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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Such a unique writing style. Unsettling in a good way.
I was a bit disappointed by the book and feel that it was overhyped. Though I found a lot of the typical themes revolving around Africa quite relatable. The use of a narrator does give the story a different perspective.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was bizarre.
I am unsure what the point was to be completely honest, like I get the overall message, but not the way it was presented to us.
The first half takes place in Zimbabwe from Darlings point of view as a child and seemed to just bop all over the place with no direction in mind. I struggled to figure why the beginning was so long and aimless when not a whole lot was given. It's hard to explain.
The second half of the story taking place in America was also disjointed but at least felt more like a coming of age story than the beginning which felt "wandering aimlessly". I still did not exactly enjoy the second half because it gave very little actual information.
I would have liked this better had it been written in 3rd person and we were able to get more information and nuance.
I don't know, I was not feeling this style of writing or story telling, and the ending was...a choice.
I wish I had dnf'd this one, bc I'm left feeling empty and like I wasted my time at the end, unfortunately.
Also I pushed through the more inappropriate portions with the hope that it would come together or be explained or something by the end, but nope, no such thing happens.
There is a portion where the Chinese people are said to be "ching chonging" (again this would have been better from 3rd person to give nuance),Chipo has the child that was conceived via rape from her grandfather (we get no info beyond Chipo saying he raped her to Darling) , Fatphobia runs rampant in this book, and child abuse is excused for just being "culturally different". This was not it.
I am unsure what the point was to be completely honest, like I get the overall message, but not the way it was presented to us.
The first half takes place in Zimbabwe from Darlings point of view as a child and seemed to just bop all over the place with no direction in mind. I struggled to figure why the beginning was so long and aimless when not a whole lot was given. It's hard to explain.
The second half of the story taking place in America was also disjointed but at least felt more like a coming of age story than the beginning which felt "wandering aimlessly". I still did not exactly enjoy the second half because it gave very little actual information.
I would have liked this better had it been written in 3rd person and we were able to get more information and nuance.
I don't know, I was not feeling this style of writing or story telling, and the ending was...a choice.
I wish I had dnf'd this one, bc I'm left feeling empty and like I wasted my time at the end, unfortunately.
Also I pushed through the more inappropriate portions with the hope that it would come together or be explained or something by the end, but nope, no such thing happens.
There is a portion where the Chinese people are said to be "ching chonging" (again this would have been better from 3rd person to give nuance),
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Eating disorder, Incest, Rape
emotional
reflective
slow-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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
(3.5 stars)
This book has been staring at me from the staff recommendations shelf of my bookstore for so long, I figured it was about time I picked it up. The first half of the book flew by for me, but the second half lagged lethargically, and I found myself struggling a little to hard to reach the finish line.
WE NEED NEW NAMES tells the story of Darling, a young girl who spends the first half of the novel in Paradise, a shantytown in Zimbabwe. She used to live in a middle-class enclave, but following the political unrest and revolutions of her country, her family sought refuge in Paradise. She spends her childhood in Paradise running around and exploring with her ragtag group of friends -- beautiful Sbho, loud Bastard, logical Stina, quiet and pregnant Chipo -- stealing guavas from the homes in wealthy neighborhoods, climbing trees to watch funeral services, playing games like Find bin Laden, and singing to Lady Gaga songs. Bulawayo writes this part beautifully, and her influence from [a:Chinua Achebe|8051|Chinua Achebe|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1294661664p2/8051.jpg] is evident. Darling is a wonderful heroine. She switches from precocious childlike wonder to wisdom beyond her years. She and her friends have been forced to grow up too fast.
As many other reviewers have pointed out, the book struggles in its second half. The episodic nature of Bulawayo's storytelling worked very well in Zimbabwe, but feels rushed and haphazard once Darling moved to Detroit. Many key moments in Darling's life I would have liked to see -- her goodbyes to her friends and family in Paradise, her plane ride overseas, her first day at an American school -- are glossed over or not acknowledged at all. The story shifts (inevitably, perhaps?) to a more typical story of a young immigrant's struggle to assimilate to American life without losing ties to her home life and country. The story "How They Lived" chronicles this struggle beautifully, but it's a story that's been told many times.
I was also confused by how Bulawayo chose to end the story, specifically the last page. That might be my own fault, the significance might just be over my head, but I would have liked a nicer ending than that gory, sad, incident.
This book will definitely be five stars for the right audience, which, unfortunately, isn't me. It has some beautiful, beautiful passages in it, and some wonderful characters. Bulawayo is an author to watch.
This book has been staring at me from the staff recommendations shelf of my bookstore for so long, I figured it was about time I picked it up. The first half of the book flew by for me, but the second half lagged lethargically, and I found myself struggling a little to hard to reach the finish line.
WE NEED NEW NAMES tells the story of Darling, a young girl who spends the first half of the novel in Paradise, a shantytown in Zimbabwe. She used to live in a middle-class enclave, but following the political unrest and revolutions of her country, her family sought refuge in Paradise. She spends her childhood in Paradise running around and exploring with her ragtag group of friends -- beautiful Sbho, loud Bastard, logical Stina, quiet and pregnant Chipo -- stealing guavas from the homes in wealthy neighborhoods, climbing trees to watch funeral services, playing games like Find bin Laden, and singing to Lady Gaga songs. Bulawayo writes this part beautifully, and her influence from [a:Chinua Achebe|8051|Chinua Achebe|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1294661664p2/8051.jpg] is evident. Darling is a wonderful heroine. She switches from precocious childlike wonder to wisdom beyond her years. She and her friends have been forced to grow up too fast.
As many other reviewers have pointed out, the book struggles in its second half. The episodic nature of Bulawayo's storytelling worked very well in Zimbabwe, but feels rushed and haphazard once Darling moved to Detroit. Many key moments in Darling's life I would have liked to see -- her goodbyes to her friends and family in Paradise, her plane ride overseas, her first day at an American school -- are glossed over or not acknowledged at all. The story shifts (inevitably, perhaps?) to a more typical story of a young immigrant's struggle to assimilate to American life without losing ties to her home life and country. The story "How They Lived" chronicles this struggle beautifully, but it's a story that's been told many times.
I was also confused by how Bulawayo chose to end the story, specifically the last page. That might be my own fault, the significance might just be over my head, but I would have liked a nicer ending than that gory, sad, incident.
This book will definitely be five stars for the right audience, which, unfortunately, isn't me. It has some beautiful, beautiful passages in it, and some wonderful characters. Bulawayo is an author to watch.
Maybe 3.5 stars?
I'm a little unsure about how I feel about this, except that I'm very glad I read it. I feel like it painted extremely vivid scenes and had excellent writing. There's no "plot" but I didn't care because it's the exploration of a character and there's an overachieving theme of belonging that's just really well explored.
I think it was objectively excellent, but did I absolutely 100% enjoy my time reading it? heh. Did it still have a huge impact on me and do I think I might reread it later in my life because you might get more from it if you reread it? Absolutely.
Is it very good? Yes. Is it an *enjoyable* read? Not sure.
I'm a little unsure about how I feel about this, except that I'm very glad I read it. I feel like it painted extremely vivid scenes and had excellent writing. There's no "plot" but I didn't care because it's the exploration of a character and there's an overachieving theme of belonging that's just really well explored.
I think it was objectively excellent, but did I absolutely 100% enjoy my time reading it? heh. Did it still have a huge impact on me and do I think I might reread it later in my life because you might get more from it if you reread it? Absolutely.
Is it very good? Yes. Is it an *enjoyable* read? Not sure.
dark
emotional
reflective
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:
No
LOVED this book. I haven’t read a book that so accurately depicts being a young girl and not knowing anything about the world, and trying to decipher it with what you’ve got. Such horrible events and themes in this novel that are so blurred by her child mind, it almost made me brush past some of the things that happened. (Which I think was the intention). Such a disappointing ending, it was honestly gut wrenching to physically feel Darlings personality and stubbornness and heart taken away to work in an everyday job. It’s pretty accurate to real life though, but man it was hard to read. Enjoyed way more than I thought I would