We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

3.73 AVERAGE

dcmr's review against another edition

3.0
A book that builds strength with each chapter. "How We Live" is especially strong.
santhanakana's profile picture

santhanakana's review against another edition

4.0
This book was so beautiful! Amazing look into migration and the struggles of adopting a new identity. Fantastic look into cultural hybridity and the West vs East.

anya_h72's review against another edition

4.75
emotional reflective
sisa_moyo's profile picture

sisa_moyo's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH
Had to return it to the library 
bea26's profile picture

bea26's review

3.75
challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
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laraamaee's review against another edition

3.5
adventurous dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

ilonare's review against another edition

4.5
dark emotional reflective
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No

koirasaurus's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
Took a long time from me to finish the book, because sometimes it felt like nothing new happened. Text could have been edited a bit more so that the changes in time and place would’ve made more sense.

Even though it wasn’t so easy and light to read, it was a lovely and great book. I would recommend.
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sarah_dietrich's review against another edition

4.0
NoViolet Bulawayo's We Need New Names is a jarring, challenging look at one girl's life in Mugabe's Zimbabwe, followed by her relocation to America. The protagonist's voice is strong & unique, some of the other characters are fascinating. The transition between the two halves of the book - the first in Zimbabwe, the second in America, is very jarring. In hindsight, I think that is intentional, to give us a notion of how the protagonist felt when trying to reconcile her old & new lives.
vidyareads's profile picture

vidyareads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
What a terrific book. After reading Glory by the author and putting it on my top 10 reads of 2022, I knew I would read her debut book. I becoming a fan of the author ! I loved the book !