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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gave this one two kicks. Regrettably, it’s not for me. Made it over halfway this time but only because I forced myself there.
This was one of my defining reading experiences growing up and I only got more out of it reading it a second time. It’s rare to come across a book that stirs you to the core like this one.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the "voices" of each character and that the different writing styles revealed their personalities. This was a heartbreaking story and a good one for broadening my world view and understanding.
If i could give this more stars i would, i thought this book was phenomenal. The way the characters weave their story from their own individual chapters i thought was a good way of telling the account of how they saw their experiences in the Congo and at times of their father too. The mother had her own few chapters but she also had a part to play in her daughter’s chapters so this was delicately told through their eyes. Even though this is over 600 pages it didn’t feel like it and it gave you time to immerse yourself in that world and a time in history i wasn’t aware of. I like longer books as you have time to savour the world the author has created giving you time to feel the story. I know I’m late to the party in reading this but sometimes its good to be late all the good stuff is waiting to happen! I can’t wait to read everything else by this author
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is beautiful. It took me a little while to get into it, and I had a hard time differentiating between the daughters, but as I continued to read and learn the daughters, it became easier. I couldn't put it down. It's heartbreaking and humorous and beautiful. Everyone should read this.
Had this book ended at the 2/3rds mark, with the family having left the small village the dad/husband made such a mess of and reflecting on where it went wrong, I would've rated it higher. But, the longer it went on, the more it became a matter of an author beating me about the head with how evil America is, how noble it is to be born in Africa, and how she is the ultimate voice in oppression of the dark-skinned.
Really, now?
I did appreciate the glimpses of white/affluent privilege and of history, but I really wish it had been presented in a different way. Perhaps the family could've visited in the 80's or 90's and given historical perspective, instead of the rambling, random look at "Where Are They Now?" The narrative was gone at that point, and suddenly my interesting story filled with flawed-but-compelling characters was a history lecture.
What I least appreciated were the remarks by Leah, who stayed behind to marry and raise a family, about how lonely and singled-out she felt. Aww. Poor baby. It's so HARD to be white, I know. (/sarcasm)
And the more I had to listen to Leah whine, the more I resented the framing of this book. I couldn't read the perspectives of the actual residents of the Congo; no, apparently this story could only be told through the eyes of white women. Did the author think it was more easily digested that way? I found the idea insulting and patronizing.
I mentally compared this book to Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe while I was listening to the audio book, and the author does acknowledge that informed this novel a great deal. I was left wishing, though, that she'd left the subject at that, or trusted more qualified writers to contribute to it.
Really, now?
I did appreciate the glimpses of white/affluent privilege and of history, but I really wish it had been presented in a different way. Perhaps the family could've visited in the 80's or 90's and given historical perspective, instead of the rambling, random look at "Where Are They Now?" The narrative was gone at that point, and suddenly my interesting story filled with flawed-but-compelling characters was a history lecture.
What I least appreciated were the remarks by Leah, who stayed behind to marry and raise a family, about how lonely and singled-out she felt. Aww. Poor baby. It's so HARD to be white, I know. (/sarcasm)
And the more I had to listen to Leah whine, the more I resented the framing of this book. I couldn't read the perspectives of the actual residents of the Congo; no, apparently this story could only be told through the eyes of white women. Did the author think it was more easily digested that way? I found the idea insulting and patronizing.
I mentally compared this book to Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe while I was listening to the audio book, and the author does acknowledge that informed this novel a great deal. I was left wishing, though, that she'd left the subject at that, or trusted more qualified writers to contribute to it.