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A review by serendipitysbooks
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Like Animal Farm, Glory is an animal allegory, but based on recent political events in Zimbabwe, including the 2017 overthrow of Robert Mugabe and its aftermath. And while the comparisons are inevitable Glory makes it clear right from the start that it is not another Animal Farm. I’d say it is much richer and more immersive, and it’s animals are less animal like - no living in barns or interacting with farmers - but used in a metaphorical way.
Satire can be a bit hit and miss for me, but I was totally on board with this book. The skewering of corrupt, egotistical, self-serving political and religious leaders was spot on - although sadly it was hard to tell what was exaggeration, comedy, irony or farce and what was purely based on fact. However, this book doesn’t just highlight and poke fun at such behaviour but places it in its historical and international context - factors like colonialism and economic exploitation by foreign firms- and shows the very real cost to ordinary citizens who were the victims of state sanctioned beatings, murder and genocide, and whose standard of living was deliberately degraded so leaders could live lavishly. It also highlights resistance by the population and some of my favourite sections were snippets of overheard conversations from ordinary mals or social media exchanges. The role played by femals in confronting and resisting abuses of power and human rights violations, and the importance of international support were highlighted in this tale.
This is a distinctly Zimbabwean story, not only in the basis for its plot, but also in its language and style which I loved. The playfulness of some metaphors, the repetition of words and phrases - some for paragraphs at a time, others just regular refrains - added a sense of unity and power, as well as linking to an oral storytelling tradition. However you don’t need to have knowledge of Zimbabwe’s history to appreciate Glory, for it’s themes and messages, like political corruption itself, are universal.
An entertaining read with an important read.
Satire can be a bit hit and miss for me, but I was totally on board with this book. The skewering of corrupt, egotistical, self-serving political and religious leaders was spot on - although sadly it was hard to tell what was exaggeration, comedy, irony or farce and what was purely based on fact. However, this book doesn’t just highlight and poke fun at such behaviour but places it in its historical and international context - factors like colonialism and economic exploitation by foreign firms- and shows the very real cost to ordinary citizens who were the victims of state sanctioned beatings, murder and genocide, and whose standard of living was deliberately degraded so leaders could live lavishly. It also highlights resistance by the population and some of my favourite sections were snippets of overheard conversations from ordinary mals or social media exchanges. The role played by femals in confronting and resisting abuses of power and human rights violations, and the importance of international support were highlighted in this tale.
This is a distinctly Zimbabwean story, not only in the basis for its plot, but also in its language and style which I loved. The playfulness of some metaphors, the repetition of words and phrases - some for paragraphs at a time, others just regular refrains - added a sense of unity and power, as well as linking to an oral storytelling tradition. However you don’t need to have knowledge of Zimbabwe’s history to appreciate Glory, for it’s themes and messages, like political corruption itself, are universal.
An entertaining read with an important read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Colonisation, Police brutality, and Rape