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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
the book is really beautifully written and gives a good insight into life in zimbabwe and the immigrant experience. still, i felt like something was missing. i can't exactly pinpoint what, i just wanted..... more. i think maybe it was lacking in direction or plot. then again, i guess that's a good reflection of real life: sometimes it is just kind of pointless and directionless, and there is not much you can do about that.
How do you call a book about violence, crime and crumbling nations repetitive? By starting a review with that question. There was nothing new about this. It was the same atrocities-to-emigration story seen over and over again, and it had nothing unique in terms of voice, structure, or content. It was intelligently written, but that's not enough to make Darling's story stand out, be engaging, be memorable. As others reviewers have shared, just because a book isn't bad, doesn't mean it's good, no matter the topic.
This is a powerful, bleak, beautiful book about belonging, about home. Darling is a ten year old girl in Zimbabwe, living in a shanty town called Paradise and dreaming of America with her friends. She joins her aunt in America and, predictably, it isn't paradise anymore than the shanty town. The writing is beautiful at times and she deals so well with the complexities of leaving your broken country and trying to make a new life in a different culture.
I had a false start but on the second go really loved this. Darling and her friends have such real kid voices, real kid concerns, real kid confusions. Being little and mean and loving and adventurous and scared and playful. Then the teenager feelings, diaspora feelings, longing and pride and loneliness and responsibility. NoViolet Bulawayo tells these stories so beautifully.
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
"We Need New Names" is a novel about Darling, a young girl who grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to America. The book is raw and moving, offering a stark look at her life and the struggles of displacement.
The novel's first half is the strongest, capturing Darling’s childhood in Zimbabwe through a child's perspective. In some ways, it reminded me of "To Kill a Mockingbird." As Darling grows, so does her understanding of the world, highlighting the contrast between her innocent voice and the harsh realities around her. The scenes depicting poverty, political unrest, and survival hit hard, especially when viewed through her youthful, unfiltered lens.
However, the second half—Darling’s journey to America—feels disconnected from the first. While it effectively explores themes of immigration, alienation, and identity, the transition is abrupt, and the narrative style shifts significantly. The novel reads more like a collection of linked stories than a cohesive arc, making it challenging to connect fully with Darling’s character.
NoViolet Bulawayo’s prose is moving, and she possesses an incredible talent for storytelling. I just wished for a stronger emotional connection and a more fluid structure. Despite these shortcomings, this book is worthwhile for vividly portraying Zimbabwe and the immigrant experience.
The novel's first half is the strongest, capturing Darling’s childhood in Zimbabwe through a child's perspective. In some ways, it reminded me of "To Kill a Mockingbird." As Darling grows, so does her understanding of the world, highlighting the contrast between her innocent voice and the harsh realities around her. The scenes depicting poverty, political unrest, and survival hit hard, especially when viewed through her youthful, unfiltered lens.
However, the second half—Darling’s journey to America—feels disconnected from the first. While it effectively explores themes of immigration, alienation, and identity, the transition is abrupt, and the narrative style shifts significantly. The novel reads more like a collection of linked stories than a cohesive arc, making it challenging to connect fully with Darling’s character.
NoViolet Bulawayo’s prose is moving, and she possesses an incredible talent for storytelling. I just wished for a stronger emotional connection and a more fluid structure. Despite these shortcomings, this book is worthwhile for vividly portraying Zimbabwe and the immigrant experience.
Phenomenal book. However, the timing, especially toward the end, became extremely confusing.
This book was written beautifully and from an important perspective. I did have to stop at a certain point because (this is my privilege showing) the subject matter was too disturbing to me. But disturbing because these things *actually* happen. I don't know if I could recommend it — but the author's voice and style of writing were, truly, beautiful and insightful.
Hmmm, tror jag måst testa läsa denhär pånytt i ett annat skede av mitt liv eller någo. Den har potential men just nu clicka de int…