A review by pearloz
Memory of Departure: Winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature by Abdulrazak Gurnah

4.0

Well written fairly basic novel that really shines in the last third, I'd say from the time he leaves for his uncles and falls in love with his cousin. It was nice to see Hassan thrive in a new environment and when he came back home, his change in demeanor was surprisingly palpable given how spare the novel is. The 'Departure' from the title seems to have two meanings here in the novel: 1) either one of the literal departures Hassan made--from his home to his uncle's, or from his uncle's back home; 2) Or it's Hassan's desire to depart from his family history or depart from his father's path/tradition.