A review by bukolayemi
Dottie by Abdulrazak Gurnah

hopeful informative 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

4.0

Dottie Badoura Fatma Balfour finds solace amidst the squalor of her childhood by spinning warm tales of affection about her beautiful names. But she knows nothing of their origins, and little of her family history - or the abuse her ancestors suffered as they made their home in Britain.  At seventeen, she takes on the burden of responsibility for her brother and sister and is obsessed with keeping the family together. 

First published in 1990, this was the third book written by Abdulrazak Gurnah. After reading the first two which I found a bit weird in parts, I almost regretted signing up for the completist challenge #ReadRazak but Dottie was a much more welcome experience for me. 

I could relate with the main character who like me is the first born and a book lover. 

We read about Dottie and her siblings living in poverty but trying to make something of their lives.

This author is obviously not one to be put in a box, he infuses information about world events and politics in the book through Dottie’s interest in reading both fiction and non fiction books.