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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
tense
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
challenging
reflective
tense
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
read this for school! it was ok but the writing style didn’t really work for me
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this just after having landed in South Africa, and it was a good way of seeing racial tensions in the country from another side. Nadine Gordimer is clearly much-loved in the country, as she was relatively often mentioned to me as someone to read. The story is hard-hitting, sometimes quite brutal, but ultimately a very good read.
Displacement is an horrific experience, and this short novel covers it like only a handful have.
Written as speculative fiction, now technically an alternate history, I think Gordimer's book is good, because it (upon discussion) made me think about what I expected a book with this set up to be, and what that meant about my assumptions on conflict, race, and trust. I found it hard however, to get invested in what happened to the female protagonist and her family, perhaps because Gordimer is so successful at conveying the feeling of being trapped, that I was certain they'd never go anywhere. Great example of psychodrama, but not my favourite read.
Found it hard to read because of the stream of consciousness and odd punctuation. Will try again another time.