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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There's a line in this book that stood out to me.
It said something to the effect of "this isn't our land, our language or our culture and never will be."
It said something to the effect of "this isn't our land, our language or our culture and never will be."
challenging
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:
Yes
This was hard work and although thought provoking not really anything very fresh. Descriptions of childhood in African village were evocative.
The first half of this book is good, then it just completely unravels in the second act. I even hesitate to call it a second act, because it's trying to be about so many things that it isn't about anything at all. This is a first novel, and it absolutely feels like one. NoViolet Bulawayo has an interesting voice, and I hope she eventually develops it.
By the fourth racist 'ching chong,' I was done.
In We Need New Names, NoViolet Bulawayo weaves together a powerful story linking Zimbabwe to America through snapshots of a young girl's life. It is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of a comparison between the very different realities of two countries.
But really, it's so much more than that. The author is a master of her craft. At times, her prose sings like poetry and brings words to the collective voices of a human heart. She possesses a keen insight into our world that lends understanding, depth, and wisdom to her words.
"What exactly is an African? Godknows asks." - pg. 119
On the surface, it appears to be just a child asking for clarification after hearing men shout, "Africa for Africans!". But in the context of the scene, with the white people being removed from their home, the question posed is more complex than it first seems. What does it mean to be African? These people were born in Africa, but are they African? I don't know the answer, but the question left a huge impact on me and proved to me that this is an author that knows what she's doing.
The contrast and exploration of Zimbabwean life versus that in the U.S.A. is stark and real; there is no over glorification or softening of the reality. Truth shines from the heart of this novel and therein lies the source of the very real emotions that bleed from the characters. It's no surprise that the people in this book feel as real as anyone I've ever known.
Poignant and moving, this story poses many questions about what it means to suffer, the definition of home, immigration, leaving the past behind, and much more, but most importantly, what it means to be human and how, for all our differences, we are more similar than not.
But really, it's so much more than that. The author is a master of her craft. At times, her prose sings like poetry and brings words to the collective voices of a human heart. She possesses a keen insight into our world that lends understanding, depth, and wisdom to her words.
Spoiler
Lines such as the following illustrate my point."What exactly is an African? Godknows asks." - pg. 119
On the surface, it appears to be just a child asking for clarification after hearing men shout, "Africa for Africans!". But in the context of the scene, with the white people being removed from their home, the question posed is more complex than it first seems. What does it mean to be African? These people were born in Africa, but are they African? I don't know the answer, but the question left a huge impact on me and proved to me that this is an author that knows what she's doing.
The contrast and exploration of Zimbabwean life versus that in the U.S.A. is stark and real; there is no over glorification or softening of the reality. Truth shines from the heart of this novel and therein lies the source of the very real emotions that bleed from the characters. It's no surprise that the people in this book feel as real as anyone I've ever known.
Poignant and moving, this story poses many questions about what it means to suffer, the definition of home, immigration, leaving the past behind, and much more, but most importantly, what it means to be human and how, for all our differences, we are more similar than not.
I found this book a little confusingly written and slightly lacking a point. The book is written as though Darling wrote it which I think was very good, it showed the way that her language developed over time but some chapters seemed to have no point at all, and veered massively from the story line. Also there were a lot of jumps in time that were not very well communicated, I'm not sure if that was a part of the fact it was written by the character or not.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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:
Yes