. I was consistently in awe at the prose, with the most stunning moments being the *dare* chapter & the last two chapters. This continued to fuel my fire to further study African literature. When people describe this as Zimbabwe’s feminine voice to postcolonial literature, that is an incredible way to describe it. This book is a certain read for any 20th century African literature curriculum. I cannot wait to research more about Dangarembga & read more of her work in addition to watching her films because I learned that she transitioned to filmmaking as a preferred medium after this book’s publication; she seems like a really cool person. I highly recommend reading this book (there are some triggers in this work, so please look into those if you are concerned)!
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Racism
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Particularly interested in how education is shown to be a mainstay of colonialism here. And how colonial realities like how this establishes or interacts with class and gender are depicted within the family.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
A beautiful, unusual book. I like how Tsitsi Dangarembga describes all her characters with a balanced viewpoint (maybe except Jeremiah and Nhamo) and depicts a child's view on colonialism and oppression. Tambu was an inspirational yet realistic protagonist. The portrayal of the bond between female cousins also felt so real. And it's groundbreaking that Tsitsi Dangarembga describes eating disorders and psychosis among African women. I don't think I've ever read another book which delves into this issue (except Butter Honey Pig Bread which is only from a few years ago).
Can't wait to read The Book of Not.
Can't wait to read The Book of Not.
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
African literature is the only genre that reads me rather than vice versa.
The opening line of the book, "I was not sorry when my brother died," was enough for me to pick it up. What could have made Tambu feel or think that way? I had to find out.
I enjoyed every bit of this one. It transported me to Zimbabwe; their culture and practices, and it was refreshing.
One particular thing I took from this book was how relatable it was. Truly, there's no "unique" experience if you think about it. Every African girl-child, one way or the other, has experienced discrimination, and it was so saddening to read about it. Every time Tambu realised the truth of the travails of womanhood, i saw myself in her. "You mean this is how people actually think?"
It's absurd, I know, thinking that girls don't deserve education because, you know, they're just girls. At a point, I was glad Nhamo(her brother) died. The crazy thing is that men who think this way innocently believe it to be true.
All the female characters were resilient, strong, and iconic. They carried the burdens of womanhood in their own unique way.
This was a sad yet insightful read. If you've ever questioned society's expectations as a girl or woman, this book is definitely for you.